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Week 9 [20-26.05.2019] Information Storage in DNA


Today people don’t feel a lack of space to store their information. We have cloud technologies with billions of terabytes of free space where we can store our photos, videos, important documents, etc, while 50 years ago people had to choose what information was important enough to save it on those huge machines that had only a few kilobytes of memory. Today we can store any information we want not worrying about its size or importance, but there is another problem that most users don’t see: huge data centres which cost a lot and take a lot of space. That is how big data has become a big problem. Scientists found out an alternative of hard drives: data storage in DNA. This idea is described in the video below:






  1. What do you think about an idea of storing data in DNA?
  2. Do you think that people are playing God synthesizing the most important thing of every organism just for storing files like pictures, images, etc?
  3. Do you see any problem of using DNA storage in our everyday life?

Comments

I believe that the idea of ​​storing information in DNA is interesting, but we can only achieve it when we understand DNA. Now we know almost nothing. We do not know how a man works. Let's not spoil people just for curiosity.

As I mentioned above, I think it is stupidity. I believe that you have to take care of yourself and your life and not experiment without any knowledge.

I believe that understanding DNA is the biggest problem. Scientists have no idea how it works and what it is for. Maybe, when storing data, a man would lose his humanity :(

I dont belive in that video!
There are a lot of information how DNA works. DNA of every creature is unique. In simple words, DNA is a unique nucleotide sequence. People know, how DNA creates, divides (RNA), I have studied it at school. Moreover, humans know how to modify DNA (experiment of He Jiankui). So the next step in DNA research is how we can use it for different purposes.
I do not see any problem in storing information in DNA. Humanity has always "Played God" during its entire existence. With such approach you can basically call any scientific achievement blasphemy. We can, and should improve on each aspect of life, and running out of computational power, storage for data, etc. is one of them.
I think that this can be dangerous and for many people it can be morally incorrect. Certainly, storing DNA could be used in medicine. For example, for the production of organs that could be transplanted. There are also those who think that you can’t exchange organs like components in your car. However, what would happen if someone stole our DNA from the database and what would he do with it?

This is a very difficult moral issue. Personally, I am a man of science and everything that is progress fascinates me. However, I realize that there are many opponents. After all, keeping organisms in the fridge is like holding brake pads in a warehouse.

It depends on the level of use of my data. I would be more worried about the security of this data. If I had to use them on a daily basis, it means that they could be easily accessible to someone. I am afraid that if someone would have their possession, he could take credit for it or use it to denigrate me to extort the benefits.
s18716 said…
What do you think about an idea of storing data in DNA?
If it can somehow be improved, then maybe it would be a good progressive idea. Although DNA itself is a repository of vast amounts of information. By the way, natural and real gift of nature. The main thing is that these ideas do not damage human development.

Do you think that people are playing God synthesizing the most important thing of every organism just for storing files like pictures, images, etc?
Well, in fact, within reason, if a person has the opportunity to any advanced and useful idea, why not use it. It is just worth considering the risks, it is worth minimizing them, if it doesn’t really work out, then it’s better not to interfere with the body’s natural processes.

Do you see any problem of using DNA storage in our everyday life?
Maybe such ideas will help solve some problems of people with genetic abnormalities, not directly, but in the course of these studies new facts can be discovered, it would be great. But in general, I would not joke with such things, if success is not guaranteed.
Maciej Sadoś said…
1. For sure it could be a revolutionizing technology. Now it seems mind-blowing but as we can see researches show that it’s possible. On one of our lectures in an Academy told us that he works in a project where they try to save data in a bacteria (possibly in a DNA of one), and he said that it’s already working. Incredible.

2. I think the development process of our civilization shouldn’t be stopped due to some ‘God playing’ arguments. In my opinion it’s rather a matter of ethics and morality. Like it was with these human clones in china, maybe we are not ready yet to ‘put it in production’ but as the development have never been stopped, we could see the real, working example that someday might be implemented in our everyday lives.

3. The one problem that come to my mind is access to the data - saving and retrieving it requires access to our organisms so we might probably have to find a way to connect to ourselves and it would probably be through blood.. So it’s required to use some injection which might be dangerous and not always secure. In such a projects security is the highest priority.
I love the idea, and i think that we need to research thoroughly all the aspects and effects of dna modification, fr the betterment of humanity and brighter future. I do not think that people should restrain themselves because of uneducated covards are afraid that we play God, if these people were responsible for the mankind decisions we would still live in caves afraid of fire. I am not sure that memory storage is the most interesting way that a dna changing technology can be used on, i think that modifying human features and eliminating deceases is more important.
Anna Koca said…
What do you think about an idea of storing data in DNA?
I find it a bit drastic at the moment. It reminds me of chips planted underneath our skins to control us and all these not nice associations.

Do you think that people are playing God synthesizing the most important thing of every organism just for storing files like pictures, images, etc?
Like I said, to me it's probably just another step at human development, we could see from way beyond that our civilization is heading towards cyborgs, biomechanics and all that stuff - you can find those predictions in popculture, games, movies, you name it. But yeah, I feel it sound a bit like playing God to me, at least at the moment. Maybe we need some time to get used to the idea.
1. I think it can revolutionize our life and this is great idea. Creating organic devices it's incredible concept

2. There is no such thing as 'playing god'. It is good science is pushing to achieve such things and it should be encouraged.

3. Seeing problems in these things is holding progress back. People should denounce such close-minded thinking.
1. What do you think about an idea of storing data in DNA?
I think that it’s great idea on paper, but I don’t think that it’s going to happen. Too much possible drawbacks, too much money needed to perform a series of scientific studies, and yeaah It’s not going to happen.
2. Do you think that people are playing God synthesizing the most important thing of every organism just for storing files like pictures, images, etc?
No, I think that it’s just stupid inefficient idea, probably to get money from venture capitalists.
3. Do you see any problem of using DNA storage in our everyday life?
I see a lot of possible problems, but as I said, I don’t believe in this idea.
And again an interesting article. I think it will be a breakthrough in science, and sooner or later it will happen. People don't play god. Religion was needed only to control people. Only a stupid man does not fully understand this. My grandfather now goes to the sect. They worship some god, and my grandfather is ready to give all his possessions. This is a clear example of the problem of faith. Watch the movie "Game Of Thrones". It clearly shows what is happening with humanity. People are stupid by nature. Chasing power and gold. They want to manage everything. Until then, until the system of control of humanity is invented, which can limit people in bad deeds, this problem will exist. Look at the policies of big countries. Some countries show themselves to be democratic and do not cause concern. And some of them bind people and restrict information in order to gain more power in order to seize resources and rule the world. We need to limit it somehow. I do not know how to solve this problem, but I know that this problem exists. If DNA is synthesized and stored in a test tube, it will not bring any problems. Probably. I'm not good at it. Of course, there may be a problem. For example, gene modified children who will live longer than usual, they can enslave entire generations. This is the problem. Need to be careful. This is really dangerous.
What do you think about an idea of storing data in DNA?
I have already heard a similar data storage idea before. This is interesting to me. But in my opinion, it will be difficult to put into practice.
Do you think that people are playing God synthesizing the most important thing of every organism just for storing files like pictures, images, etc?

On the one hand, yes. It is terrible to imagine the consequences if they make a mistake. Although, on the other hand, it is unlikely that these, data will be stored in a living organism. And DNA and so stores the data. So, perhaps this is just a natural development of science because electronic data storage is very short-lived. Once people learned to make fire and others also thought that they were playing God.
Do you see any problem of using DNA storage in our everyday life?
We will use it in everyday life, maybe in a hundred years. In the meantime, this is all only in the development and after creation will be used to store the knowledge of mankind.
1. What do you think about an idea of storing data in DNA?

I think this is a great idea it definitely will drastically impact our everyday life. However, I think we need more time to make it real. Also, to be honest, I can't imagine using it in practice now.

2. Do you think that people are playing God synthesizing the most important thing of every organism just for storing files like pictures, images, etc?

No, definitely no. For me playing God is creating a new life. Like Frankenstein. And this is just a new wave of progress and who knows, maybe in 15-20 years, it will be normal to save all your data in DNA.

3. Do you see any problem of using DNA storage in our everyday life?

I think it depends, on how much will be needed to make this happen. In my opinion, there shouldn't be any problems. It will be used in everyday life just like how we use the cloud to store our data.
There is no need to use DNA for the production of organs that could be transplanted, as there already exist printing of needed organ for your unique living tissue. What would happen if someone stole our DNA from the database? Your DNA would not be stored, only synthetic DNA with encoded files. I'm pretty sure that mostly everybody uses cloud storage and it's safe, so why DNA storage must be unsafe?
Yana Lytvynenko said…
I think this topic is quite interesting and promising in the future. Since it is true that our data is now stored in temporary things (phones, computers, clouds) and the fact that everything develops quickly enough, which also creates problems about frequent changes in the source of data storage.
I do not think that people play God creating such things, because many technologies are created according to the principle of work of something in nature (at least artificial intelligence like the brain)I hope that scientists will develop and translate into ordinary life.
Rostyslav, thank you for commenting! I'm glad to see so enthusiastic person. I'm pretty sure that DNA storage would be available for everyone much more quicker than 15 years.
Thank you for commenting! How, in your opinion, this idea could damage human development? Your observation that it also could help to solve some problems of people with genetic abnormalities is very interesting.
Thank you for commenting, Anna. I think many people need time to feel comfortable with such a strange and not typical technology. Anyway years ago a possibility to see each other being on different continents was also impossible as well as a possibility of flying was terrifying. Being afraid of something such revolutionary as DNA storage is normal, but also should notice how incredible those scientists are.
Dmytro, thank you for sharing your thoughts with us. Your position about religion is very modern and a little bit skeptic. Religion helps a lot of people to deal with woe and make them feel protected or not alone. In some cased religion makes sense. About DNA I agree with your point of view and hope that soon we could test this incredible technology.
1. Idea about storing data in DNA sounds very good but let's face it - medicine is not so well developed, we have deficiencies in information. Firstly, we must learn more about DNA, information storing etc. We have insufficient knowledge on this subject,a bout DNA. I am not saying this is impossible, this is the song of the future.

2. In my point of view, playing God is a very strange and stupid idea. All this is done for money and fame. We should not play with nature. And all of this is in name of what? Science?

3. It's really hard to answer this question, because I'm not in topic, but surely there are problems of using DNA storage in our everyday life. Like everywhere, we have problems.
For me the whole idea is strange. I do not believe that science is so advanced that we can use our DNA for information storage. We do have troubles with the amount of i formation worldwide, and we need to think about its storage, but I am not sure scientists will process it without harm for our next generations.
1. Really interesting and I would like to read more about it to understand it.
2. In my opinion it is only a tool. Similar to using animal skins as clothes.
3. Complicated devices to read data so possible failures.
1. It’s the most efficient way of storing information known to man and better still it’s passive, i.e. doesn’t require a constant energy input. Having a DNA sequencer on a phone would be very neat.
2. The phrase “playing god” seems out of place here. We are not talking strictly about tinkering with living organisms, just emulating one of their core systems to store data. That being said, I cannot wait for someone to encode a cat picture in DNA and then try to actually grow it. It’s a hilariously unavoidable reality.
3. Just the practical ones: we need better ways of storing it. Recording my diploma in a tube of DNA just to spill it on the day of my defence would be maddening.
Peter Clemenza said…
What do you think about an idea of storing data in DNA?
Quite nice (double helix, and good repait system) however mutations will depreciate code

Do you think that people are playing God synthesizing the most important thing of every organism just for storing files like pictures, images, etc?
No, laboratories are doing it every day while synthesizing chains for reserch

Do you see any problem of using DNA storage in our everyday life?
there are better ways

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