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A comment on Microsoft, UW demonstrate first fully automated DNA data storage. Parent comment

Re:Microsoft, UW demonstrate first fully automated DNA data ... by mxwsn on Saturday March 23, 2019 @09:44AM (#19470416)
In principle sure, as long as you use a different polymer with similar biochemical stability, but a lot of money and tech development has gone into reading and synthesizing DNA in particular. Why reinvent the wheel, so to speak.
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Re:Microsoft, UW demonstrate first fully automated DNA data ... by shpongled on Saturday March 23, 2019 @11:58AM (#19470952)
Not just tech... life has already provided us with optimized tools for reading, writing, translating, and correcting DNA. The chemical properties of DNA are well known, and it's an incredibly stable molecule.

Doesnt really make sense to switch to a different copolymer.

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Re:Microsoft, UW demonstrate first fully automated DNA data ... by xvilka on Saturday March 23, 2019 @09:54AM (#19470444)
In fact it might be even better with DNA, since you can use much bigger "alphabet" for this purpose, than nature gave us. Would tremendously increase storage capacity.
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Re:Microsoft, UW demonstrate first fully automated DNA data ... by iso1337 on Saturday March 23, 2019 @10:41AM (#19470634)
There are already xenobases being developed, eg Romesburg. Those add extra bases beyond the 4-5 seen in nature.
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Re:Microsoft, UW demonstrate first fully automated DNA data ... by xvilka on Saturday March 23, 2019 @01:06PM (#19471260)
I know and was referring to them.
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Re:Microsoft, UW demonstrate first fully automated DNA data ... by astazangasta on Saturday March 23, 2019 @10:29AM (#19470578)
...at the cost of bit errors.
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Re:Microsoft, UW demonstrate first fully automated DNA data ... by jasonhansel on Sunday March 24, 2019 @08:16AM (#19475893)
Good point! Makes perfect sense.
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