Nucleic Acid Data Storage Encoding via Sequence Presence
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for encoding digital information into nucleic acids rely on costly base-by-base synthesis, making them inefficient for commercial implementation and error-prone for data retrieval.
Innovation Solution
Encoding bit-value information in the presence or absence of unique nucleic acid sequences within a pool, using combinatorial genomic strategies such as assembly of multiple nucleic acid sequences or enzymatic editing, to generate unique sequences without base-to-base synthesis, allowing for chemically linking components to create identifiers that represent digital information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If base-by-base nucleic acid synthesis is used to encode digital information, then data can be stored in nucleic acid molecules, but the cost of encoding becomes expensive and error-prone
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the nucleic acid sequence into discrete positional units (first position, second position, third position, fourth position) where each position can independently be occupied by a nucleic acid sequence or remain empty. This segmentation allows digital information to be encoded through the presence or absence of sequences at specific positions rather than requiring base-by-base synthesis, thereby reducing encoding cost while maintaining accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using base-by-base synthesis to create sequences (conventional approach), the patent inverts the approach by using the presence or absence of pre-defined nucleic acid sequences at positional locations to encode information. This inversion transforms the encoding problem from synthesis accuracy to positional recognition, which is cheaper and more reliable.
2Productivity
If base-by-base nucleic acid synthesis is used to encode digital information, then data can be stored, but the complexity of the encoding process increases
Solution Approach 1:
The encoding process is segmented into four distinct positional slots rather than requiring complex base-by-base synthesis. Each position can be independently filled with a nucleic acid sequence or left empty, simplifying the encoding process while maintaining the ability to store digital information efficiently through the combinatorial arrangement of these segments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs preliminary action by pre-defining the possible nucleic acid sequences that can be placed at each position before encoding begins. This allows the encoding process to simply involve selecting and placing pre-prepared sequences at the correct positions rather than synthesizing bases individually, significantly reducing process complexity.
3Ease of manufacture
If base-by-base synthesis is used for each new information storage request, then data can be encoded, but time and resources are consumed inefficiently
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-synthesizing a library of possible nucleic acid sequences that can be used at each positional location. This allows subsequent encoding operations to simply involve selecting and placing pre-made sequences rather than performing time-consuming base-by-base synthesis for each new data storage request, thereby reducing both cost and time.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of creating unique sequences from scratch for each encoding task, the patent uses copying by selecting from a pre-existing library of standardized nucleic acid sequences. These sequences can be reused and copied across different encoding operations, eliminating the need for repeated de novo synthesis and significantly reducing time and resource consumption.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach reduces the cost and complexity of encoding and retrieving data, enabling efficient and commercially viable nucleic acid digital data storage by eliminating the need for de novo synthesis of nucleic acid sequences for each new information storage request.
Implementation Method 1
generating at least one sticky end of the individual component of the plurality of components, chemically linking together two or more components of the plurality of components via the at least one sticky end
Implementation Method 2
using combinatorial genomic strategies such as assembly of multiple nucleic acid sequences or enzymatic editing, to generate unique sequences without base-to-base synthesis
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure discloses methods and systems for encoding digital information in nucleic acid (e.g., deoxyribonucleic acid) molecules without base-by-base synthesis, by encoding bit-value information in the presence or absence of unique nucleic acid sequences within a pool, comprising specifying each bit location in a bit-stream with a unique nucleic sequence and specifying the bit value at that location by the presence or absence of the corresponding unique nucleic acid sequence in the pool. Also disclosed are chemical methods for generating unique nucleic acid sequences using combinatorial genomic strategies (e.g., assembly of multiple nucleic acid sequences or enzymatic-based editing of nucleic acid sequences).