RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Secure data storage on DNA hard drives JF bioRxiv FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory SP 857748 DO 10.1101/857748 A1 Chen, Kaikai A1 Zhu, Jinbo A1 Boskovic, Filip A1 Keyser, Ulrich F. YR 2019 UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2019/11/28/857748.abstract AB DNA is emerging as a novel material for digital data storage. The two main challenges are efficient encoding and data security. Here, we develop an approach that allows for writing and erasing data by relying solely on Watson-Crick base pairing of short oligonucleotides to single-stranded DNA overhangs located along a long double-stranded DNA hard drive (DNA-HD). Our enzyme-free system enables fast synthesis-free data writing with predetermined building blocks. The use of DNA base pairing allows for secure encryption on DNA-HDs that requires a physical key and nanopore sensing for decoding. The system is suitable for miniature integration for an end-to-end DNA storage device. Our study opens a novel pathway for rewritable and secure data storage with DNA.One Sentence Summary Storing digital information on molecules along DNA hard drives for rewritable and secure data storage.