Scientists from the University of Southampton achieved an astonishing accomplishment by storing all of the human DNA in a 5D memory crystal. This ground-breaking technology can keep all our genetic material for tens of billions of years and is perhaps mankind’s last hope in case of cataclysmic events like extinction.
The Unbending Memory Crystal
Now place yourself in a situation where you have to devise a medium for storing data that can be subjected to the most extreme environments possible such as deep freezer thermal and extreme heat thermal and even exposure to cosmic particles. The 5D memory crystal developed by the Optoelectronics Research Center at the University of Southampton ORC is exactly that an engineering wonder where 360 terabytes Of data can be stored for eternity without any degradation or loss for billions of years.
These compositions of memory crystals are chemically and thermally inert fusion-polymerze material termed as Fused quartz polymers, unlike the data storage media built targets that stand the test of time. They were found to be capable of withstanding temperatures of as high as 1000 degrees Centigrade, direct compressive forces of up to 10 tons on a square inch, and factors such as cosmic rays have no effect on them. This level of strength makes these crystals to be the perfect medium to hold the most important information in the human life – the human genome.
Conserving the Blueprint of Life
Scientists of University of Southampton have made it of the utmost importance to use this incredible technology for a storage of the complete human genome in a 5D memory crystal. This means that this indestructible storage medium now contains the complete genetic blueprint of our species consisting of about 3 billion base pairs.
The importance of such an achievement is not lost upon the researchers as it would offer a solution to the problem of conserving the genetic diversity of the vanishing plant and animal species, and perhaps even a plan to restore the mankind in some far away future in case of such an apocalyptic scenario. Professor Peter Kazansky, head of the research, says: “The 5D memory crystal creates a prospect for other researchers about creation of a backup of genomic information, which might be used in restoration of more complex entities such as plants and animals in cases when science would permit.”
In conjunction with Helixwork Technologies, in order to avoid any operational errors and ensure that all the necessary genetic information has been secured, the team executed a run of deep-read sequencing using a technique that retargeted each base pair up to 150 times. This careful method helps make the preserved human genome on the 5D memory crystal as accurate and credible as possible regarding how easily it will be retrieved and used in the future.
Conclusion
In this case, the 5D memory crystal has been an advanced step forward within the field for stem cell preservation as it has been made possible by the University of Southampton. This technology is potentially very useful for the conservation of the genetic variants of endangered animals and more so for resolving the crises if the worst scenario of extinction of human beings comes to pass. Being conscious of and oftentimes even terrified by the fact that humanity-stopping-events could one day be a fact, this new development not only restores hope but also provides an opportunity of making the impossible possible when people and dear life on earth at its most antagonistic already had looked so dim. The 5D memory crystal is the uplifting emblem of human’s creativity where there are no barriers for the science in the benefit of all as there are no barriers in future reconstruction and sustainable development.
