Data Storing Bacteria Could Last Millennia

PetManimal writes "Computerworld has a story about a new technology developed by Keio University researchers that creates artificial bacterial DNA that can carry more than 100 bits of data within the genome sequence. The researchers claimed that they encoded "e= mc2 1905!" on the common soil bacteria, Bacillius subtilis. The bacteria-based data storage method has backup and long-term archival functionality." The researchers say "While the technology would most likely first be used to track medication, it could also be used to store text and images for many millennia, thwarting the longevity issues associated with today's disk and tape storage systems ... The artificial DNA that carries the data to be preserved makes multiple copies of the DNA and inserts the original as well as identical copies into the bacterial genome sequence. The multiple copies work as backup files to counteract natural degradation of the preserved data, according to the newswire. Bacteria have particularly compact DNA, which is passed down from generation to generation. The information stored in that DNA can also be passed on for long-term preservation of large data files."

Comments

Obligatory comment

[zappepcs]

But how many Libraries of Congress will a bathroom drain hold?

Overwriting?

[CoolGopher]

So, has anyone tried working out if various junk DNA already holds information that we'd be overwriting with this technique?

I mean, there are plenty of theories about "seeding" of life on earth after all... maybe we already have a wealth of untapped knowledge?

(Personally, I think it's extremely unlikely, but that doesn't mean that it wouldn't be prudent to check anyway)

organic computing

[notgm]

stories like this one, and the story earlier today about the graphene transistor, make me wonder how far off truly organic computing is - and whether or not we'll eventually be indistinguishable from computers. or they from us.

who's to say that our bodies/brains aren't some elaborate computer design ala douglas adams' design?

backup corruption?

[gr3kgr33n]

My backup chemistry thesis mutated; granting me a degree in forensic anthropology.

Re:A Must

[nmb3000]

You mean a Biowolf cluster.

Talk about an interesting way to sneak information out of a company/country... transcribe it into the DNA of an infectious bacteria or virus, and then infect yourself with it. You walk out the door with a sniffle and 10 million dollars worth in classified secrets.

"New company policy is no isolinear chips, holocubes, or antiquated 'flash' drives on the campus. Additionally, all employees must submit to a biological cleansing and surrender their belongings for baryon sweeping before leaving the building."

At least they might cure the common cold as I side effect to preventing data theft.

Mankind

[theuedimaster]

Pretty soon we're gonna find out that human DNA was just supposed be storage for Alien pornography.