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DNA Data Retention TWG 
Subgroup

 As with existing storage technologies, understanding claims of
media durability and data retention across competing solutions is
important to system designers. The mission of the Data Retention
TWG Subgroup is to define standard test methods and metrics
enabling DNA media and DNA data containment methods to be
characterized and objectively compared.

Workstreams and Activities
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Data Codecs TWG Subgroup

The DNA Codec is a software layer (often hardware accelerated)
that implements the DNA channel model for a DNA data storage
system, controlling how a source file of digital 1’s and 0’s is
translated to DNA bases (ACGT), and back again, while
accounting for the error properties unique to the chemistry of the
DNA Physical Layer. The mission of the DNA Codec TWG
Subgroup is to facilitate the availability of high-quality DNA
codecs.

Workstreams and Activities

  • Develop a codec Requirements and Metrics specification
  • Considering work on solid state nanopore error model
  • Possibly develop or recommend open-source codecs
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Interoperable Interfaces TWG Subgroup

To enable datacenter-based DNA data storage systems, system designers need a system architecture model for the interoperable building blocks of such a system. The mission of the Interoperable Interfaces TWG subgroup is to define physical interfaces and formats for DNA data storage system components to enable interoperability across different vendors.

Workstreams and Activities

  • Specification drafted and working to put in published form. 
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DNA Archive Rosetta Stone TWG Subgroup

Unlike existing storage technologies, the predominant current instantiation of a DNA archive is a physical pool of molecules that has no fixed physical structure, built-in controller, or way to address regions of the media linearly; e.g., there is no “master boot record”. The mission of the DNA Rosetta Stone TWG Subgroup is to develop standard means to access and discover the physical and logical structure of DNA-based data archives (e.g., encoder used, object formats).

Workstreams and Activities

  • Published Sector 0 and Sector 1 specifications
  • Considering alternate Sector 0/1 methods
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DNA Roadmap SIG

The DNA data storage ecosystem is nascent, and it is important to develop and maintain a ongoing view of both the state of the art and the technical and business challenges to commercial deployment. The mission of the DNA Roadmap SIG is to publish an ongoing series of documents that describe the evolution of the DNA data storage ecosystem, in whole and as components of each stage in the pipeline.

Workstreams and Activities

  • First white paper is in late stage internal draft.
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DNA Biosecurity Task Force

The evolution of sophisticated DNA manipulation technologies in the medical and scientific context has led to concerns over the inadvertent creation of DNA sequences that could result in toxins or in some other way have deleterious effects. The mission of the Biosecurity Task Force is to review biosecurity risks as related to DNA data storage and recommend positions for the ecosystem and the regulatory framework.

Workstreams and Activities

  • Initial regulatory position drafted and being socialized in community