Sсiеntifiс Аmеricаn (2019-06)

Photograph by Dan Saelinger June 2019, ScientificAmerican.com 69

How DNA is used to store—

and generate—information

at extreme scales

By James E. Dahlman

IN BRIEF

DNA has many properties that make it ideal for

storing information—and not just genetic code.

But it is not yet capable of replacing traditional

electronic storage such as hard drives.

As sequencing methods have improved, however,

researchers in fields such as chemical engineering

are using DNA as a molecular recorder that allows

them to generate data at unprecedented speeds.

In this way, DNA is being used to both “read” and

“write” information. This progress could have big

implications for accelerating drug development and

treating diseases.

BIOTECHNOLOGY

ALL THE

WORLD’S

DATA

COULD FIT

IN AN EGG