The LOEWE-Emphasis MOSLA

at the University of Marburg

MOSLA (Molecular storage for long-term archiving) develops trans-disciplinary approaches to the solution for one of mankind’s fundamental problems: the long-term storage of information.

The development of molecular storage, both for elemental organic cluster elements and DNA molecules, is to be advanced. The scenario of a “digital dark age”, i.e. the loss of all digital information, should thus be prevented.

MOSLA’s research regarding DNA as an information storage medium focuses on two core areas MOSLA: Increasing the storage density of DNA, e.g. through better algorithms for data coding and the use of modified nucleotides, as well as information storage in living cells (spores).

Previous approaches were based almost exclusively on the use of chemically synthesized short DNA oligonucleotides. Optimal storage will now be ensured by the use of long DNA molecules. Living bacterial cells are excellently suited for this purpose: They can absorb DNA, have repair and multiplication mechanisms, reproduce rapidly and can survive thousands of years in the form of spores.

Complementing the storage of information in DNA, a chemical method based on elemental organic cluster elements is to be developed. The cluster elements change according to the intrinsic geometry of the incident light and can be applied to carrier substrates using printing techniques. Thus, such cluster elements have the potential to enable robust and easily readable data storage.