Stanford Bioengineers Create Rewritable Digital Data Storage In DNA

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Stanford Bioengineers Create Rewritable Digital Data Storage In DNA

Posted by timothy on Wednesday May 23, 2012 @05:19AM from the prior-art dept.

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."

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No more thumb drives to lose! by constpointertoconst · 2012-05-23 05:23 · Score: 4, Funny

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...
1. Re:No more thumb drives to lose! by mcgrew · 2012-05-23 06:59 · Score: 4, Interesting
  
  I was thinking of the same episode. It's weird how we've surpassed almost all of the science fiction of my youth, let alone that written before I was born. In 1966 everything in Star Trek was pure fantasy -- doors that opened all by themselves, space shuttles, talking voice-activated computers with flat screens, communicators, McCoy's sick bay (you kids can't imagine how primitive medicine was in 1966), Uhura's bluetooth earpiece... all fantasy that nobody ever expected to actually see in their lifetimes. Yet the only things from STOS we don't have today is matter replicators and warp drives.
  I live in the science fiction future of my youth!
  
  --
  Free Martian Whores!
2. Re:No more thumb drives to lose! by Em+Adespoton · 2012-05-23 07:08 · Score: 2
  
  Just make sure to protect it; you wouldn't want to get a virus....
3. Re:No more thumb drives to lose! by arth1 · 2012-05-23 08:00 · Score: 2
  
  "Yet the only things from STOS we don't have today is matter replicators and warp drives." .... and instant transport tech. , particle weapons (that actually work), stun rays, force field/shielding tech., instant skin+bone healing tech., cloaking technology.....
  Where are my transporter beams? Artificial gravity? Moneyless society? And blue and green ladies in spandex miniskirts...?
Re:Digital storage? by SpzToid · 2012-05-23 05:34 · Score: 2, Interesting

I also RTFA'ed a few times, and so far, all I can demise is that we're screwed. Skynet wins. But then again, I Am Not A Biologist. (IANAB).
Hawking said this would happen, btw.

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You can't be ahead of the curve, if you're stuck in a loop.
Re:Any word on effects by LordNicholas · 2012-05-23 05:36 · Score: 3, Insightful

Not if they're non-coding strings of DNA that aren't involved with gene expression.
Finally! by aglider · 2012-05-23 05:58 · Score: 2

I can backup my BDs in my urine and feces!

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Sent as ripples into the electromagnetic field. No single photon has been harmed in the process.
2fer on viruses by CoderFool · 2012-05-23 06:08 · Score: 5, Insightful

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....
Bandwidth by TuringTest · 2012-05-23 06:41 · Score: 2

a 'bit' in data parlance. 'It took us three years and 750 tries to make it work, but we finally did it'
There, and I thought my ISP's bandwitdh was awful.

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Singularity: a belief in the "God" idea with the "demiurge" relation inverted.
Re:Any word on effects by DontLickJesus · 2012-05-23 06:44 · Score: 3, Funny

Yeah, but what's the fun in that?

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Where genius and insanity become confused true wisdom is found
Blood Music by Brannoncyll · 2012-05-23 06:49 · Score: 3, Interesting

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....
Star Trek NG by nickmalthus · 2012-05-23 09:44 · Score: 2

This article reminds me of the STNG episode "The Chase"

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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