Cloud Computing Future: Storing Data in DNA

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We are in the Cloud computing age. In this age, technology is used on a large scale by individuals and enterprises. It is used to store their critical business data in the form of “Cloud Storage”, or “Online Data Storage”. It enables businesses to access or share their data remotely which immensely increase the capabilities and efficiencies. DNA-based storage is considered the future of cloud storage. This DNA-based data storage is said that it doesn’t get degraded over the period, unlike other storage devices.

There has been news about data storage on human DNA, that will replace the magnetic straps and hard disks. Researchers and scientists have discovered that data can be encoded in human DNA and they are further working on its development. For eg: Microsoft has invested a huge amount in this research project.

 

More about the future of cloud computing and Data storing in DNA

Every living cell-DNA has a data storage system. The findings have- ‘A strand of just 1 gram (spoonful) of DNA can store all the internet data of the world including every picture posted on Instagram and Facebook.’ This one gram of DNA will be capable of storing 455 exabytes wherein one exabyte is equal to a billion gigabytes.

Google and Amazon are in a race against each other for seeking a market share of the business that is currently estimated at a global value of $100 million to $300 million which may grow to be as worthy as $1 billion per annum in next 3 years. Both the giant Cloud Computing Service Providers are competing to grab the rights to assist scientists in making revolutionary medical discoveries.

Storing DNA on cloud hosting server will help the doctors and scientists to access the DNA profile of patients, so treating them of illness will become easier. In fact, some drug manufacturers and educational institutions have already started projects to sequence the genomes of millions of people around.

Google is already working on the project which it got from the Autism Speaks Foundation, to gather the genomes data and analyze the genetic sequence of disease in Autism affected children. On the other hand, Amazon has won a project from Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation to analyze the genome sequence data in 1000 patients to identify new drug targets. Amazon has also won the genome analysis project for Alzheimer’s disease.

According to Reuters reports – the consultants, researchers, and analysts have indicated in interviews that academic and healthcare companies are picking sides between their cloud computing offerings – Google Genomics or Amazon Web Services.

Google and Amazon are not the only players in the race of storing Genomic data. Microsoft Corp and International Business Machines are also competing to grasp the large pie of the market.