Codex DNA Demonstrates End-to-End Workflow for Storing and Retrieving Data in Synthetic DNA
April 26 2022 - 8:03AM
Codex DNA, Inc. (NASDAQ: DNAY), a pioneer in automated benchtop
synthetic biology systems, today announced the completion of
proof-of-concept demonstrations showing that its technology can be
used effectively for encoding digital data in DNA sequences, and
that the information that was stored could be retrieved accurately
afterward. This validation is an important step in the company’s
efforts to develop next-generation tools and applications for DNA
data storage.
“While other research teams have already proven the viability of
storing data in DNA, there has been less attention paid to ensuring
that data can be retrieved and decoded with high fidelity,” said
Dan Gibson, PhD, Chief Technology Officer at Codex DNA. “Our team,
which includes some of the first scientists to ever encode data in
DNA, is committed to developing a reliable, accurate, and automated
workflow to make DNA data storage and retrieval broadly
accessible.”
DNA can be used to store digital data by converting the binary
code of 0s and 1s in data files into the A, C, G, and T building
blocks of nucleic acids. The storage capacity of a DNA molecule is
significantly higher than that of standard data storage technology,
with the potential for encoding more than 200 petabytes of data per
gram of DNA. It also lasts longer; DNA has been shown to remain
intact for more than 1 million years. As a result, this method of
storing and retrieving digital data using DNA can revolutionize the
way data is stored.
In this study, Codex DNA researchers used the company’s
proprietary software algorithm to encode data files into DNA
sequence, optimized the synthesis of that DNA sequence, and then
successfully demonstrated the retrieval and decoding of the DNA
data with sequencing, completing the end-to-end workflow. The team
used this approach for an audio file — a brief snippet from “Hey
Jude” by The Beatles — and an image file of the company logo. The
work leverages a Codex DNA patent (US 10,818,378) for encoding data
into nucleic acids.
Separately, with these same algorithms and approach, Codex DNA
researchers used the BioXp™ 3250 system to both store and
retrieve an image file representing the Codex DNA logo. The company
logo was divided into 18 DNA sequences that were individually
synthesized and error-corrected on the BioXp system. The DNA data
fragments were further processed on the same BioXp system to
generate DNA sequencer-ready materials. Once sequenced, the file
was found to match the original data file exactly, thus
demonstrating for the first time an end-to-end automated solution
for DNA data storage and retrieval.
“Since we first launched the BioXp system for automated DNA
synthesis, we have been dedicated to supporting the scientific
community by continually expanding the system’s capabilities and
applications,” said Todd R. Nelson, PhD, CEO of Codex DNA. “We are
excited to make progress toward a complete workflow for DNA data
storage and retrieval, an area with tremendous potential for a
broad range of industries.”
The Codex DNA R&D team continues to enhance its DNA data
storage capabilities within the BioXp system workflows, including
the unique algorithm to ensure that data is encoded only in the
most stable and easily sequenced regions of DNA and the Gibson
Assembly® method for file indexing and compression. In addition,
the company is applying its recently announced SOLA™ enzymatic DNA
synthesis reagent solution to write DNA rapidly, efficiently, and
with high accuracy for data storage applications.
About Codex DNA
Codex DNA is empowering scientists with the ability to create
novel, synthetic biology solutions for many of humanity’s greatest
challenges. As inventors of the industry-standard Gibson Assembly®
method and the first commercial automated benchtop DNA and mRNA
synthesis system, Codex DNA is enabling rapid, accurate, and
reproducible writing of DNA and mRNA for numerous downstream
markets. The company’s award-winning BioXp™ system consolidates,
automates, and optimizes the entire synthesis, cloning, and
amplification workflow. As a result, it delivers virtually
error-free synthesis of DNA/RNA at scale within days and hours
instead of weeks or months. Scientists around the world are using
the technology in their own laboratories to accelerate the
design-build-test paradigm for novel, high-value products for
precision medicine, biologics drug discovery, vaccine and
therapeutic development, genome editing, and cell and gene therapy.
Codex DNA is a public company based in San Diego. For more
information, visit codexdna.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within
the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995, as amended. Such forward-looking statements are based on
Codex DNA’s beliefs and assumptions and on information currently
available to it on the date of this press release. Forward-looking
statements may involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and
other factors that may cause Codex DNA’s actual results,
performance, or achievements to be materially different from those
expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These
statements include but are not limited to statements regarding
Codex DNA’s ability to successfully develop DNA data storage
applications, and its DNA data storage’s usefulness as a form of
data storage. These and other risks are described more fully in
Codex DNA’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(“SEC”) and other documents that Codex DNA subsequently files with
the SEC from time to time. Except to the extent required by law,
Codex DNA undertakes no obligation to update such statements to
reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the
date on which they were made.
ContactRichard D. LepkeDirector, Investor
Relationsir@codexdna.com
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