BGI released the DNA storage evaluation platform that can output the optimal scheme of encoding and decoding methods for different types of files

Common storage media such as magnetic tapes, optical discs and hard disks are used for data storage by recording "0" and "1" information

In the process of storing information into DNA, the core step is to "translate" the data from binary 010101 to ATCG of DNA base sequence

Recently, the Shenzhen Huada Life Sciences Research Institute and the Shenzhen National Gene Bank research team published the title "Chamaeleo: Scalable Integration and System Evaluation Platform for DNA Storage Base Coding and Decoding Algorithms" in the "Synthetic Biology" magazine DNA storage album.

DNA storage may open a new future for data storage

As a disruptive new information storage medium, DNA molecules have attracted much attention in recent years

With the continuous improvement of the supporting technology of DNA storage, DNA storage has gained more and more attention and support worldwide

As one of the important branches of synthetic biology, DNA information storage has produced many research results in recent years.

Chamaeleo platform: DNA storage codec and evaluation solution

Chamaeleo is a scalable integration and system evaluation platform for DNA storage base encoding and decoding algorithms

1) Integrate 6 major algorithms to provide an efficient transcoding platform

The Chamaeleo platform consists of three main modules: transcoding module, error correction module and process module

The error correction module currently contains the two most commonly used error correction codes in the DNA storage transcoding scheme-Hamming code and RS code, and realizes the embedding of error correction code and correction sequence information

The process module is used for the execution of actual transcoding/evaluation tasks

2) Establish an evaluation system for transcoding schemes and recommend the best schemes as needed

The evaluation system of the Chamaeleo platform integrates some important evaluation parameters that have been reported in the literature and that researchers are concerned about.

Furthermore, for the storage of DNA information, which is mainly used for long-term cold data storage (data that does not need to be accessed frequently), the inevitable problems of base errors and sequence loss, the evaluation system will also evaluate the robustness of the codec scheme

3) Open source operation, support for expansion, and promote open collaboration in the field

Chamaeleo operates in an open source mode, so that new codec methods and evaluation indicators will continue to be loaded in the future to promote open exchanges in this field
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The establishment of the Chamaeleo platform is expected to promote the exchange of scholars in the field and the integration of new researchers, help to form standardized industry processes and evaluation indicators, and promote the standardized, orderly and rapid development of this field
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At the same time, the research proposed for the first time a theoretical evaluation method based on graph theory and evaluation indicators such as "characteristics" and "tendency", aiming to promote the development of an overall evaluation system for DNA storage
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The research team said that in the near future, more researchers in the field of DNA storage will embed their unique DNA storage transcoding methods into the Chamaeleo open source tool platform, and hope that they will be more instructive through extensive exchanges and discussions.
The evaluation indicators and strategies promote the gradual formation of a theoretical system of coding and decoding methods in the field of DNA information storage
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The Shenzhen BGI Institute of Life Sciences and the Shenzhen National Gene Bank research team have started DNA storage research since 2017, and have conducted in-depth cooperation with many professional teams in this field at home and abroad, focusing on DNA storage coding and decoding methods, standardized and integrated systems Research and exploration in the direction of platform development and large-scale multi-scenario application demonstration
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In addition to research in the direction of DNA storage, Shenzhen BGI Institute of Life Sciences has also made many breakthroughs in the field of synthetic biology research
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Among them, the international collaboration group that the research institute participates in the de novo design and total synthesis of yeast chromosomes has obtained synthetic yeasts that are highly consistent with wild-type yeasts.
The relevant results were published on the cover of Science in 2017.
Seven papers were published simultaneously in the form of a special issue
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This is the first synthetic eukaryote, and it also marks the beginning of a new era in synthetic biology
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The research team has also completed the development of a new generation of DNA synthesizer and built the first automated DNA synthesis platform in China
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Mastering the research and development capabilities of high-throughput and high-performance synthesizers with independent intellectual property rights and achieving performance enhancements marked an important breakthrough in key technologies in the field of synthetic biology in China and became another major progress in the research and development of high-end life science equipment
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