Posted on 03/01/2007 3:15:26 PM PST by LibWhacker
Scientists successfully store "e=mc2 1905" on DNA of living matter
February 27, 2007 (Computerworld) -- A Japanese university announced scientists there have developed a new technology that uses bacteria DNA as a medium for storing data long-term, even for thousands of years.
Keio University Institute for Advanced Biosciences and Keio University Shonan Fujisawa Campus announced the development of the new technology, which creates an artificial DNA that carries up to more than 100 bits of data within the genome sequence, according to the JCN Newswire.
The universities said they successfully encoded "e= mc2 1905!" -- Einstein's theory of relativity and the year he enunciated it -- on the common soil bacteria, Bacillius subtilis.
While the technology would most likely first be used to track medication, it could also be used to store text and images for many millennia, thwarting the longevity issues associated with today's disk and tape storage systems -- which only store data for up to 100 years in most cases.
The artificial DNA that carries the data to be preserved makes multiple copies of the DNA and inserts the original as well as identical copies into the bacterial genome sequence. The multiple copies work as backup files to counteract natural degradation of the preserved data, according to the newswire.
Bacteria have particularly compact DNA, which is passed down from generation to generation. The information stored in that DNA can also be passed on for long-term preservation of large data files, the scientists said.
Now The RIAA will want to include DRM on all bacteria.
heh
So all the porn on the internet could be stored on a pile of crap.
"So all the porn on the internet could be stored on a pile of crap."
You get the chuckle prize of the day. Great work and thanks.
My ex-wife's fridge can be used to store the Library of Congress.
Someone better start looking at all the bacteria. Perhaps earth achieved a higher civilization millions of years ago and tried to leave us a message, "Keep your eyes on Congress."
Or ET might've left us a message. Saw an article a couple of months ago that suggested that the SETI people should be looking at bacteria for evidence of ET instead of data from Arecibo, anyone remember it? Can't find it to save my life now.
42
oops. Sorry Guys, I killed that ET data carrying bacteria when I used Lysol to clean my kitchen floor. But the Lysol did leave a clean fresh smelling scent if that is any consolation.
"Hey what's my hard drive doing in the trash?"
"That was your hard drive? I thought it was a moldy circle of cheese!"
Oh, man... You may have just set civilization back 10,000 years!
ping.
Very interesting.
Or, "Beware the military industrial complex, it'll ruin ya"
Does that mean that there will be more bugs in computer programs?
No, but it explains why Vista is a stinking pile of crap. They stored it in the super secret "doggy pyramid" out in the yard to thwart code thieves.
Watch out with the Lysol...
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