Microsoft Joins Hands with Twist Bioscience to Store Data-Using Synthetic DNA

Microsoft has successfully stored and extracted important data in and from DNA strands by the help from a new start-up Twist Bioscience 

Microsoft has struck a contract with Twist Bioscience ─ a new forensic startup to develop and use synthetic DNA strands to store information so that data can be safely stored for thousands of years. The company purchased 10 million molecules from the startup. According to IEEE, the company has successfully transferred a chunk of data on the DNA or RNA molecules, and has also extracted the information successfully. Microsoft collaborated with Twist Bioscience and together, they sequenced the 10 million molecules accordingly. Twist Bioscience does not have any information stored on the stands, however, in order to extract and decode the information, DNA sequencing is needed and it doesn’t have the key to do so.
Partner Architect Doug Carmean added that although the company has successfully transferred data and retrieved it, there is still a long way to go as the aim of this project is to make a “commercially viable product.” For some years now, scientists have been working on projects similar to this data storage project that will help store information in a secure place.

In 2012, Harvard successfully stored 704 terabytes of information into one gram of DNA molecules. Researchers at Stanford, during the same year, successfully created re-writable DNA molecules inside living cells. It would not come to us as a shock if people walked around with DNA strands containing secrets and personal information about themselves, their companies, and other vital data stored within them. Many companies already have chips implanted under the skin of their employees that contains important information about the employee, and even gives them access to different things. The Manager’s chip will have special codes for doors only the Manager can open while simply swiping his/her hand. The chips are used to evaluate the employee’s attendance an

d their work efficiency.

Source: Tech News Today