Bioencryption can store almost a million gigabytes of data inside bacteria

[Swede]

Now that's gonna shrink computers. Probably lead to bioimplanting.


A new method of data storage that converts information into DNA sequences allows you to store the contents of an entire computer hard-drive on a gram's worth of E. coli bacteria...and perhaps considerably more than that.

The idea of storing data inside bacteria has been around for about a decade. Even very simple bacteria have long strands of DNA with tons of bases available for data encryption, and bacteria are by their nature far more resilient to damage than more traditional electronic storage. Bacteria are nature's hardiest survivors, capable of surviving just about any disaster that would finish off a regular hard drive. Besides, bacteria's natural reproduction would create lots of redundant copies of the data, which would help preserve the integrity of the information and make retrieval easier.

Preparing traditional data for storage inside bacteria is simple enough. There are four DNA bases that can be used to make up the DNA strings: adenine, cytosine, guanine, and thymine. That basically means we're working with a four number system, also known as quaternary numbers.

http://io9.com/5699767/bioencryption-can-store-almost-a-million-gigabytes-of-data-inside-bacteria

[daleanime]

1. Bookmarked....

for later.

[Schema Thing]

2. Keep your hands in the air and back slowly away from the Purell

[jmondine]

3. "Now available on DVD, Blu-Ray and E-Coli"

[jmondine]

4. Gives a whole new meaning to the term Computer Virus

[toddwv]

6. If they can do it with bacteria, then can do it with viruses eventually.

Unfortunately, for everyone else hoping that a dvir (data virus, that's right...I'm coining the term right here right now) can cure stupidity, there would have to be an interface present in the host to decode the info so don't hold your breath.

[bigmonkey]

5. Possession of bacteria now a misdemeanor.

Possession of Top Secret bacteria a felony, even if picked up from a discarded napkin or dirty glass.

[Twillig]

7. Forget forcing you to talk,

interrogators will want to make you spill your guts.

[The Doctor.]

8. Won't it be interesting once decryption is perfected and we find information ALREADY THERE.

{cue creepy music}