EAGER: Exploring Extreme-Scale DNA-based Storage Systems

文明越来越依赖于计算机技术以及对生活各方面可搜索信息的大型数据库的访问，预计 2017 年全球数字数据将超过 16 ZB。然而，即使考虑到存储行业的预期进步，对如此大量数字数据的长期、可靠存储也远远超出了任何计算机系统的容量。存储技术需要取得非凡的突破。DNA 因其每立方厘米 1 泽字节的高原始容量而提供了潜在的变革性解决方案。从长远来看，当今最好的技术需要 100,000 立方米的空间来存储同等数量的信息。如果作为一种成功的存储介质，DNA 可以将世界上所有的数字数据保存在相对较小的容量中。该项目的主要目标是量化 DNA 特性对极端存储系统的限制，并设计解决方案来超越这些限制。为了实现可靠的艾字节容量，该提案特别关注在 DNA 中编码数据的新的变革性方法，这些方法需要开发和利用对 DNA 化学物理特性的更深入理解。有趣的是，极端的 DNA 存储系统尚无法使用现有技术合成，但必须研究它们的特性，以激励和指导它们的发展。为了实现这一目标，将开发一个计算和实验模拟的极限容量模型系统，可用于研究相关特性。该项目由计算机系统专家以及分子生物学和 DNA 操作和处理方面的专家领导。该团队将应用计算机系统理论与设计、模拟和分子生物学实验的高度协调组合来解决高容量 DNA 存储的关键障碍。该项目将支持培养两名博士生。基于 DNA 的存储系统领域的学生。

Civilization increasingly relies on computer technology and access to large databases of searchable information for all facets of life, with the world's digital data projected to exceed 16 zettabytes in 2017. However, long-term, reliable storage of this vast amount of digital data greatly exceeds the capacity of any computer system even when accounting for expected advances in the storage industry. Extraordinary breakthroughs in storage technology are needed.DNA offers a potentially transformative solution due to its high raw capacity of 1 zettabyte per cubic centimeter. To put that in perspective, the best technology available today would require 100,000 cubic meters of volume to store the equivalent amount of information. If successful as a storage medium, DNA could hold the world?s entire digital data in a relatively small volume.This project's key objectives are to quantify the limitations imposed by the properties of DNA on extreme storage systems, and to engineer solutions to surpass them. To enable reliable exabyte capacities, this proposal specifically focuses on new and transformative approaches to encode data in DNA that require both developing and harnessing a deeper understanding of the chemo-physical characteristics of DNA. Interestingly, extreme DNA storage systems cannot yet be synthesized using existing technologies, yet their properties must be studied to motivate and inform their development. To achieve this, a computationally and experimentally simulated extreme capacity model system will be developed that can be used to study pertinent properties.The project is lead by an expert in computer systems, and an expert in molecular biology and DNA manipulation and processing. The team will apply a highly coordinated combination of computer systems theory and design, simulation, and molecular biology experiments to address critical barriers to high-capacity DNA storage. This project will support the training of two Ph.D. students in the area of DNA-based Storage Systems.