Robust Storage of Chinese Language in a Pool of Small Single-Stranded DNA Rings and Its Facile Reading-Out

Abstract

Abstract Archival storage in DNA is one of the most challenging themes in rapidly growing information technology. In addition, its practical applications are more difficult due to complicated data analysis, instability of long and linear DNA strands (>1000 nt), and other factors. In the present study, we have developed a simple and eminent DNA-based storage system in which small DNA rings are employed as memory units. Compared with previous approaches, this methodology has advantages of robustness, low cost, convenience and so on. In high density, Chinese language was directly stored in a pool of 76-nt-long single-stranded DNA rings (designated as “Info-Store”), in which each ring memorized the index number and five Chinese characters (or marks). During “Read-Out”, all the ssDNA rings in the pool were simultaneously amplified by hyper-branched rolling cycle amplification (HRCA), and their sequences were accurately determined by a portable MinION sequencer aided by a personal computer. Then, the original Chinese text was precisely and smoothly decoded by simple data analysis.