A novel DNA cryptographic approach

Abstract

DNA encryption is a novel promising field that ensures confidentiality in the era of Internet and World Wide Web (WWW), where information security has become a colossal issue due to enormous data size present in multimedia form. The DNA cryptography emerges as an indispensable tool that provides much-desired protection by blending the traditional crypto solutions with the strength of genetic materials. There are two primary ways of employing bio-molecular computing in the security sphere: biological and digital. The former approach is quite tedious and expensive as it is conducted at molecular level in the wet laboratories, while the latter is based on the availability of DNA sequences on public domains in digital form. The digital DNA databases are set across the globe and can be accessed with ease for manifold purposes. These online genetic databanks contain a plethora of DNA sequences which can be used for creation of random keys. The generation of such keys signify a feasible solution to the One Time Pad symmetric encryption, where keys need to be lengthy and have one-time usage only. Due to disposal of 420 billion genetic series digitally, copious OTPs can be produced which will be ample even for modern day needs. These keys can also be combined with each other to generate fresh keys. The digital DNA also unravels the key distribution problem in symmetric encryption by either communicating the particular DNA sequence number through secure means or using another DNA series to conceal the secret key. Another advantage of digital DNA series is its utilization for forming a DNA indexing symmetric cipher that will function as a homophonic cryptosystem that recommends profuse ciphertexts for a plaintext. This simple encryption scheme becomes a daunting task for the cryptanalyst if he/ she does not the exact sequence number from the specific databank. The DNA indexing can be amalgamated with mystifying mathematical functions from traditional cryptography to achieve multiple levels of safety. This research work prop