How do error-correcting codes impact data integrity in DNA storage?

• A. They add redundancy that enables data recovery when some sequences contain errors.
• B. They compress data to reduce sequence length.
• C. They randomize sequences to prevent pattern formation.
• D. They directly repair DNA enzymatically.

Answer: (A)

Error-correcting codes work by adding extra data to the stored information, creating redundancy that makes it possible to detect and fix mistakes that arise when DNA is synthesized, stored, and read. In DNA storage, sequences can incur substitutions, insertions, and deletions during synthesis and sequencing, and some sequences may drop out altogether. By encoding data into codewords with a defined minimum distance, the decoder can identify the most likely original codeword even after a limited number of errors, recovering the original data without needing to perfectly recreate every sequence. This trade-off—more redundancy for greater reliability—is essential for maintaining data integrity in the face of typical DNA workflow errors. These codes are designed to handle the kinds of errors seen in DNA storage and are often used alongside other coding strategies. They don’t compress data, don’t randomize sequences to prevent patterns, and don’t repair DNA enzymatically; their purpose is to enable error tolerance during readout.