While the technology would most likely first be used to track medication, it could also be used to store text and images for many millennia, thwarting the longevity issues associated with today's disk and tape storage systems -- which only store data for up to 100 years in most cases.

The artificial DNA that carries the data to be preserved makes multiple copies of the DNA and inserts the original as well as identical copies into the bacterial genome sequence. The multiple copies work as backup files to counteract natural degradation of the preserved data, according to the newswire.

Bacteria have particularly compact DNA, which is passed down from generation to generation. The information stored in that DNA can also be passed on for long-term preservation of large data files, the scientists said.

Why would anyone want to use this method to store data? It is slow to write and read. Genetic sequencing is not something that can be done quickly.

There's a limit to how much data that you can store in an organism due to the limited number of chromosomes. This is further limited by the fact that some of the gene sequences cannot be changed as they are required in order for the organism to survive. Your data could also be a killer combination that turn harmless organism into dangerous one.

How do you separate different organisms that carry different data?

How do you protect against genetic mutation that can alter your data?

There's no upside to using this method that I can see.