23 Oct 2024

Data written to DNA by printing epigenetic methylation marks instead of synthesising sequences

Biotechnology and synthetic biologyExperimental cross-disciplinary systems
AI illustration · Illustrative scene, not a photograph of the specific device or experiment.

What was demonstrated

Using a set of 700 premade DNA 'movable types' and 5 universal templates, the team used self-assembly-guided enzymatic methylation to write about 275,000 bits without de novo DNA synthesis, at 350 bits per reaction on an automated platform. Data were read back by nanopore sequencing, with algorithms resolving 240 modification patterns per sequencing reaction.

Why it matters

De novo synthesis is the main cost and speed barrier to DNA data storage. Writing information as modifications on reusable templates offers a parallel alternative.

Caveats

  • Total data written (about 275,000 bits, roughly 34 kilobytes) is very small compared with conventional storage.
  • Read-out depends on nanopore sequencing, which remains slow and costly relative to electronic reads.
  • Long-term stability of the methylation marks under realistic storage conditions needs further testing.

Technology profiles

Sources

  1. peer reviewed paper
    Parallel molecular data storage by printing epigenetic bits on DNA
    Cheng Zhang, Ranfeng Wu, Fajia Sun et al.. Nature, 23 Oct 2024. DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-08040-5.

Last reviewed 20 Oct 2026.