Digital information can be stored in DNA

Posted at: 01/24/2013 6:36 AM
By: Associated Press | WHEC.com

Genetic code meets computer code.
    
A new report says DNA might be a useful tool for storing digital information, the kind of thing we do with hard drives and CDs today. Researchers say it could store the information from a million CDs in a space no bigger than your little finger, and keep it safe for centuries.
    
Scientists have created strands of DNA with data from all 154 Shakespeare sonnets, a photo, a scientific paper, and a brief audio recording. That all fit in a barely visible bit of DNA in a test tube.
    
The researchers say the technology might be useful for long-term storage of historical records, for example. Their report was released online by the journal Nature.

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