ONE of the most famous letters ever written by a Scotswoman is to play a vital role in a scientific study that could revolutionise the way the world stores data.
The historic last letter of Mary Queen of Scots, written to her former brother-in-law King Henri III of France just hours before her execution at Fotheringhay Castle on February 8, 1587, is to be used by Edinburgh scientists as research material for the development of a new DNA-based system for storing data.
Books, pictures, music, videos – anything that can be digitally recorded could be stored using DNA, according to the theoretical science behind the project. The National Library of Scotland is working with a group at the University of Edinburgh in supplying the iconic text of Mary’s letter to see if it can be stored and successfully retrieved using DNA – the essential blueprint of life.
Written text is converted into short molecular sequences that, in theory, can be stored safely for centuries in a stable form and at much lower cost than with existing technology. These sequences can be rapidly assembled together in any order, using a method resembling a typewriter.
The researchers say such a system would be capable of storing the entire Harry Potter book series 20 trillion times within a single gram of DNA.
This, however, is not the only type of data that can be stored, as the DNA fragments can be arbitrarily assigned values to represent colours or sounds, thus enabling the user to store images, music and any other file that can be stored digitally.
The demand for data storage is increasing at a rate of about 50 per cent a year as the use of smartphones, social media, email and other means of electronic communication grows. Current storage methods require huge data centres that consume large amounts of energy and depend on limited supplies of raw materials such as silicon.
DNA offers an alternative. It is life’s innate information storage mechanism, containing the complete blueprint for all life. The University of Edinburgh undergraduate iGEM (International Genetically Engineered Machine) team, which includes students studying biology, computer science, psychology and chemistry, believes it can provide the solution to the world’s storage problems.
They are not alone. The software giant Microsoft recently completed a research project to use DNA as a high-density, durable and easy-to-manipulate storage medium. However, this is based on a process that is very expensive and requires specialised machinery and resources. The iGEM team are pursuing a method that is much more affordable and flexible while also being guaranteed to stand the test of time.
“It is a real privilege to be allowed to use the basic text from the last letter of Mary Queen of Scots to test our DNA storage system,” said Brendan Largey of the iGEM team. “While there is increasing interest in using DNA in this way, our approach is unique in its security, modularity and affordability. We want our technology to be accessible not only to large-scale companies but to anyone with long-term data storage needs.”
Gill Hamilton, acting head of digital at the library, said: “We are delighted to be able to support this exciting research. Finding more effective solutions to data storage in the future is something that all libraries, organisations, companies and individuals have a strong interest in.”
The research project is to be entered into the iGEM synthetic biology competition in Boston in October.
In her letter to King Henri, written in her flawless French, Mary makes a plea to be remembered effectively as a Roman Catholic martyr.
Translated into English, she wrote: “Tonight, after dinner, I have been advised of my sentence: I am to be executed like a criminal at eight in the morning. I have not had time to give you a full account of everything that has happened, but if you will listen to my doctor you will learn the truth, and how, thanks be to God, I scorn death and vow that I meet it innocent of any crime.”
She completed the letter at 2am and six hours later was beheaded.
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