Storing DNA Jurassic Park-style: Amberlike material preserves genetic data at room temp.

JURASSIC Park (Film); DNA; MATERIALS science; NUCLEIC acids

Scientists have developed a method called Thermoset-REinforced Xeropreservation (T-REX) to store DNA in a glassy polymer network at room temperature. This method is cheaper and faster than current options, which require freezing temperatures and specialized equipment. The DNA can be easily extracted using benign chemicals. The T-REX method has been successfully tested by encasing a human genome and DNA sequences containing the Jurassic Park theme music, which were successfully extracted and sequenced after exposure to high temperatures and humidity. This breakthrough could have a significant impact on storing DNA for long periods of time. [Extracted from the article]