A Tutorial on Coding Methods for DNA-Based Molecular Communications and Storage

The exponential increase of data has motivated advances of data storage technologies. As a promising storage media, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) storage provides a much higher data density and superior durability, compared with state-of-the-art media. In this article, we provide a tutorial on DNA storage and its role in molecular communications (MCs). First, we introduce the fundamentals of DNA-based MCs and storage (MCS), discussing the basic process of performing DNA storage in MCS. Furthermore, we provide tutorials on how conventional coding schemes that are used in wireless communications can be applied to DNA-based MCS, along with numerical results. Finally, promising research directions on DNA-based data storage in MCs are introduced and discussed in this article.