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Stanford Bioengineers Create Rewritable Digital Data Storage In DNA
An anonymous reader writes "You don't hear too much about biological computing but in research published this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, scientists reveal they have devised the genetic equivalent of a binary digit (full article, freely available) — a 'bit' in data parlance. 'It took us three years and 750 tries to make it work, but we finally did it,' according to Jerome Bonnet, of research which describes, a method for repeatedly encoding, storing and erasing digital data within the DNA of living cells."
Sweet. This means I no longer have to worry about losing my thumb drive - I'd just plug myself in!
Now, where should I put the pr0n folder...
I RTFA'ed about 3 times. I'm a biologist. I don't get it. It's much more interesting from a biological perspective than a digital media perspective, where it is functionally useless. You're never going to see a "cell drive" in computers. And copying data (by cell division) can take hours.
Placing pieces of data in DNA /must/ affect the creature. Any word on localizing or minimizing those effects?
Where genius and insanity become confused true wisdom is found
...Johnny Mnemonic was doing that 20 years ago...
So, when do I start getting paid to carry people's data around in my head?
Finally! I can make my Artificial Intelligence algorithms into a living thing!
I can backup my BDs in my urine and feces!
Sent as ripples into the electromagnetic field. No single photon has been harmed in the process.
This digital data storage could get both technological and biological viruses! I wonder what the crossover will be like... You thought bird flu jumping to pigs then humans was bad....
Assuming that "junk dna" would be random is like assuming that the junk mail in my bin is just random letters of the alphabet.
Bonnet has now tested RAD modules in single microbes that have doubled more than 100 times and the switch has held. He has likewise switched the latch and watched a cell double 90 times, and set it back. The latch will even store information when the enzymes are not present. In short, RAD works. It is reliable and it is rewritable.
When the microbes double, the bit is copied. Just wait until the RIAA finds out!
And it only takes a week to write 8 bits of data
There, and I thought my ISP's bandwitdh was awful.
Singularity: a belief in the "God" idea with the "demiurge" relation inverted.
This reminds me of a fantastic book called Blood Music by the science fiction author Greg Bear. In the book a geneticist working on biochip development develops a system for storing and transmitting information between single cells using DNA and RNA. He creates cells that are able to communicate and incorporate elements of RNA and as such optimise themselves to overcome environmental challenges. He soon sees the emergence of rudimentary intelligence on a cellular basis, but is shut down before he can pursue his experiments further. He smuggles his creations out of the lab by injecting them into his own body, which proves to be a perfect environment for the development of full intelligence....
So how long before we get a driver that can turn this data into biological functions? Say, over-riding the optical and aural sensors on demand.
I want to be able to rickroll my grandchildren. DAILY.
This article reminds me of the STNG episode "The Chase"
If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be-T J
Except that all those things are true.
Pissing in a cup will show traces of illegal content usage!
Those downloading movies and music in their DNA, think twice ..
--- I am known for the ones who want to find me on the net. Is that a privacy risk or a privilege? One might wonder..