A DNA-Based Encryption Method Based on Two Biological Axioms of DNA Chip and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Amplification Techniques.

Abstract

Researchers have gained a deeper understanding of DNA-based encryption and its effectiveness in enhancing information security in recent years. However, there are many theoretical and technical issues about DNA-based encryption that need to be addressed before it can be effectively used in the field of security. Currently, the most popular DNA-based encryption schemes are based on traditional cryptography and the integration of existing DNA technology. These schemes are not completely based on DNA computing and biotechnology. Herein, as inspired by nature, encryption based on DNA has been developed, which is, in turn, based on two fundamental biological axioms about DNA sequencing: 1) DNA sequencing is difficult under the conditions of not knowing the correct sequencing primers and probes, and 2) without knowing the correct probe, it is difficult to decipher precisely and sequence the information of unknown and mixed DNA/peptide nucleic acid (PNA) probes, which only differ in nucleotide sequence, arranged on DNA chips (microarrays). In essence, when creating DNA-based encryption by means of biological technologies, such as DNA chips and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification, the encryption method discussed herein cannot be decrypted, unless the DNA/PNA probe or PCR amplification is known. The biological analysis, mathematical analysis, and simulation results demonstrate the feasibility of the method, which provides much stronger security and reliability than that of traditional encryption methods.