The storage of data has always been integral to the human species. From writing on stone walls, to the Printing Press and later to the digital age—the way we store data is constantly evolving, thereby making older forms of data storage (like floppy disks, cassettes and video tapes) obsolete.
When that happens, the laborious process of converting old files to new formats that can be read by new machines, becomes a challenge.
To hopefully stop history from repeating itself, scientists are working on DNA storage.
DNA is seen as an ideal storage site because it takes up so little space compared to the formats and drives we use today. This is especially useful for very large amounts of data.
DNA is also very durable. With cold, dry and dark conditions, the data stored in the DNA can last for tens of thousands of years with little maintenance of the storage site.
Being fans of the X-Men series, we wondered if the data could possibly mutate. But experts assure us that they won’t because, quite obviously, data is not a living thing. Phew!
Do you look forward to an era of DNA data storage?
[via National Geographic]