This Project Grant from the National Science Foundation's Division of Computing and Communication Foundations, under the Computer and Information Science and Engineering program (CFDA 47.070), provides $204,788 to the University of California Irvine for research into coding methods for composite DNA storage.
The award supports investigation into efficient representation of binary information using composite DNA symbols consisting of mixtures of the four standard nucleotide bases. This emerging composite DNA storage technology aims to achieve higher information density and lower synthesis costs per bit compared to conventional DNA storage encoding a single base per position. The research activities funded under this award seek to establish theoretical limits on information density based on composite DNA symbol choices and storage channel factors, explore information-theoretic security approaches, and examine identification of composite DNA strands within storage vessels. Results will be validated through software simulation and storage experiments. Outcomes aim to further optimize theoretical models to support cost-effective, reliable and large-scale DNA information storage applications.