Challenges for error-correction coding in DNA data storage: photolithographic synthesis and DNA decay

Efficient error-correction codes are crucial for realizing DNA’s potential as a long-lasting, high-density storage medium for digital data. At the same time, new workflows promising low-cost, resilient DNA data storage are challenging their design and error-correcting capabilities. This study characterizes the errors and biases in two new additions to the state-of-the-art workflow in DNA data storage: photolithographic synthesis and DNA decay. Photolithographic synthesis offers low-cost, scalable oligonucleotide synthesis but suffers from high error rates, necessitating sophisticated error-correction schemes, for example codes introducing within-sequence redundancy combined with clustering and alignment techniques for retrieval. On the other hand, the decoding of oligo fragments after DNA decay promises unprecedented storage densities, but complicates data recovery by requiring the reassembly of full-length sequences or the use of partial sequences for decoding. Our analysis provides a detailed account of the error patterns and biases present in photolithographic synthesis and DNA decay, and identifies considerable bias stemming from sequencing workflows. We implement our findings into a digital twin of the two workflows, offering a tool for developing error-correction codes and providing benchmarks for the evaluation of codec performance.