ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

DNA digital data storage

DNA digital data storage is like having a secret code that tells us all about our bodies. But instead of just having secrets about our bodies, scientists are now using this code to store information like pictures, music, and even books!

You know how you can write words and letters on paper? DNA digital data storage is a way to write information on DNA because DNA is also like paper too! Scientists can store information on DNA by writing the information in the form of code. This code is made up of letters A, T, C, and G – these letters stand for four chemicals that make up DNA!

Just like how your favorite book has letters that form words and sentences, scientists store information on DNA by converting it into these letters. They write these letters in a specific way and put it in a small tube. This tube holds millions of DNA strands. Scientists can then read this information stored on the DNA by reading the letters that make up the code.

What's amazing is that DNA is really small, which means that you can store a lot of information in a very tiny space. Scientists believe that they can store up to 215 million gigabytes of information in just a gram of DNA! That's like thousands of movies, songs, and pictures in just one little tube!

By using DNA to store information, scientists believe that one day we could store all the world's knowledge and history in a single room! Imagine going to a library that has books written on tiny tubes of DNA! DNA digital data storage is really cool, isn't it?