Data Storage Based on DNA

Abstract

Recent years have witnessed the exponential growth of information, calling for the development of new storage media. DNA provides an attractive alternative for data storage due to its high physical density, reproducibility, and excellent durability that have been tested by nature. Rapid progress has been made during the past decade by exploiting artificially designed DNA materials for data storage. Herein, recent advances of DNA-based encoding, writing, storage, retrieving, reading, and decoding for data storage are summarized. In addition to encoding with nucleic acid sequences, different forms of data storage strategies using DNA nanostructures are also highlighted. Also, in vivo DNA data storage, especially with the use of clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat–Cas systems, is discussed. The challenges and opportunities for the development and application of DNA-based data storage are presented.