Improved DNA data storage through automated optimization of synthetic polymers

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

Big data promises to revolutionize so many aspects of human civilization and society. However, with big data comes big challenges for current optical and magnetic storage devices, which have limited shelf lives and storage densities. Thus, researchers have started to explore the use of new storage media that has radically different density and durability characteristics. One such storage media that is rapidly gaining attention is synthetic DNA (e.g. Science, 2017, 355:6328). The advent of high-throughput oligonucleotide synthesis and DNA sequencing has allowed DNA-based data storage to rapidly progress from proof-of concept studies toward systems that can rival established storage media. However, there are still many challenges to improve this technology, one of which being compaction and stability. To address this we wish to develop an approach to improve DNA data storage using controlled polymerization chemistry to develop synthetic polymer particles as a scaffold for DNA. Such an aim will be rapidly accelerated through the use of automated instrumentation available within ROAR. Once developed, these synthetic particles should allow one to significantly improve the storage density and stability of DNA data, through physical association and compaction.