Proteins instead of DNA
Any library can be stored in a teaspoon of molecules forever
Georgy Golovanov, Hi-tech+
Harvard has developed a cheap way to record information on organic molecules, and without the participation of DNA. To begin with, the famous Hokusai engraving was transferred to the squirrels. But the potential of technology can transform a number of industries.
For many years, scientists have been working on methods of recording data in DNA, which, if successful, could completely change modern information technologies, reducing the risk of cyber attacks or the destruction of information carriers – hard drives or books. However, despite all efforts, the process of recording data in DNA remains expensive and long.
It is based on the technology of sorting molecules by their mass using ionization. "We decided to explore a strategy that lies outside the field of biology," Cafferty said in a Storage beyond the cloud press release. "Instead, we turned to organic and analytical chemistry and developed an approach in which small, light molecules are used to encode information."
The scientists took oligopeptide molecules consisting of different amounts of amino acids. These molecules are smaller than DNA and take less time to synthesize. The process is based on a metal board with 384 tiny recesses in which various combinations of oligopeptides are placed, representing one bit of information. This is how a binary system arises – if there is a certain oligopeptide in the recess, it is one, if not– zero. To record the information, it was translated into an eight-bit ASCII code.
The information is read using mass spectrometry: the device reads the available oligopeptides and determines their mass. This method allowed scientists to record, save and read 400 KB of data, including lecture notes, photographs and paintings.
It is noteworthy that oligopeptides can remain stable for thousands of years, and take up even less space than DNA. Scientists have calculated that the entire New York Public Library can be preserved in a teaspoon of protein.
The average write speed is 8 bits per second, read speed is 20 bits per second. The accuracy is 99.9%.
Article by Cafferty et al. Storage of Information Using Small Organic Molecules is published in the journal ASC Central Science.
Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru