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5 yr
8
Each byte is XOR'd with a mask (0–255) before encoding. XOR is its own inverse, so the decoder just XORs again with the same mask. The optimizer tries all 256 values and picks whichever brings GC closest to 50%. Mask is stored in the first 4 bases of the strand.
part 1
how does a character become a DNA sequence?
Every character maps to a number (its byte value). That number becomes 8 bits. We split those 8 bits into four 2-bit chunks called diads. Each diad maps to one base: A, C, G, or T. So every character always becomes exactly 4 bases.
part 2
what is GC content and why does it matter?
Bases pair up: A–T (2 bonds) and C–G (3 bonds). More bonds = more stable. A strand that's mostly G/C is very stable. Mostly A/T = weak.
The synthesis sweet spot is 40–60% GC. Too low and the strand falls apart. Too high and it's rigid and hard to work with.
The synthesis sweet spot is 40–60% GC. Too low and the strand falls apart. Too high and it's rigid and hard to work with.
drag to see what different GC% means
0%40% ← ideal → 60%100%
part 3
why does DNA storage matter?
Hard drives last a few years. Magnetic tape: maybe 30. Flash memory: years, not decades. DNA can last much, much longer.
215 PB
theoretical density per gram of DNA
700K yr
oldest readable DNA (horse fossil)
~5 yr
average lifespan of a hard drive
Microsoft, Harvard Wyss, and the European Bioinformatics Institute have all built working DNA storage systems. The encoding layer is solved. The bottleneck is synthesis speed and cost.
The space angle: on a Mars or Europa mission, data needs to survive years without maintenance. DNA in a protective medium could outlast any electronic storage — if it can survive the radiation, which is what the radiation tab simulates.
The space angle: on a Mars or Europa mission, data needs to survive years without maintenance. DNA in a protective medium could outlast any electronic storage — if it can survive the radiation, which is what the radiation tab simulates.
part 4
how radiation corrupts DNA data
Ionizing radiation carries enough energy to physically damage molecules.
Base damage — a particle alters a nucleotide chemically. An A becomes something that reads as C. It's a bit flip at the molecular level.
Strand break — the particle snaps the helix backbone. A section becomes unreadable. In the simulation, these show as X.
Europa is extreme because Jupiter's magnetic field traps charged particles in radiation belts — and Europa orbits inside them. Roughly 540 Sv/day. Enough to kill a human instantly.
Base damage — a particle alters a nucleotide chemically. An A becomes something that reads as C. It's a bit flip at the molecular level.
Strand break — the particle snaps the helix backbone. A section becomes unreadable. In the simulation, these show as X.
Europa is extreme because Jupiter's magnetic field traps charged particles in radiation belts — and Europa orbits inside them. Roughly 540 Sv/day. Enough to kill a human instantly.