this post was submitted on 10 Mar 2026
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Around the world, scientists are exploring an unexpected solution to the growing data crisis: storing digital information in synthetic DNA. The idea is simple but powerful—DNA is one of the most compact, durable information systems on Earth.

But one issue has held the field back. Once data is written into DNA, it can’t be changed.

Now, researchers at the University of Missouri are helping solve that problem by transforming DNA from a one-time medium into a rewritable digital hard drive.

“DNA is incredible—it stores life’s blueprint in a tiny, stable package,” Li-Qun “Andrew” Gu, a professor of chemical and biomedical engineering at Mizzou’s College of Engineering, says.

“We wanted to see if we could store and rewrite information at the molecular level faster, simpler, and more efficiently than ever before.”

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[–] BoxOfFeet@lemmy.world 2 points 2 hours ago

Where have I seen this before? Was it Star Trek TNG? Fringe? X-Files? Man, this is really familiar. I seem to remember it not turning out well for the courier.

[–] gokayburucdev@lemmy.world 2 points 3 hours ago* (last edited 3 hours ago) (1 children)

Nobody asked the real question? Why especially do they need to store data on DNA?

Human being wrote the data onto rocks, ceramics, papirus, paper, cd, harddisk... But what has happened? why now DNA? Is it the part of a transhuman project (evulotion circle : genesis - humanism - posthumanism - transhumanism)? Do we need to combine machines with organic parts?

Looking at the investments made in computer technology(ai, cloud etc.) , electronics(microchip industry, REEs etc. ), and biology(genom projects) over the last 40 years, I see that someone desperately wants transhumanism.

[–] gwl@lemmy.blahaj.zone 0 points 2 hours ago (1 children)

Scientific research doesn't need a reason, that's why.

Coming up with reasons is the job of other people, scientific research is about seeing what's possible, what's not, and how difficult it is.

[–] gokayburucdev@lemmy.world 1 points 2 hours ago (1 children)

But here too, it comes down to money and power. Funding for scientific research is provided by wealthy governments and mega-corporations like FAANG and Neuralink (founded by Elon Musk). This dictates the goals for scientific research. Studies are conducted in areas where it is desired that what is possible be achieved. Currently, billions of dollars are being invested in projects such as artificial intelligence systems, robotics, and genome projects involving cell and tissue regeneration. The claim that science is independent is completely unfounded.

[–] gwl@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 points 2 hours ago

OpenScience is a thing, it's been around for like 30 years

[–] W3dd1e@lemmy.zip 1 points 3 hours ago

The Verge did a show on Netflix that covered something like this. I think the show was called The Future Of or something like that.

I only watched a couple episodes but one was about how it could be possible to save data in plants. Pretty cool.

[–] MonkderVierte@lemmy.zip 2 points 6 hours ago* (last edited 6 hours ago) (1 children)

Cool, but how long does the data keep? DNA is rather fragile, only the most stable bio-compatible storage. Which is why it needs to be repaired now and then.

[–] Corkyskog@sh.itjust.works 1 points 3 hours ago

That's why you have millions of copies stored.

[–] Zwuzelmaus@feddit.org 6 points 12 hours ago

Imagine Androids having synthetic balls :)

Finally their brains are down there, too!

[–] ianhclark510@lemmy.blahaj.zone 28 points 20 hours ago (1 children)

Fuck me, I don’t need DNA prices to spike too ;-;

[–] db2@lemmy.world 19 points 19 hours ago (2 children)

Wikipedia is stored in the balls now.

Along with the pee? Something's gotta go.

[–] EndlessNightmare@reddthat.com 12 points 19 hours ago* (last edited 19 hours ago)

Gives a whole new meaning to "data leak"

[–] chronicledmonocle@lemmy.world 5 points 17 hours ago (1 children)

Something bear in mind is that this is EXTREMELY slow. It's not practical right now and may never be practical.

[–] ftbd@feddit.org 4 points 9 hours ago

Not for home computers. But storing data in DNA could become feasible for archiving, as it is very dense and degrades very slowly.

[–] Damarus@feddit.org 3 points 19 hours ago (1 children)

I need the entirety of Shrek in my DNA

[–] frongt@lemmy.zip 3 points 6 hours ago

VLC has already started work on supporting the format

[–] DeathByBigSad@sh.itjust.works 2 points 19 hours ago

So we have the Travelers timeline?

Humanity near extinct by the 2400s?

Is the Director gonna save us?

[–] db2@lemmy.world 0 points 20 hours ago (2 children)

What could possibly go wrong.

[–] workgood@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 5 hours ago

everything obv. this is a man made horror

[–] silverneedle@lemmy.ca 4 points 19 hours ago (2 children)

Next to nothing? It's DNA. You have DNA and RNA lying around everywhere on the planet. On every square fucking mil or micrometre. The only thing that can go wrong, so to say, is microbial degradation of DNA.

[–] MonkderVierte@lemmy.zip 1 points 6 hours ago* (last edited 6 hours ago) (1 children)

is microbial degradation of DNA.

Or radiation. Or chemicals.

[–] silverneedle@lemmy.ca 1 points 4 hours ago

Radiation is easy to deal with. You have enclosures. With chemicals I'm quite unsure what you are talking about since technically DNA is a chemical. I'm going to do my original comment a disservice and point out that heat, anything above about 40°c needs to be managed. Though even with this latter issue there are ways to manage coming straight from already existing biological mechanisms.

[–] db2@lemmy.world -4 points 19 hours ago (2 children)

What DNA currently out there is dynamically rewritable

[–] ParlimentOfDoom@piefed.zip 4 points 18 hours ago (1 children)

All of it? That's pretty much what viruses do to whatever they manage to infect.

[–] silverneedle@lemmy.ca 1 points 19 hours ago

I am unsure of the adjective's meaning in this context...