Towards practical and robust DNA-based data archiving using the yin-yang codec system.

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Bioinformatics
• Data Storage

Background:

• DNA offers exceptional durability and storage density for data.
• Existing DNA data storage methods face challenges in biocompatibility and decoding accuracy.
• Efficient bit-to-base transcoding is crucial for reliable DNA data storage.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a robust DNA transcoding algorithm, the yin-yang codec.
• To enhance compatibility with DNA synthesis and sequencing.
• To demonstrate high-fidelity data storage in vitro and in vivo.

Main Methods:

• Developed the yin-yang codec, encoding two binary bits into one nucleotide using two rules.
• Stored diverse file formats in vitro as oligo pools and in vivo as DNA fragments in yeast.
• Utilized sequencing to assess data recovery rates and storage density.

Main Results:

• The yin-yang codec achieved an average recovery rate of 99.9% above 10^4 molecule copies.
• A recovery rate of 87.53% was achieved at low molecule copy numbers (≤10^2).
• In vivo storage demonstrated a physical density approaching the theoretical maximum.

Conclusions:

• The yin-yang codec provides a robust and reliable solution for DNA data storage.
• This method significantly improves compatibility with current DNA technologies.
• Demonstrated successful in vitro and in vivo data storage with high fidelity.