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

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

denoted by A, G, C and T) consists in the complexityand the high cost of the chemical process. In addition, reading data stored in a base pair sequence 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 researchers,relies on a second method of reading data from DNA. The recording and reading system consists in the binding of complementary single-stranded DNA to streptavidin molecules. If, when passing through nanopores, changes in the ion current show the presence of streptavidin, this element is read as a unit, if a molecule is absent, it is 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.