Optimizing Composite DNA Letters for High-Density Information Encoding

Activity: Talk or event contributionPoster presentation

Description

Synthetic DNA is a promising medium for routine long-term data storage. Among various synthesis methods, large-scale
photolithographic DNA synthesis, which adapts Caruthers and Beaucage's phosphoramidite chemistry for in situ surface
synthesis, offers the best scalability and cost efficiency for producing large DNA libraries.
To enhance data density beyond the standard 2 bits per coupling, composite DNA letters are used as sequence building blocks.
Composite DNA letters are created by mixing 2 to 4 DNA bases in specific ratios, generated either on-the-fly or manually, which
effectively expands the DNA alphabet. The random coupling of the individual components in the mixtures can be read by
sequencing, with the ratio in the reads representing the occurrence of the bases in the mixtures. The goal is to determine the
limits for synthesizing and sequencing these mixtures and to understand the specific requirements for sequence design and
mixing ratios, especially with regard to the use of only three or two different phosphoramidites.
Period18 Sep 202519 Sep 2025
Event titleXII. Nucleinsäurechemietreffen
Event typeConference
LocationHamburg, Germany, HamburgShow on map