dnarXiv goal

The dnarXiv project explores how digital information can be efficiently stored on DNA molecules.

dnarXiv motivation

Global data production is growing exponentially. The need for storage is increasing in the same proportion. Current storage media, such as hard disks, FLASH memory technologies or magnetic tapes, represent very high costs, especially for long-term storage. New storage alternatives need to be explored.

Why DNA

The DNA molecule has two major advantages:

• it is very dense: several Tera bytes of data can be stored in 1 mm3.
• it can be preserved over very long periods of time: several thousand years or even more.

DNA storage principle

dnarXiv research axes

Biotechnology: DNA synthesis and sequencing

This research axis aims to investigate how nanopore sequencing technologies can be efficiently exploited for DNA storage. It also aims to identify constraints that need to be considered for efficient coding and security methods.

Information encoding

Here, the goal of is first to develop new error models to capture DNA synthesis and DNA sequencing features, and then to design adapted codes.

Security

To avoid limitations and constraints for users, security should be included in the early steps of the development of upcoming technologies. The objective, here, is to investigate security mechanisms that are highly transparent and flexible for the users.

Experimental platform

These research axes are completed by an experimentation platform allowing to test the different hypotheses envisaged.

More information

A more detailled description of the dnarXiv proposal is available here.