DNAto

DNAto is a term used in biotechnology and information science to describe methods and systems that translate DNA sequences into data representations and, in many cases, convert digital information into DNA sequences for storage or synthesis. It sits at the intersection of genomics, DNA data storage, and molecular computing and is often used as a generic label for translation pipelines between biological and digital domains.

Core components include data encoding, mapping binary data to DNA bases under constraints to maximize stability, such as balanced GC content. Error-correcting codes and primers mitigate synthesis and sequencing errors. Readout relies on sequencing and base calling to recover data, followed by decoding algorithms. The reverse direction uses DNA synthesis and assembly to produce DNA constructs that encode information for storage or programmable biology.

Applications include demonstrations of DNA data storage, archival storage of digital media, and provenance tagging in biotech workflows. In education and research, DNAto concepts help illustrate encoding theory by linking digital data to biological substrates.

Although not a single standardized technology, DNAto draws on established work in DNA data storage and DNA computing. Major limitations include the cost and latency of synthesis and sequencing, potential error rates, and ethical or regulatory considerations for DNA-based information systems.

See also: DNA data storage, DNA computing, synthetic biology, encoding theory.