{"id":11737,"date":"2018-07-18T12:24:28","date_gmt":"2018-07-18T19:24:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:drivesaversdatarecovery.com\/\/?p=11737"},"modified":"2026-01-28T04:51:51","modified_gmt":"2026-01-28T12:51:51","slug":"growing-data-dna-data-storage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/drivesaversdatarecovery.com\/en-au\/blog\/growing-data-dna-data-storage\/","title":{"rendered":"Growing Data: DNA Data Storage"},"content":{"rendered":"
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By Mike Cobb, Director of Engineering<\/em><\/p>\n

Advancements in data storage technology have not ended with flash. Have you heard of storing data in DNA?<\/p>\n

Growing Amount of Data<\/h2>\n

As computers, smartphones and tablets become more and more widespread, the amount of data being produced is growing at an exponential and staggering rate. It seems that every two years, there\u2019s a new report saying 90% of the world\u2019s data was created in the last two years. Today, there are 3.7 billion people using the internet and we are creating 2.5 million terabytes<\/a> of data every single day.
\nIt goes without saying that as more data is created each year, more storage is needed to hold that data. Cloud storage companies, corporations and government entities are perpetually busy adding to their servers, adding new servers and otherwise increasing capacity for stored data. And so far, storage device manufacturers have kept up with demand.
\nBut with the exponentially increasing need for storage devices and data storage space, will production continue to outrun demand? According to scientists at data storage company Catalog<\/a>, it will not.
\nHyunjun Park, CEO and co-founder of Catalog, told Digital Trends<\/a> that he expects data produced to far outweigh worldwide storage capacity as early as 2025. He expects that, if we continue with current storage technology, by 2025 we will only be capable of storing less than 15% of the world\u2019s data. Catalog\u2019s answer? DNA.
\nWatch Daily Mail’s interview with Catalog co-founder Hyunjun Park.<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

What is DNA Storage and How Can It be Used?<\/h2>\n

As science fiction as this concept may sound, nobody is taking blood from a person or an animal and storing data in their DNA. Instead, synthetic DNA will be manufactured for the purpose of data storage.
\nThere are currently several companies in business who produce synthetic DNA that never belonged to any living thing. Applications are far ranging and include everything from developing antiviral medications to making fabric for clothing. Data storage is just one more practical use.
\nIf you\u2019re thinking that in a few years you\u2019ll be buying DNA pools instead of external hard drives to back up your home computer, you may have the wrong idea. The process of writing data to DNA is lengthy and expensive. The process of reading data from DNA is even more so. This form of data storage will likely be limited to huge archive data centers for the purpose of saving space and keeping data in cold storage for years at a time with no access.<\/p>\n

Benefits of DNA Data Storage<\/h2>\n

So why DNA? Three reasons:<\/p>\n