Preservation of DNA for data storage

Abstract

The preservation of DNA has attracted significant interest of scientists in diverse research fields from ancient biological remains to the information field. In light of the different DNA safekeeping requirements (e.g., storage time, storage conditions) in these disparate fields, scientists have proposed distinct methods to maintain the DNA integrity. Specifically, DNA data storage is an emerging research, which means that the binary digital information is converted to the sequences of nucleotides leading to dense and durable data storage in the form of synthesized DNA. The intact preservation of DNA plays a significant role because it is closely related to data integrity. This review discusses DNA preservation methods, aiming to confirm an appropriate one for synthetic oligonucleotides in DNA data storage. First, we analyze the impact factors of the DNA long-term storage, including the intrinsic stability of DNA, environmental factors, and storage methods. Then, the benefits and disadvantages of diverse conservation approaches (e.g., encapsulation-free, chemical encapsulation) are discussed. Finally, we provide advice for storing non-genetic information in DNA in vitro. We expect these preservation suggestions to promote further research that may extend the DNA storage time. The bibliography includes 99 references.