High-Data-Density, High-Decoding-Speed, and High-Decoding-Accuracy DNA Data Ink for Digital Preservation

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Authors: Taeseok Kang, Doyeon Lim, Wonjin Lee, Jungwoo Kim, Jungwoo Kim, Xiaohua C. Huang, Jinchul Kim, Jinchul Kim, Youngjun Song
Cited by: 1
References: 29

Abstract

DNA-based storage offers exceptional information density, durability, and energy efficiency compared to conventional digital media, yet practical implementation faces challenges including high synthesis costs, sequencing errors, and slow access speeds. Here, we present an integrated DNA storage system with optimized encoding and processing strategies to address practical implementation issues. Our approach achieves 9.78 bits/nt net information density with a flexible index allocation system handling data volume from 0.37 KB to 2.79 × 10 22 YB. The decoding process delivers 360× faster throughput than traditional methods, processing 4.57 million reads (1.63 GB) in 34.5 s and demonstrating perfect data retrieval from down-sampled (×5.33) sequencing in 2.47 s. Our error correction system combines inner Reed-Solomon with outer XOR code, ensuring reliable recovery with large reading sequences (92,626) and low copy number data (×0.52). The streamlined NGS preparation workflow reduces processing time from ∼4.5 to ∼2 h while decreasing per-sample costs from ∼$60 to ∼$0.50. The system demonstrates versatility through high-fidelity DNA data storage ink and implementations ranging from physical stamps to VR platforms. This technology establishes a foundation for practical DNA data storage solutions applicable to cultural heritage preservation, autonomous vehicle data management, and matrix-based machine learning applications.

Fields of Study & Subjects

DNA and Biological Computing Advanced Data Storage Technologies Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies

Publication details

Journal / source
ACS Nano
Publisher
American Chemical Society (ACS)
Volume
20
Issue
4
Pages
3444–3460
Publication date
21 January 2026
Language
EN