Today’s topic • DNA-based steganography. • It was introduced in the short article, “Hiding messages in DNA microdots”, published in 1999. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/21092
What is microdot ? Source: A Brief History of Secret Writing • The microdot is a means of concealing messages (steganography). • It was used by German spies in the WW2 to transmit secret information.
DNA microdot • DNA → RNA → Protein → Our body. • There are 4 types of DNA: A T G C. • With a combination of 3 DNAs, we can encode alphanumeric letters into DNA strand. • The authors encoded 23 letters into DNAs (69 + 20 + 20 molecules). Source: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/21092
What is “Primer” ? • When we read DNAs, “primers” need to be attached to the beginning and the end of DNA strand. • You can think of primer as keyhole. • Even if an adversary noticed the hidden message, the message can’t be read without knowing its key. Source: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/21092
Future of DNA microdot • DNA microdot inspired many scientists to develop “DNA storage”. Especially, DARPA and Microsoft are investing in this area eagerly. • Theoretically, DNA storage can archive 200 EB/g. For now, 215 PB/g has been already achieved. http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.aaj2038 • Cost of reading and synthesizing DNA strand is reducing dramatically, so DNA storage will be made practicable in the near future.