Digital information

DNA storage theoretical capacity per gram

DNA storage theoretical capacity per gram is the maximum amount of digital information that can be encoded in one gram of DNA under ideal conditions.

Also known as: DNA data density, DNA storage density

How big is it?

215 PB of data

Theoretical bytes per gram · theoretical
Typical recorded range: 100 PB to 300 PB.

Scale illustration of DNA storage theoretical capacity per gram, calibrated to its theoretical bytes per gram measurement.
The marked theoretical bytes per gram represents 215 PB.

A little perspective

An exabyte archive is about 4.65 times larger on this measurement.

An exabyte archive: An exabyte archive is a digital storage system capable of holding extremely large datasets, often used by major organisations or data centres.

Linear measure
BYTES OF DATA215 PB1 EB
01
DNA storage theoretical capacity per gram215 PBTheoretical bytes per gram
Bar length represents bytes. The physical sizes of devices are schematic; encoding and compression affect file sizes.
Measurements, assumptions & sources +

DNA storage theoretical capacity per gram

A theoretical information density of about 215 petabytes per gram of DNA under an idealised encoding model. Real systems require addressing, error correction, redundancy, containers and retrieval machinery, reducing practical density.

Harvard Wyss Institute — DNA data storage

The marked theoretical bytes per gram is calibrated. Unmeasured illustration details are representative.

An exabyte archive

A defined 1 EB decimal data amount; no claim about a named service.

Defined examples — our methodology

The marked data is calibrated. Unmeasured illustration details are representative.

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Why this measurement?

Why we use 215 PB

For comparison, this page uses theoretical bytes per gram. This is a theoretical scale, not a measured hard boundary or proof of a physical limit. The recorded range is 100 PB to 300 PB.

A theoretical information density of about 215 petabytes per gram of DNA under an idealised encoding model. Real systems require addressing, error correction, redundancy, containers and retrieval machinery, reducing practical density.

The identifying illustration and the numerical comparison remain separate. How calibrated comparisons work →

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Recorded properties

DNA storage theoretical capacity per gram dimensions and measurements

PropertySelected valueRecorded rangeBasis
215 PB100 PB to 300 PBtheoretical

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Sources and method

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