Synthetic DNA sequences are attractive for digital data storage because information can be encoded with extremely high density, with a theoretical limit above 1 EB/mm3 (eight orders of magnitude denser than magnetic tape). Additionally, it is long lasting, with an observed half-life of over 500 years in some environments. To wit, DNA has even been extracted from 100,00-year-old Neanderthal skeletons. DNA-based storage also has the benefit of eternal relevance: as long as there is DNA-based life on earth, there will be strong incentives to read and manipulate DNA.