Today, hard drives and flash drives are the primary means of storing data. However, in terms of power consumption, longevity, and storage density, these technologies are limited. This, however, could change in the near future. Researchers have focused on DNA as an alternative to silicon-based media. DNA offers a greater density of information storage and is also more tolerant to environmental changes. Technologies that use DNA for data storage have already shown promise, but conventional approaches require DNA synthesis, which increases costs and slows down recording speeds.

The study published in Nature presents a new approach to storing data on DNA. Researchers from the USA and China developed a method that records data without the need for synthesis, using existing nucleic acids and epigenetic modifications as bits of information. This new method combines parallel recording of epigenetic bits (epi-bits) with DNA self-assembly and enzymatic methylation, where modifications such as cytosine methylation act as information bits. These modifications are applied to pre-prepared DNA templates, enabling the creation of a molecular “typewriter.” This makes it a promising solution for mass data storage.

The researchers created a system that allows such marks to be “stamped” onto DNA in large quantities. For example, using this technology, they recorded more than 275,000 bits of data — about 34,000 words of text, with 350 bits per reaction. And this is by using just five DNA templates and a set of 700 “stamps” (or epigenetic bits). The data is read using nanopore sequencing technology, which functions similarly to scanning a book’s pages to determine the precise location and meaning of the markings. Special algorithms have been developed to distinguish up to 240 modification patterns in a single read. This allows for swift and accurate reconstruction of the stored data. An important achievement is that the system can be used by people without specialized laboratory experience, emphasizing the potential for widespread use.

Imagine that you have books with blank pages on your bookcase. You “print” the needed information rapidly by using special stamps with letters and symbols, rather than writing the text by hand on each page. The marks on the DNA serve as letter stamps in this investigation, while the DNA itself serves as a bookshelf. These markers, which are epigenetic changes like methylation, function as “bits” of information, or 1s and 0s.

This technology provides a novel method of data storage that benefits from parallelism, stability, and scalability. Not only does this make data collection and interpretation more efficient, but it can also be used by those without specialized laboratory equipment. This opens up the possibility of wider use and possible incorporation into everyday activities.

Reference:
Zhang, C., Wu, R., Sun, F. et al. Parallel molecular data storage by printing epigenetic bits on DNA. Nature 634, 824–832 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-08040-5