Purple Drop is a “lab-on-a-chip system” that uses open-source software and hardware to manipulate droplets of water containing DNA, allowing them to process binary information, similar to an electronic computer. However, DNA offers far greater data density. The system achieves this by sequencing the movement, heating and cooling of the droplets on the platform, paving the way for innovative computing solutions.
Kothare emphasized that DNA computing and storage are gaining traction due to their incredible data density and long-term storage capabilities.
"DNA storage has several orders of magnitude higher data density compared to traditional silicon-based devices," Kothare said. "A single drop of water containing DNA molecules can store a massive amount of data, far surpassing the capacity of similarly sized silicon devices. This enables the storage of vast amounts of information in an extremely compact space."
He added, "DNA-based storage also offers a significantly longer lifespan. Once DNA is dried and kept in an unreactive environment, it can preserve data for thousands of years. The ability to recover DNA from fossils is proof of its remarkable durability over millennia."
The 2024 team is comprised of five students: Nathan Edmondson ’25, majoring in computer science; Aaron Colon ’27, majoring in biostatistics and health data science; Sam Correll ’26, majoring in integrated business and engineering; Burhan Gokalp ’26, a bioengineering major, and Daniel Malatesta ’26, majoring in biology with a minor in probability and statistics.
When discussing complex projects like DNA computing and storage, many people assume they are far removed from daily life and too intricate to have practical applications. The students initially had similar thoughts when they joined the project team.
Correll shared that, through his experience with Purple Drop, he gained a better understanding of how big ideas are actually addressed and how undergraduate students like him can make a tangible impact.
"Before Purple Drop, I really didn't know what goes into turning a big idea like DNA storage into reality," he said. "Now that I've been introduced to the early stages of turning a broad concept into something feasible, I see that our research isn’t about providing the final solution, but about getting one step closer so that someone else can build on it and get even closer."
Edmondson reflected on the team’s significant progress over the summer, emphasizing that they successfully completed a critical step toward enabling more complex computations.
"We finalized the design of our DNA species and ordered them, tested DNA movement on our hardware and developed the optimal buffer solution for our experiments. The team also built several copies of our hardware, including wiring our own circuits to address issues with the fabricated board,” he said. “What I’m most proud of is that, in September, we attended the International Conference on DNA Computing and Molecular Programming (DNA 30), where we had the opportunity to share our research with an incredible group of researchers."
Reflecting on the DNA 30 Conference, Gokalp noted that receiving feedback from renowned researchers in the field of DNA computing has allowed the team to approach their challenges and methods from new perspectives.
“The DNA 30 Conference was an eye-opening experience,” said Gokalp. “We will ensure that the feedback and suggestions we received are applied to overcome the obstacles we encounter in our research.”
Discussing the future of the project, Arnold said the team is focused on creating a highly mechanistic system where DNA functions as a component—a chemical machine.
"We’re aiming for something that is as reliable and engineered as electronic computers," he explained. "I believe platforms like Purple Drop, combined with microfluidics, will play a significant role in this. There was definitely interest in the students' presentation at the conference."
“With the current system the team is working on, it will take larger projects, bigger boards, and more advanced infrastructure to achieve real, practical computing and storage. However, it will serve as a solid proof of concept,” Arnold said.
Story by Haidan Hu.
