Also: DNA origami, DNA storage
DNA can be used as a building material for tiny shapes and machines, and as an ultra-dense way to store digital data.
Readiness: lab lab studies · prototype demonstrated objects · commercial products or buildings in real use · review summaries of other studies.
Church, Gao, and Kosuri encoded a book in DNA as digital storage.
Built / tested: DNA data storage
As reported in: Church, Gao, Kosuri (2012). Next-Generation Digital Information Storage in DNA. Science. doi:10.1126/science.1226355
Goldman and colleagues stored and read back files including text, images, and audio in DNA.
As reported in: Goldman, Bertone, Chen et al. (2013). Towards practical, high-capacity, low-maintenance information storage in synthesized DNA. Nature. doi:10.1038/nature11875
Erlich and Zielinski developed a coding method that stores data in DNA near its theoretical capacity.
As reported in: Erlich, Zielinski (2017). DNA Fountain enables a robust and efficient storage architecture. Science. doi:10.1126/science.aaj2038
Seeman proposed building structures from branched DNA junctions.
As reported in: Seeman (1982). Nucleic acid junctions and lattices. Journal of Theoretical Biology. doi:10.1016/0022-5193(82)90002-9
Abstract only
Rothemund folded long DNA strands into nanoscale shapes and patterns.
As reported in: Rothemund (2006). Folding DNA to create nanoscale shapes and patterns. Nature. doi:10.1038/nature04586
Abstract only
Douglas, Bachelet, and Church built a DNA nanorobot that opens to deliver a payload when it recognizes cells.
As reported in: Douglas, Bachelet, Church (2012). A Logic-Gated Nanorobot for Targeted Transport of Molecular Payloads. Science. doi:10.1126/science.1214081
Abstract only