Scientists stored the entire human genome in a 5D crystal

University of Southampton researchers, in a unique achievement, have managed to store the entire human genome on a five-dimensional (5D) memory crystal. This new technology allows the stable storage of genetic information for billions of years.

According to the scientific news department of Tekna Technology Media, the research team believes that this crystal can be used as a blueprint for the possible revival of the human species in the distant future. Also, this technology has the potential to create a permanent archive of the genomes of endangered plant and animal species. Peter Kazansky, head of this research and professor of optoelectronics at the University of Southampton, said in this regard: “The 5D memory crystal provides the possibility of creating a permanent repository of genomic information that, in the distant future, may be used to revive complex organisms such as plants and animals. be placed

The 5D memory crystal, developed by the University of Southampton’s Optoelectronics Research Center, is a major leap forward in data storage technology. Unlike traditional memories that erode over time, these crystals are able to store large amounts of data (up to 360 terabytes) for billions of years without any degradation. Even in very harsh environmental conditions such as very high or low temperatures, these crystals maintain their stability.

The constituent material of these crystals, similar to fused quartz, has a very high chemical and thermal stability. These crystals resist harsh environmental conditions such as fire, very high temperatures, extreme pressures and even cosmic rays. To store data on these crystals, ultra-fast lasers are used to etch the information into nanostructures inside the silica material. This method, using two optical dimensions and three spatial coordinates, provides the possibility of storing information with a very high density.

Although it is currently not possible to artificially produce living organisms based on genetic information alone, recent advances in the field of synthetic biology show that this goal can be achieved in the not-so-distant future. The crystal containing the human genome is kept in a safe and special repository in Austria. This repository is designed as a time capsule to preserve valuable genetic information for future generations. The development of the 5D memory crystal is a big step towards preserving valuable information for the future. This new technology provides the possibility of stable storage of data for a very long time and can have wide applications in various fields including biology, medicine and computer science.

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