Charla

Our biological ID is stored in the DNA of any given cell from our bodies. DNA is also an excellent platform for digital data storage, reaching up to several petabytes per gram -depending on the encoding method-, and when placed in optimal conditions it surpasses by thousands of years the stability of conventional data storage platforms. Recent advances in DNA editing such as CRISPR/Cas9 technology are changing the pace at which we can modify any given DNA sequence at will, thus highlighting the potential of this biomolecule to be used as a reliable and easy to use storage device, as well as a molecular transcriptor.

In this talk I will present the concept of CRISPR-mediated genome editing and its application for DNA re-writing in a variety of organisms -including humans. I will also introduce the concepts of CRISPR-based molecular recorders, and digital data storage across living populations of organisms in distributed formats. I will also give a sneak-peek on single-molecule DNA navigators solving DNA origami-based 2D mazes. These advances on DNA programming and the generation of autonomous devices capable of operating in the molecular scale pave the way for generating a new wave of biomaterials with embedded computational functions.

Cross-sectional approaches in computing and biotechnology will hopefully facilitate the interaction between engineers and life scientists to enable a faster development of these paradigm-shifting computing interfaces.