Data Storing Bacteria Could Last Millennia 252
PetManimal writes "Computerworld has a story about a new technology developed by Keio University researchers that creates artificial bacterial DNA that can carry more than 100 bits of data within the genome sequence. The researchers claimed that they encoded "e= mc2 1905!" on the common soil bacteria, Bacillius subtilis. The bacteria-based data storage method has backup and long-term archival functionality." The researchers say "While the technology would most likely first be used to track medication, it could also be used to store text and images for many millennia, thwarting the longevity issues associated with today's disk and tape storage systems ... The artificial DNA that carries the data to be preserved makes multiple copies of the DNA and inserts the original as well as identical copies into the bacterial genome sequence. The multiple copies work as backup files to counteract natural degradation of the preserved data, according to the newswire. Bacteria have particularly compact DNA, which is passed down from generation to generation. The information stored in that DNA can also be passed on for long-term preservation of large data files."
Shareware (Score:5, Funny)
It's also not a bad way to distribute movies. Let the RIAA sue a bunch of bugs for file sharing.
And windows could be distibuted on anthrax bacteria, so users would learn to be appropriately wary.
Obligatory comment (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Shareware (Score:3, Funny)
And note that I will happily download BacteriaTorrent as soon as I can be sure I only get movies and not some awful flesh-eating disease that makes me look like an RIAA executive, or maybe Jack Thompson.
backup corruption? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Shareware (Score:3, Funny)
That would explain AOL CDs.
Massive Storage Server (Score:1, Funny)
Bacteriophage (Score:5, Funny)
Obligatory bad virus joke (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Overwriting? (Score:3, Funny)
goatse (Score:5, Funny)
Imagine a Scientist from the 37th century scanning a particular bacteria's DNA sequence and hit Goatse
not as big as the 80s (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Longevity Issues (Score:2, Funny)
Or something like that. I might not be the best at futuristic thrillers.
very dangerous (Score:2, Funny)
into "spare" DNA then sooner or later you are going to create a lethal pathogen - purely on the basis
of probablity and statistics.
Of course you can be sure the one that wipes out all life on Earth will turn out to be an Mp3 encoding
of a Britney Spears tune.
Re:Obligatory comment (Score:2, Funny)
- I suppose this would give a new meaning to 'core dump'.
- 2000 flushes: The blue clean of death
Ok, that's all the programming toilet jokes I can think of. Somebody do some better ones. I can't think tonight.
Uh oh (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Shareware (Score:2, Funny)
Of course, it evolves to benefit its host species' reproduction. I'm not exactly sure what implications that would have for a word processor.
Re:Shareware (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Obligatory comment (Score:3, Funny)
- Being infected with a Virus gets a new meaning
- Virus cleaners need to be Dettol with a swab
- Worms can't infect Bacteria. In fact Bacteria can infect worms to carry messages
- The word "operating environment" takes a whole new meaning
- Google will have 1.3 million cubic feet of... "bacteria" with some dying and others being grown.
- Shipment of bacteria memories across borders will require truckers to have Biological warfare certificates and Bio-Suits...
- My USB drive can glow in the dark...
Ok, that's all i can think of before i continue my work-:)
Re:A Must (Score:5, Funny)
Friend #1: "Dude, I was hungry, so I helped myself to your yogurt."
Friend #2: "Dude, you just ate my porn collection!"
42 (Score:3, Funny)
In Soviet China... (Score:3, Funny)
First Encoding (Score:3, Funny)
In other news, what was presumed to be junk DNA in the human genome has been decoded. It turns out it contains a message: "Help - I'm trapped in a creature factory."
Re:Shareware (Score:2, Funny)