Processing DNA Storage through Programmable Assembly in a Droplet-Based Fluidics System

DNA can be used to store digital data, and synthetic short-sequence DNA pools are developed to store high quantities of digital data. However, synthetic DNA data cannot be actively processed in DNA pools. An active DNA data editing process is developed using splint ligation in a droplet-controlled fluidics (DCF) system. DNA fragments of discrete sizes (100-500 bps) are synthesized for droplet assembly, and programmed sequence information exchange occurred. The encoded DNA sequences are processed in series and parallel to synthesize the determined DNA pools, enabling random access using polymerase chain reaction amplification. The sequencing results of the assembled DNA data pools can be orderly aligned for decoding and have high fidelity through address primer scanning. Furthermore, eight 90 bps DNA pools with pixel information (png: 0.27-0.28 kB), encoded by codons, are synthesized to create eight 270 bps DNA pools with an animation movie chip file (mp4: 12 kB) in the DCF system. DNA has gained interest as a high-capacity data storage medium. DNA containing digital data can be assembled and ligated using a droplet-controlled fluidics system, resulting in new DNA that contains the encoded information. The DNA pools encoding pixel images in the droplets are edited to create a DNA pool for pixel animation.image

Automated summary

DNA can be used to store digital data and synthetic DNA pools can store large amounts of data. A new method has been developed to actively edit DNA data in pools, allowing for random access and high fidelity decoding.