R&D: Robust Direct Digital-to-Biological Storage in Living Cells

Nature Chemical Biology has published an article written by Sung Sun Yim, Department of Systems Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA, Ross M. McBee, Department of Systems Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA, and Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA, Alan M. Song, Department of Systems Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA, Yiming Huang, Ravi U. Sheth, Department of Systems Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA, and Integrated Program in Cellular, Molecular, and Biomedical Studies, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA, and Harris H. Wang, Department of Systems Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA, Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.

Abstract: “DNA has been the predominant information storage medium for biology and holds great promise as a next-generation high-density data medium in the digital era. Currently, the vast majority of DNA-based data storage approaches rely on in vitro DNA synthesis. As such, there are limited methods to encode digital data into the chromosomes of living cells in a single step. Here, we describe a new electrogenetic framework for direct storage of digital data in living cells. Using an engineered redox-responsive CRISPR adaptation system, we encoded binary data in 3-bit units into CRISPR arrays of bacterial cells by electrical stimulation. We demonstrate multiplex data encoding into barcoded cell populations to yield meaningful information storage and capacity up to 72 bits, which can be maintained over many generations in natural open environments. This work establishes a direct digital-to-biological data storage framework and advances our capacity for information exchange between silicon- and carbon-based entities.“