DNA Data Encoding With VDNA Fragments for Compact Archival Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current data storage technologies face challenges in efficiently managing the rapidly increasing volume of digital data, as they require large amounts of silicon and significant energy, leading to potential shortages and unsustainable costs by 2040, especially with projected data growth to 45 Zetta-Bytes by 2025.
Innovation Solution
The use of DNA as a storage medium, where digital data is encoded into a compressed DNA representation, allowing for extremely compact storage over centuries or longer, using virtual genetics to manipulate DNA sequences and fragments, and utilizing a system that includes encoding, fragmentation, and lossless compression techniques to optimize storage efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If traditional silicon-based data storage is used to store increasing volumes of digital data, then data storage capacity is improved, but silicon material supply is exhausted and energy consumption becomes prohibitive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental material parameter from silicon-based storage to DNA-based storage. DNA molecules can store data at extremely high densities (up to 215 petabytes per gram), transforming the storage capacity parameter while eliminating dependence on silicon material supply constraints
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/electronic silicon-based storage system with a biochemical DNA storage system. Digital data is encoded into DNA sequences through chemical synthesis, and retrieved through biochemical processes like PCR amplification and sequencing, substituting mechanical operations with biochemical reactions
2Quantity of substance
If traditional data centers are expanded to store more data, then storage capacity is improved, but energy consumption becomes prohibitive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the energy consumption parameter by transitioning from active electronic storage requiring continuous power for maintenance to passive biochemical storage. DNA stored at -20°C or lower requires minimal energy for maintenance, eliminating the need for continuous cooling and power supply infrastructure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces energy-intensive electronic storage operations with low-energy biochemical processes. Data encoding uses chemical synthesis, storage maintains data through natural DNA stability, and retrieval uses PCR amplification and sequencing—replacing continuous electrical power requirements with occasional biochemical operations
3Reliability
If data is backed up or archived on a 10-year cycle using traditional storage, then data redundancy is improved, but storage material requirements and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the durability parameter of storage media from limited-lifespan silicon devices to extremely stable DNA molecules. DNA can preserve data for thousands of years under proper conditions, eliminating the need for frequent 10-year backup cycles and reducing material requirements for redundant storage
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates error correction codes and redundancy mechanisms directly into the DNA sequence design during the encoding phase. This preliminary action ensures data integrity and recoverability without requiring frequent external backup operations, reducing overall material requirements
Data Source
AI summary
Devices, methods, and systems for encoding data as DNA are provided. An encoder device can include circuitry to encode a data file having a bit sequence encoding data and to generate a virtual DNA (VDNA) sequence of virtual nucleotide bases (Vnb) that reversibly encodes the bit sequence of the data file, divide the VDNA sequence into a plurality of VDNA fragments, associate each VDNA fragment with an archive library sequence (Arc_SEQ), and generate a read instruction (READ) sequence of differences between each VDNA fragment and each associated Arc_SEQ including sufficient instruction to facilitate regeneration of each VDNA fragment from each associated Arc_SEQ. A codeword sequence (Code_SEQ) is additionally generated for each VDNA fragment that includes a codename identifying the associated Arc_SEQ, the READ sequence associated with the VDNA fragment, and an index sequence (Idx_SEQ) including an index mapping of the VDNA fragment in the VDNA sequence.