A revolutionary method of preserving human DNA for millions of years has been developed by professors at the University of Southampton.

In particular, British scientists stored the entire human genome in a crystal, which could be used to restore humanity, in the event of its extinction.

According to SkyNews, the team from the University of Southampton’s Optoelectronics Research Center (ORC) used a laser to record the data into a 5D crystal, which can survive for billions of years.

Crystal – unlike other forms of storage – does not diminish or degrade over time.

In a statement, the university described the crystal – the equivalent of molten quartz – as one of the most “chemically and thermally resistant materials on Earth”.

It can withstand enormous forces, extreme temperatures and “exposure to cosmic radiation”.

The team now hopes they could use the same method in the future to map the genomes of endangered plant and animal species.

But there is an “obstacle” to restoring life.

At present, it is not possible to synthetically create humans, plants and animals using only genetic information.

The head of the research team, Professor Kazansky, said the longevity of the 5D crystal meant the information would be available to scientists when and if advances in genetics were made.

“We know from other colleagues’ work that genetic material from simple organisms can be synthesized and used in an existing cell to create a viable living specimen in a laboratory,” he said.

“The 5D memory crystal opens up possibilities for other researchers to create an eternal storehouse of genomic information from which complex organisms such as plants and animals could be restored if science allows in the future,” he said.