Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Technology => Topic started by: Seg B on 12/01/2010 09:30:02

Title: How much computer memory would a human genome use?
Post by: Seg B on 12/01/2010 09:30:02

Seg B  asked the Naked Scientists:
   
How much computer memory would a persons genome take up?

Segen, London

What do you think?

Title: How much computer memory would a human genome use?
Post by: Geezer on 16/01/2010 23:22:20

Quote from: DiscoverDave on 16/01/2010 21:46:59

My thinking:

Quote

The haploid human genome occupies a total of just over 3 billion DNA base pairs.

Human genome (Wikipedia) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_genome)

DNA consists of combinations of 4 different base pairs that are able to be encoded as 2 binary bits (ie, 4 = 2², where the base of 2 indicates "binary" and the power of ² indicates number of bits). Thus,

3,000,000,000 base pairs → 1,500 Mega bits

1,500 Mega bits ≈ 100 MB of 16-bit words, 50 MB of 32-bit words, and 25 MB of 64-bit words.

Dave: I think 3 billion base pairs will need at least 6 billion bits, or approximately 750 Mega Bytes (8 bit Bytes)

In practice, depending on the actual encoding method, including some structure and a certain amount amount of redundancy, 1 GB is probably a practical minimum. I would not be surprised if actual genome files are considerably larger. Still, these days, a few GB is not much, and you could easily carry around your own sequence on a flash card!

Title: How much computer memory would a human genome use?
Post by: Bengaman on 18/01/2010 22:02:42

Wow that's quite cool, can pick up 1GB cards for dirt cheap these days!

Title: How much computer memory would a human genome use?
Post by: Geezer on 19/01/2010 03:08:24

If you can find one that small! I bought a 4GB keychain USB for my wife today for $15.