DNAlagring

DNAlagring, or DNA storage, is a method for encoding and preserving digital information in synthetic deoxyribonucleic acid. In this approach, digital data are converted into sequences of the four nucleotides A, C, G, and T using an encoding scheme that often includes redundancy and error-correcting codes. The resulting DNA strings are synthesized and stored in a stable physical form, such as dried droplets or solution. To retrieve the data, the DNA is sequenced and the resulting nucleotide sequences are decoded back into binary data, using the same encoding scheme and error-correction.

DNA storage is characterized by very high data density and long-term durability under proper conditions, potentially spanning centuries at room temperature when properly sealed. It is being explored primarily for archival and rare-access data preservation rather than everyday data storage. However, it faces practical challenges: high cost and slow write speeds due to DNA synthesis, and readout requires sequencing and substantial computational decoding; error rates from synthesis, degradation, and sequencing must be mitigated with robust coding, indexing, and data partitioning. Random access usually requires strategies to selectively amplify or extract specific DNA fragments.

The field emerged from demonstrations in the early 2010s, notably the first experimental encodings of digital information into DNA, with subsequent advances achieving larger data sets and improved encoding schemes. Today, researchers are pursuing cheaper synthesis methods, faster sequencing, scalable encoding, and standardized formats to enable practical archival use. Potential applications include national archives, libraries, and long-term backups where physical stability and density offer advantages over conventional media.