Deoxyribonucleic acid(DNA) optical storage using non-radiative energy transfer between a donor group, an acceptor group and a quencher group

A DNA optical memory cell comprising:

• a support mechanism,
• an attachment mechanism coupled to the support mechanism, and
• DNA structure adapted to receive photonic energy and to reemit energy based upon the effective presence of a quencher, the attachment mechanism serving to attach the support mechanism to the DNA structure.

An optical memory player for reading from a memory array, the memory array including multiple read portals which contain chromophoric memory units adapted to provide a multibit output, comprising:

• an illumination source operatively positioned to illuminate a read portal on the memory array,
• a motion device adapted to receive the memory array containing the read portals and to cause relative motion of the read portals and the illumination source, and
• a detector for resolving the multibit output from the read portal.

A method for storing data comprising the steps of:

• forming a chromophoric memory unit by hybridizing a DNA template with at least one donor group, one acceptor group and a quencher group,
• writing to the chromophoric memory unit to place said chromophoric memory unit in one of two states, a first state being the effective quenched state and a second state being an inactivated quench state, and
• reading from the chromophoric memory unit by illuminating the chromophoric memory unit with optical radiation and detecting the presence or absence of reemitted radiation.