A Cryptographic System Based upon the Principles of Gene Expression

• Main Author: Harry Shaw
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2017-11-01
• Series: Cryptography
• Subjects: cybersecurity; biomimetic; encryption; confidentiality; gene expression; gene regulation
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2410-387X/1/3/21

Processes of gene expression such as regulation of transcription by the general transcription complex can be used to create hard cryptographic protocols which should not be breakable by common cipherattack methodologies. The eukaryotic processes of gene expression permit expansion of DNA cryptography into complex networks of transcriptional and translational coding interactions. I describe a method of coding messages into genes and their regulatory sequences, transcription products, regulatory protein complexes, transcription proteins, translation proteins and other required sequences. These codes then serve as the basis for a cryptographic model based on the processes of gene expression. The protocol provides a hierarchal structure that extends from the initial coding of a message into a DNA code (ciphergene), through transcription and ultimately translation into a protein code (cipherprotein). The security is based upon unique knowledge of the DNA coding process, all of the regulatory codes required for expression, and their interactions. This results in a set of cryptographic protocols that is capable of securing data at rest, data in motion and providing an evolvable form of security between two or more parties. The conclusion is that implementation of these protocols will enhance security and substantially burden cyberattackers to develop new forms of countermeasures.