Scientists have created a new method for storing and overwriting data in DNA

The main difficulty is in converting digital information (0,1) into DNA code (consisting of a chain of nucleotides,

designated A, G, C and T) consists of labor intensityand the high cost of the chemical process. Moreover, reading data stored in a sequence of base pairs is also a slow and expensive process.

Although DNA sequencing technology is already widelyused, it is inconvenient for reading specially encrypted information: the fact is that the method is based on the replication of billions of copies of a molecule to amplify signals from protein interactions.

There is a second approach that involvespassing a DNA molecule through nanopores and reading information from it in real time. Despite the fact that reading bits from base pairs in the main DNA chain is cheaper and more efficient, while this process takes too much time.

The new method proposed by the researchersrelies on the second method of reading data from DNA. The writing and reading system involves the binding of complementary single-stranded DNA to streptavidin molecules. If changes in the ion current as it passes through the nanopores indicate the presence of streptavidin, this element is read as one; if the molecule is absent, it is read as zero.

In the future, this method will make it easy to record, as well as store encrypted data and overwrite them, the authors of the study note.

Earlier, Microsoft, together with engineers from the University of Washington, developed a technology for storing digital data in the form of DNA. The system allows you to translate data into DNA and decode them.