DNA - Life's Memory Stick

[jennylives]

We don't have a philosophy forum anymore so I thought this would be the best fit.

http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/1346 ... ingle-gram

If we can store present data on DNA, is past data stored too? Is DNA like the internet where nothing is truly erased but pops up from time to time in the future? Could this be where the idea of reincarnation comes from? What do you see as future possibilities?

[Woodenhead]

You're late to the party! :sillygrin:

Pretty darned cool tho. Here's a more recent article about the subject:

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2013/01/dna-data-storage-2/

One thing to consider, when talking about this kind of thing (being able to store massive amounts of data in an extremely small space) is how it becomes easily feasible to monitor & record every single tidbit of data flowing over all wires & airwaves; it's a major step to becoming a complete panopticon society. We need to think carefully about laws we make/have now, regarding privacy rights & such things.