TEDxVienna
Dina Zielinski: How we can store digital data in DNA
戴娜·杰林斯基: 我们如何在DNA中存储电子数据
Filmed:
Readability: 4.4
1,777,866 views
从软盘到U盘，每个存储数据的方法最终都会过时。我们为什么不能找到一种永久存储全世界数据的方法呢？生物信息学家戴娜·杰林斯基分享了已经存在了数十亿年的解决方案：DNA，及其背后的科学原理。
Dina Zielinski - Bench scientist, bioinformatician
Dina Zielinski brings biological data to life, from decoding mutations in cancer to encoding data in DNA. Full bio
Dina Zielinski brings biological data to life, from decoding mutations in cancer to encoding data in DNA. Full bio
Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.
00:12
I could fit all movies ever made
inside of this tube.
inside of this tube.
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我可以把有史以来的所有电影
装进这个小管里。
装进这个小管里。
00:17
If you can't see it,
that's kind of the point.
that's kind of the point.
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如果你看不见它，那就对了。
00:20
(Laughter)
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（大笑）
在我们理解这件事的可能性之前，
00:21
Before we understand how this is possible,
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00:24
it's important to understand
the value of this feat.
the value of this feat.
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重要的是先理解这项技术的价值。
00:29
All of our thoughts
and actions these days,
and actions these days,
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现在我们所有的想法和行动，
通过照片和视频——
00:31
through photos and videos --
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甚至是我们的健身运动——
00:33
even our fitness activities --
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00:35
are stored as digital data.
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都存储在电子数据里。
00:38
Aside from running out of space
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要不是它们超出我们
00:39
on our phones,
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手机的存储空间，
我们很少会去想我们到底
存储了多少电子数据。
存储了多少电子数据。
00:40
we rarely think about
our digital footprint.
our digital footprint.
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00:43
But humanity has collectively
generated more data
generated more data
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但是人类已经携手创造了更多的数据，
在过去的几年中，
00:47
in the last few years
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00:48
than all of preceding human history.
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这些数据比先前
人类历史所产生的还要多。
人类历史所产生的还要多。
大数据已经开始成为一个大问题。
00:51
Big data has become a big problem.
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00:55
Digital storage is really expensive,
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数字化存储很昂贵，
而且还没有一个设备
能真正经得起时间的考验。
能真正经得起时间的考验。
00:58
and none of these devices that we have
really stand the test of time.
really stand the test of time.
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01:03
There's this nonprofit website
called the Internet Archive.
called the Internet Archive.
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有一个非营利网站，
叫做“网络档案馆”。
叫做“网络档案馆”。
除了免费的书籍和电影，
01:07
In addition to free books and movies,
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你还可以在上面找到
1996年以来的网页。
1996年以来的网页。
01:09
you can access web pages
as far back as 1996.
as far back as 1996.
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这可是非常诱人的，
01:14
Now, this is very tempting,
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但我决定回过头来，
看看TED网站最初的样子。
看看TED网站最初的样子。
01:15
but I decided to go back and look at
the TED website's very humble beginnings.
the TED website's very humble beginnings.
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可以看到，它在过去30年里改变了很多。
01:21
As you can see, it's changed
quite a bit in the last 30 years.
quite a bit in the last 30 years.
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01:26
So this led me to the first-ever TED,
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这使我回忆起第一次的TED，
01:29
back in 1984,
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回到1984，
01:31
and it just so happened
to be a Sony executive
to be a Sony executive
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太巧了，正是索尼的主管
在解释一个简单的磁盘是如何工作的。
01:34
explaining how a compact disk works.
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（大笑）
01:37
(Laughter)
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这是让人难以置信的事，
我们可以回到过去，
我们可以回到过去，
01:38
Now, it's really incredible
to be able to go back in time
to be able to go back in time
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01:42
and access this moment.
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并且与那个时刻紧密相连。
01:45
It's also really fascinating
that after 30 years, after that first TED,
that after 30 years, after that first TED,
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这也是非常让人着迷的事，
在第一次TED演讲过去的30年后，
在第一次TED演讲过去的30年后，
我们还在谈论着数字化存储。
01:50
we're still talking about digital storage.
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01:54
Now, if we look back another 30 years,
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如果我们回头看看另外一个30年，
01:57
IBM released the first-ever hard drive
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1956年，IBM破天荒地发布了
02:00
back in 1956.
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它的第一个硬盘驱动器。
02:02
Here it is being loaded for shipping
in front of a small audience.
in front of a small audience.
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这是它正在被装载上车，
一小群人在围观。
一小群人在围观。
02:07
It held the equivalent of one MP3 song
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它承载着一首MP3歌曲的内容，
02:11
and weighed over one ton.
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却重达一吨多。
02:14
At 10,000 dollars a megabyte,
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一兆字节价值1万美元，
我想这里不会有人有兴趣要买它，
02:16
I don't think anyone in this room
would be interested in buying this thing,
would be interested in buying this thing,
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除非可能作为一个收藏品。
02:20
except maybe as a collector's item.
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02:22
But it's the best we could do at the time.
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但这是我们在当时最好的产品了。
02:26
We've come such a long way
in data storage.
in data storage.
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我们在数据存储的路上走了很久。
设备已经显著进化了。
02:29
Devices have evolved dramatically.
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但所有载体最终都会磨损或被废弃。
02:32
But all media eventually wear out
or become obsolete.
or become obsolete.
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02:37
If someone handed you a floppy drive today
to back up your presentation,
to back up your presentation,
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今天，如果有人递给你一张
软盘驱动器来备份你的演示文稿，
软盘驱动器来备份你的演示文稿，
你可能会奇怪地看着他们，
可能还会大笑，
可能还会大笑，
02:41
you'd probably look at them
kind of strange, maybe laugh,
kind of strange, maybe laugh,
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但你肯定不会用这个落伍的东西。
02:44
but you'd have no way
to use the damn thing.
to use the damn thing.
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02:47
These devices can no longer meet
our storage needs,
our storage needs,
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这些设备已经不能再
满足我们的存储需求了，
满足我们的存储需求了，
虽然它们有些可以被改作其他用途。
02:51
although some of them can be repurposed.
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02:54
All technology eventually dies or is lost,
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所有的科技最终都会死亡或者消失，
02:57
along with our data,
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和我们的数据一起，
包含我们所有的记忆。
02:59
all of our memories.
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03:02
There's this illusion that
the storage problem has been solved,
the storage problem has been solved,
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有一种错觉认为存储问题已经解决了，
03:06
but really, we all just externalize it.
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但实际上，我们只是把它外化了。
我们不担心邮件和照片的存储。
03:08
We don't worry about storing
our emails and our photos.
our emails and our photos.
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它们都在云端上。
03:12
They're just in the cloud.
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03:15
But behind the scenes,
storage is problematic.
storage is problematic.
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但是在这些场景背后，
存储问题依然存在。
存储问题依然存在。
毕竟，云端只是许多硬盘组成的。
03:18
After all, the cloud is just
a lot of hard drives.
a lot of hard drives.
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03:23
Now, most digital data,
we could argue, is not really critical.
we could argue, is not really critical.
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我们认为大部分电子数据都不重要。
当然，我们还可以
轻易地删除这些数据。
轻易地删除这些数据。
03:27
Surely, we could just delete it.
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03:29
But how can we really know
what's important today?
what's important today?
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但是今天的我们怎么
知道到底什么是重要的？
知道到底什么是重要的？
03:34
We've learned so much about human history
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我们从人类历史中得到了很多信息，
从洞穴里的壁画和文字，
03:36
from drawings and writings in caves,
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还有石碑。
03:39
from stone tablets.
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我们破译了罗塞塔石碑上的语言。
03:41
We've deciphered languages
from the Rosetta Stone.
from the Rosetta Stone.
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03:45
You know, we'll never really have
the whole story, though.
the whole story, though.
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尽管我们还远没有了解整个故事。
我们的数据就是我们的故事，
03:49
Our data is our story,
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这在今天更是这样。
03:51
even more so today.
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03:53
We won't have our record
recorded on stone tablets.
recorded on stone tablets.
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我们不再将记录刻在石碑上。
03:57
But we don't have to choose
what is important now.
what is important now.
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我们现在也不需要去选择
什么是重要的。
什么是重要的。
04:00
There's a way to store it all.
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有一种方法可以存储所有信息。
04:03
It turns out that there's
a solution that's been around
a solution that's been around
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我们发现，这种解决方案已经存在了
数十亿年。
04:06
for a few billion years,
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它实际上就在这个小管里。
04:08
and it's actually in this tube.
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04:12
DNA is nature's oldest storage device.
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DNA是大自然最古老的存储设备。
04:15
After all, it contains
all the information necessary
all the information necessary
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毕竟，它保存着构建和
维持一个人生命的
维持一个人生命的
04:19
to build and maintain a human being.
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所有必要的信息。
04:22
But what makes DNA so great?
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然而，DNA为何如此强大？
04:25
Well, let's take our own genome
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让我们来看看
04:27
as an example.
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人类的基因组，
04:28
If we were to print out
all three billion A's, T's, C's and G's
all three billion A's, T's, C's and G's
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如果我们将所有30亿个A（腺嘌呤），
T（胸腺嘧啶），C（胞嘧啶）
T（胸腺嘧啶），C（胞嘧啶）
和 G（鸟嘌呤），以标准字体，
标准格式打印出来，
标准格式打印出来，
04:33
on a standard font, standard format,
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然后我们把所有纸张叠起来，
04:37
and then we were
to stack all of those papers,
to stack all of those papers,
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大概会有130米高，
04:40
it would be about 130 meters high,
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介于自由女神像和
华盛顿纪念碑的高度之间。
华盛顿纪念碑的高度之间。
04:42
somewhere between the Statue of Liberty
and the Washington Monument.
and the Washington Monument.
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如果我们将所有这些A，T，C和G，
04:46
Now, if we converted
all those A's, T's, C's and G's
all those A's, T's, C's and G's
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转换为电子数据，0和1，
04:48
to digital data, to zeroes and ones,
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这不过是几场演奏会的事。
04:51
it would total a few gigs.
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04:53
And that's in each cell of our body.
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这会发生在我们身体的每个细胞中。
04:56
We have more than 30 trillion cells.
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我们有超过30万亿的细胞。
04:59
You get the idea:
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估计你们已经想明白了：
DNA可以在一个微小的
空间存储大量信息。
空间存储大量信息。
05:01
DNA can store a ton of information
in a minuscule space.
in a minuscule space.
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05:07
DNA is also very durable,
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DNA也是持久耐用的，
05:09
and it doesn't even require
electricity to store it.
electricity to store it.
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它甚至不需要供电来储存信息。
05:12
We know this because scientists
have recovered DNA from ancient humans
have recovered DNA from ancient humans
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我们知道这些，是因为科学家
已经从生活在千万年前的
已经从生活在千万年前的
远古人类身上复原了DNA。
05:16
that lived hundreds
of thousands of years ago.
of thousands of years ago.
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其中一个是Ötzi冰人。
05:19
One of those is Ötzi the Iceman.
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05:22
Turns out, he's Austrian.
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他是奥地利人。
05:24
(Laughter)
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（大笑）
他被发现时正完整的保存在
05:25
He was found high, well-preserved,
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意大利和奥地利之间的山中，
05:27
in the mountains
between Italy and Austria,
between Italy and Austria,
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05:30
and it turns out that he has living
genetic relatives here in Austria today.
genetic relatives here in Austria today.
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证明他和现在的奥地利人有基因关系。
05:34
So one of you could be a cousin of Ötzi.
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所以你们其中有人可能是Ötzi的表亲。
05:36
(Laughter)
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（大笑）
05:38
The point is that we have a better chance
of recovering information
of recovering information
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其中的关键是，我们拥有
更好的从一个远古人类身上
更好的从一个远古人类身上
修复信息的机会，
05:41
from an ancient human
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比从一台老电话上获得的更多。
05:43
than we do from an old phone.
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05:45
It's also much less likely
that we'll lose the ability to read DNA
that we'll lose the ability to read DNA
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同时，相较于任何一种
人造的设备，我们不太可能失去
人造的设备，我们不太可能失去
解读DNA的能力。
05:50
than any single man-made device.
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05:53
Every single new storage format
requires a new way to read it.
requires a new way to read it.
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每一种新的存储格式都要求
一种新的解读方式。
一种新的解读方式。
而我们将一直保持解读DNA的能力。
05:57
We'll always be able to read DNA.
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05:59
If we can no longer sequence,
we have bigger problems
we have bigger problems
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如果有一天我们
不能够进行基因排序，
不能够进行基因排序，
那问题可比数据存储更令人担忧。
06:02
than worrying about data storage.
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在DNA中存储数据不是新鲜事。
06:05
Storing data on DNA is not new.
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大自然在数十亿年中一直这么做。
06:08
Nature's been doing it
for several billion years.
for several billion years.
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事实上，每一个生物
都是一个DNA存储设备。
都是一个DNA存储设备。
06:11
In fact, every living thing
is a DNA storage device.
is a DNA storage device.
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06:16
But how do we store data on DNA?
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但是我们怎么把数据存储进DNA呢？
06:19
This is Photo 51.
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这是照片51。
这是第一张DNA的照片，
06:21
It's the first-ever photo of DNA,
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拍摄于大约60年前。
06:24
taken about 60 years ago.
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也是大约这个时间，
IBM发布了硬盘驱动器。
IBM发布了硬盘驱动器。
06:26
This is around the time that
that same hard drive was released by IBM.
that same hard drive was released by IBM.
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可以说，我们对数字化存储的理解
和我们对基因的理解是在同步进化的。
和我们对基因的理解是在同步进化的。
06:31
So really, our understanding of digital
storage and of DNA have coevolved.
storage and of DNA have coevolved.
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06:37
We first learned to sequence, or read DNA,
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我们最开始是学习测序，
或者解读DNA，
或者解读DNA，
之后很快也学会了如何编辑它，
06:40
and very soon after, how to write it,
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06:42
or synthesize it.
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或者合成它。
06:44
This is much like how we learn
a new language.
a new language.
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这很像如何学习一门新语言。
06:48
And now we have the ability
to read, write and copy DNA.
to read, write and copy DNA.
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而现在我们有能力阅读、
编辑和复制DNA。
编辑和复制DNA。
我们一直在实验室里这么做。
06:53
We do it in the lab all the time.
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06:56
So anything, really anything,
that can be stored as zeroes and ones
that can be stored as zeroes and ones
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所以，毫不夸张的说，
任何东西可以以 0 和 1的形式
任何东西可以以 0 和 1的形式
存储在DNA中。
07:00
can be stored in DNA.
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07:02
To store something digitally,
like this photo,
like this photo,
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要以数字化的方式存储
某些内容，比如这张照片，
某些内容，比如这张照片，
我们要先把它转换为比特，
或者二进制数字。
或者二进制数字。
07:05
we convert it to bits, or binary digits.
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黑白照片中的每个像素
就代表一个 0 或 1。
就代表一个 0 或 1。
07:09
Each pixel in a black-and-white photo
is simply a zero or a one.
is simply a zero or a one.
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我们可以像喷墨打印机
打字一样书写DNA。
打字一样书写DNA。
07:13
And we can write DNA much like an inkjet
printer can print letters on a page.
printer can print letters on a page.
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我们只要将数据，所有这些 0 和1，
07:18
We just have to convert our data,
all of those zeroes and ones,
all of those zeroes and ones,
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转换为 A，T，C，G，
07:22
to A's, T's, C's and G's,
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然后将它们发送到合成公司。
07:24
and then we send this
to a synthesis company.
to a synthesis company.
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这样一来，我们既可以
书写，也可以存储，
书写，也可以存储，
07:26
So we write it, we can store it,
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当我们想要恢复数据，
只需要测序就好。
只需要测序就好。
07:28
and when we want to recover our data,
we just sequence it.
we just sequence it.
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有意思的部分是决定要包含哪些文件。
07:32
Now, the fun part of all of this
is deciding what files to include.
is deciding what files to include.
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07:36
We're serious scientists,
so we had to include a manuscript
so we had to include a manuscript
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我们是严肃的科学家，
所以我们必须留下一份手稿
所以我们必须留下一份手稿
给我们优秀的后代。
07:39
for good posterity.
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07:41
We also included a $50 Amazon gift card --
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我们还放入了一份
价值50美元的亚马逊礼卡——
价值50美元的亚马逊礼卡——
别激动，里面的余额已经被移除了——
07:44
don't get too excited, it's already
been spent, someone decoded it --
been spent, someone decoded it --
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07:47
as well as an operating system,
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还有一个操作系统，
人类制作的第一部电影，
07:50
one of the first movies ever made
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和一个“先驱者号”金属板。
07:52
and a Pioneer plaque.
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你们中可能有人见过它。
07:54
Some of you might have seen this.
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它包含了代表性的信息，
——显然，包括男女性别，
——显然，包括男女性别，
07:55
It has a depiction of a typical --
apparently -- male and female,
apparently -- male and female,
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还有我们在太阳系中的大致位置，
07:59
and our approximate location
in the Solar System,
in the Solar System,
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以防万一“先驱者号”
太空飞船遇见了外星人。
太空飞船遇见了外星人。
08:02
in case the Pioneer spacecraft
ever encounters extraterrestrials.
ever encounters extraterrestrials.
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08:06
So once we decided what sort of files
we want to encode,
we want to encode,
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一旦我们决定了
哪些类型的文件要编码，
哪些类型的文件要编码，
就可以把这些数据打包，
08:09
we package up the data,
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将这些 0 和 1 转换为 A，T，C，G，
08:11
convert those zeroes and ones
to A's, T's, C's and G's,
to A's, T's, C's and G's,
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然后将这个文件发送到合成公司。
08:14
and then we just send this file off
to a synthesis company.
to a synthesis company.
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而这，就是我们拿回来的东西。
08:18
And this is what we got back.
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我们的文件就在这个小管里。
08:20
Our files were in this tube.
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我们只需要对它进行测序
就可以解读其中的信息。
就可以解读其中的信息。
08:22
All we had to do was sequence it.
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这听起来真的很简单，
08:24
This all sounds pretty straightforward,
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08:27
but the difference between
a really cool, fun idea
a really cool, fun idea
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但一个很酷、很有趣的想法，
与我们实际运用之间的不同之处，
08:30
and something we can actually use
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在于战胜实际的挑战。
08:32
is overcoming these practical challenges.
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08:35
Now, while DNA is more robust
than any man-made device,
than any man-made device,
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而DNA虽然比任何人造设备更稳定，
但它并不是完美的。
08:39
it's not perfect.
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它也有一些弱点。
08:40
It does have some weaknesses.
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08:43
We recover our message
by sequencing the DNA,
by sequencing the DNA,
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我们可以通过DNA测序来恢复信息，
08:46
and every time data is retrieved,
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但每次数据找回，
这个DNA都会被破坏。
08:48
we lose the DNA.
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这只是测序过程的必要步骤。
08:50
That's just part
of the sequencing process.
of the sequencing process.
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我们不想把数据耗尽，
08:53
We don't want to run out of data,
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不过好在还有一种方法可以复制DNA，
08:55
but luckily, there's a way to copy the DNA
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甚至比合成更便宜，更容易。
08:58
that's even cheaper and easier
than synthesizing it.
than synthesizing it.
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09:03
We actually tested a way to make
200 trillion copies of our files,
200 trillion copies of our files,
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我们测试了这种方法，
将我们的文件复制了200万亿份，
将我们的文件复制了200万亿份，
并精准的还原了所有数据。
09:08
and we recovered
all the data without error.
all the data without error.
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09:11
So sequencing also introduces
errors into our DNA,
errors into our DNA,
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测序也会将误差引入DNA，
引入 A，T，C，G 中。
09:15
into the A's, T's, C's and G's.
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09:18
Nature has a way
to deal with this in our cells.
to deal with this in our cells.
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大自然有办法在细胞中处理这个问题。
但我们的数据是存储在
小管里的合成DNA中，
小管里的合成DNA中，
09:21
But our data is stored
in synthetic DNA in a tube,
in synthetic DNA in a tube,
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所以我们必须找到
自己的方法来解决这个问题。
自己的方法来解决这个问题。
09:27
so we had to find our own way
to overcome this problem.
to overcome this problem.
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09:30
We decided to use an algorithm
that was used to stream videos.
that was used to stream videos.
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我们决定使用传输视频时用到的算法。
09:35
When you're streaming a video,
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当你在传输视频时，
你实际上是在设法恢复
原始的视频，原始文件。
原始的视频，原始文件。
09:36
you're essentially trying to recover
the original video, the original file.
the original video, the original file.
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当我们在设法恢复原始文件时，
09:41
When we're trying to recover
our original files,
our original files,
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我们只是在测序。
09:44
we're simply sequencing.
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但实际上，这两个过程
都是在复原足够的 0 和1。
都是在复原足够的 0 和1。
09:46
But really, both of these processes are
about recovering enough zeroes and ones
about recovering enough zeroes and ones
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将数据重新整合在一起。
09:50
to put our data back together.
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09:52
And so, because of our coding strategy,
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所以，根据我们的编码策略，
我们能够以一种可以制造
09:54
we were able to package up all of our data
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上万亿份拷贝的方式，将所有数据打包，
09:57
in a way that allowed us to make
millions and trillions of copies
millions and trillions of copies
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同时仍然保证所有的文件可以复原。
10:01
and still always recover
all of our files back.
all of our files back.
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10:04
This is the movie we encoded.
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这是我们编码的电影，
10:06
It's one of the first movies ever made,
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是人类创作的首批电影之一，
也是第一个在DNA中被复制出
超过200万亿份拷贝的电影。
超过200万亿份拷贝的电影。
10:09
and now the first to be copied
more than 200 trillion times on DNA.
more than 200 trillion times on DNA.
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10:14
Soon after our work was published,
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很快我们的工作被公开发表，
我们在Reddit网站上
参与了“问我任何问题”的活动。
参与了“问我任何问题”的活动。
10:16
we participated in an "Ask Me Anything"
on the website reddit.
on the website reddit.
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如果你是一个资深学究，
你应该对这个网站不会陌生。
你应该对这个网站不会陌生。
10:20
If you're a fellow nerd,
you're very familiar with this website.
you're very familiar with this website.
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大部分问题都有很深的思考，
10:23
Most questions were thoughtful.
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也有一些问题很好笑。
10:25
Some were comical.
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比如，一个用户想知道我们什么时候
会拥有一个字面意义的拇指储存器。
会拥有一个字面意义的拇指储存器。
10:27
For example, one user wanted to know
when we would have a literal thumb drive.
when we would have a literal thumb drive.
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10:32
Now, the thing is,
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事实上，
我们的DNA已经存储了
所有塑造了我们的必要信息。
所有塑造了我们的必要信息。
10:34
our DNA already stores everything
needed to make us who we are.
needed to make us who we are.
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将数据存储在DNA中，
10:38
It's a lot safer to store data on DNA
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比在小管中合成DNA要安全得多。
10:42
in synthetic DNA in a tube.
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10:46
Writing and reading data from DNA
is obviously a lot more time-consuming
is obviously a lot more time-consuming
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在DNA中写入和读取数据，
明显比在硬盘中存储文件
明显比在硬盘中存储文件
更花时间——
10:52
than just saving all your files
on a hard drive --
on a hard drive --
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目前是这样。
10:55
for now.
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10:57
So initially, we should focus
on long-term storage.
on long-term storage.
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所以，我们首先应该
关注长期存储的问题。
关注长期存储的问题。
11:02
Most data are ephemeral.
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大部分数据只能保存一段时间。
目前还很难提炼出哪些信息是重要的，
11:04
It's really hard to grasp
what's important today,
what's important today,
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或者哪些对后人是重要的。
11:07
or what will be important
for future generations.
for future generations.
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但重点是，我们不一定要马上做决定。
11:10
But the point is,
we don't have to decide today.
we don't have to decide today.
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11:14
There's this great program by UNESCO
called the "Memory of the World" program.
called the "Memory of the World" program.
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联合国教科文组织有一个
叫做“世界的记忆”的项目，
叫做“世界的记忆”的项目，
建立这个项目的初衷是
保存历史的记忆，
保存历史的记忆，
11:19
It's been created to preserve
historical materials
historical materials
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那些对全人类都有价值的记忆。
11:22
that are considered of value
to all of humanity.
to all of humanity.
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11:26
Items are nominated
to be added to the collection,
to be added to the collection,
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被选中的信息会被加入集合中，
包括我们编译的那部电影。
11:29
including that film that we encoded.
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11:32
While a wonderful way
to preserve human heritage,
to preserve human heritage,
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而保存人类传统更好的方式，
不是必须做一个选择。
11:35
it doesn't have to be a choice.
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与其问我们这一代人，
11:38
Instead of asking
the current generation -- us --
the current generation -- us --
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在未来什么东西可能是重要的，
11:41
what might be important in the future,
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我们可以在DNA中存储一切。
11:43
we could store everything in DNA.
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11:47
Storage is not just about how many bytes
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存储不止是关乎有多少字节，
而是我们可以多好地保存和恢复数据。
11:50
but how well we can actually
store the data and recover it.
store the data and recover it.
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11:53
There's always been this tension
between how much data we can generate
between how much data we can generate
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一直以来，在我们会产生多少数据，
可以恢复多少数据，
可以恢复多少数据，
以及可以存储多少数据之间，
11:57
and how much we can recover
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都存在着矛盾。
11:59
and how much we can store.
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12:01
Every advance in writing data
has required a new way to read it.
has required a new way to read it.
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数据写入的每次进步，
都要求一种新的读取方式。
都要求一种新的读取方式。
我们已无法再读取
那些老旧的存储设备了。
那些老旧的存储设备了。
12:05
We can no longer read old media.
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你们还有多少人的
笔记本电脑中有磁盘驱动器，
笔记本电脑中有磁盘驱动器，
12:08
How many of you even have
a disk drive in your laptop,
a disk drive in your laptop,
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或者软盘驱动器？
12:12
never mind a floppy drive?
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12:14
This will never be the case with DNA.
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有了DNA，这些情况再也不会出现。
只要我们在，DNA就存在，
12:16
As long as we're around, DNA is around,
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我们总会找到排序的方式。
12:19
and we'll find a way to sequence it.
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12:23
Archiving the world around us
is part of human nature.
is part of human nature.
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将我们周围的世界存档
是人类天性的一部分。
是人类天性的一部分。
12:27
This is the progress we've made
in digital storage in 60 years,
in digital storage in 60 years,
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这是过去60年我们数字化存储的发展，
60年前我们也刚刚开始理解DNA。
12:31
at a time when we were only
beginning to understand DNA.
beginning to understand DNA.
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12:35
Yet, we've made similar progress
in half that time with DNA sequencers,
in half that time with DNA sequencers,
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而有了DNA测序技术，我们用一半的
时间就达到了相似的发展进度，
时间就达到了相似的发展进度，
而且只要我们还存在，DNA就永不过时。
12:40
and as long as we're around,
DNA will never be obsolete.
DNA will never be obsolete.
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12:46
Thank you.
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谢谢。
（鼓掌）
12:47
(Applause)
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ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Dina Zielinski - Bench scientist, bioinformaticianDina Zielinski brings biological data to life, from decoding mutations in cancer to encoding data in DNA.
Why you should listen
Dina Zielinski is a bench scientist and bioinformatician with broad experience in genetics and genomics. Her current projects are in developmental biology and neurology, but she is motivated to keep learning and using her skills to answer scientific questions that challenge our deepest knowledge.
Dina Zielinski | Speaker | TED.com