DNA-based data storage and retrieval

A method for storing input data on nucleic acid molecules, the method comprising:

• a) converting the input data into a set of nucleotide sequences, wherein the converting comprises
• i) a data processing step comprising converting the input data into a binary string and dividing the binary string into a sequence of non-overlapping 5-bit binary strings;
• ii) a nucleotide encoding step comprising converting the sequence of non-overlapping 5-bit binary strings into the set of nucleotide sequences using a 5-bit transcoding framework to convert each 5-bit binary string into a corresponding 3-mer nucleotide sequence, wherein each corresponding 3-mer nucleotide sequence comprises:
• a first base and a second base selected from A, T, C, and G;
• and
• a third base selected from R and Y, wherein:
• R is selected from any two of A, T, C, and G;
• Y is selected from the corresponding other two of A, T, C, and G;
• R and Y are chosen so that they are different from the second base immediately in front of R or Y;
• and
• R and Y are chosen based on a GC content of the set of nucleotide sequences;
• and
• b) synthesizing a set of nucleic acid molecules corresponding to the set of nucleotide sequences generated by converting the input data.