Scientists at Kaunas University of Technology (KTU) in Lithuania have announced plans to create a DNA-based hard drive within the next three years. The research is being funded in partnership with Genomika and the European Union.
The use of DNA to store digital data is not a new technology. Genetic material has long been investigated as an alternative for storing massive amounts of information.
The KTU team, however, went further and promised an estimate for a finished product that could be used in practice. They emphasize that the need for a new data storage solution is more urgent than many people realize. By 2023, for example, humanity will reach 120 zettabytes in its data production—more than a billion terabytes.
The number is expected to increase by 20% per year in the coming years, according to Tom’s Hardware. Not only that, the increase could be even more significant because of generative AI. Dr. Lukas Žemaitis, co-founder of Genomika, says:
“If the problem with data storage is not solved, by 2060, huge data centers will cover the entire Earth’s surface.”
This is where DNA comes in. Researchers point out that the organic material has been researched worldwide to offer a “reliable, high-density, sustainable and economically viable” storage solution. In addition to taking up less physical space, a DNA-based drive would use less water for cooling and would eliminate the need for rare metals in its manufacture.
DINAMIC project aims to bring DNA to data centers
In addition to advancing research that could result in new technology products, the KTU team came up with a catchy acronym for their project: DINAMIC. This stands for DNA Microfactory for Autonomous Archiving.
In simplified terms, the idea is to use the nucleotides of deoxyribonucleic acid in place of the traditional 1s and 0s of the binary code. That is, the famous A (adenine) with T (thymine) and C (cytosine) with G (guanine) that many of us had to memorize in high school.
The solution should first appear in data centers, especially in the healthcare segment where data preservation is essential. Judging by the description of the technology’s uses, it is unlikely that we will see a DNA HD reach the home segment any time soon.
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Source: https://www.adrenaline.com.br/hardware/cientistas-buscam-criar-um-hd-baseado-em-dna-nos-proximos-tres-anos/
