Revolutionizing Genetic Data Technology: The DiDAX Approach

The DiDAX consortium is at the forefront of revolutionizing the concept of DNA as a versatile and secure medium for long-term data applications. Comprised of eight research groups from academia and industry, DiDAX is spearheading innovative DNA-based data applications with the support of EU EIC funding. The consortium’s work focuses on pioneering encoding and decoding algorithms, cost-effective flexible synthesis, novel chemistries, protection technologies, and advancements in material science.

By delving into these disciplines, DiDAX is expanding the scope of archival DNA-based data storage and creating new applications for safeguarding, verifying, and authenticating objects. DNA’s remarkable properties make it an appealing medium for long-term data storage. Its exceptional density allows for storing vast amounts of data in a minuscule space. In fact, if all the data on YouTube were encoded in DNA, it could fit in a single shoebox. Additionally, DNA is inherently stable, environmentally friendly, and universal, making it an ideal candidate for archival data storage.

The process of storing data in DNA involves converting digital files into binary code and then translating this code into DNA sequences using a predefined mapping system. These DNA sequences are chemically synthesized, encapsulated for sustainability, and stored in a physical container. To retrieve the information, the stored DNA is sequenced using DNA sequencing technology, revealing the nucleotide order that is then decoded to reconstruct the original data.

DiDAX’s efforts extend beyond data storage to encompass innovative solutions for in-product information storage, DNA-based authentication, and tracing protocols. By embedding DNA into various materials, DiDAX enables labeling and authentication that is not limited to external packaging or specific parts of objects. The consortium’s research in materials science further enhances the applicability of DNA as a labeling and authentication tool.

The consortium’s activities have already made a significant impact across various domains, including industrial collaborations, and have been featured in leading scientific journals. DiDAX’s specific initiatives cover four key directions:

1. Flexible DNA Synthesis and Efficient Encoding: DiDAX employs digital photolithographic DNA synthesis to create large libraries of unique oligonucleotides with enhanced information density at low cost. This approach allows for innovative encoding strategies and the incorporation of non-canonical nucleotides, expanding the capabilities of DNA as a storage medium.
2. Coding and Sequencing for Archival Data Storage: DiDAX focuses on developing error-correcting codes and sequencing techniques for efficient data retrieval from DNA-based storage. By concatenating short DNA molecules into longer strands, sequencing efficiency and data quality are significantly improved, enabling rapid data retrieval from archived digital data.
3. Stability of DNA as an Information Medium and Labelling Applications: To address the stability of DNA as a storage medium, DiDAX encapsulates DNA in amorphous silica particles, extending its half-life to several hundred years. This encapsulation allows for the integration of DNA into bulk materials, enabling the creation of "DNA of things" architecture for product tracing and supply chain verification.
4. Cryptography and Authentication Using DNA: DiDAX is pioneering DNA-based authentication and tracing protocols that embed synthetic DNA tag reagents into various products for in-product authentication. By utilizing Chemically Unclonable Functions (CUFs) based on random DNA pools, DiDAX ensures secure authentication that is resistant to cloning or prediction.

   In conclusion, DiDAX is reshaping the landscape of information systems by harnessing DNA as a robust, high-density medium for storage and information applications. Through their focus on flexible synthesis, advanced coding techniques, and secure molecular tagging, DiDAX is making long-term archival storage and in-product solutions based on DNA both feasible and scalable, ensuring the resilience and accessibility of valuable data and products for generations to come.