Blockchain-Enabled Privacy-Preserving Ecosystem for DNA Sequence Sharing

The sharing of DNA sequence data is essential for advancing medical technology and fostering innovation in healthcare. However, DNA sequences encode sensitive information, such as gender, physical attributes, and genetic predispositions, necessitating stringent privacy safeguards. Existing data-shar...

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Main Authors: Thi-Thanh-An Nguyen, Yu-Heng Hsieh, Ching-Hsi Tseng, Yu-Chen Lin, Shyan-Ming Yuan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Applied Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/6/3193
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author Thi-Thanh-An Nguyen
Yu-Heng Hsieh
Ching-Hsi Tseng
Yu-Chen Lin
Shyan-Ming Yuan
author_facet Thi-Thanh-An Nguyen
Yu-Heng Hsieh
Ching-Hsi Tseng
Yu-Chen Lin
Shyan-Ming Yuan
author_sort Thi-Thanh-An Nguyen
collection DOAJ
description The sharing of DNA sequence data is essential for advancing medical technology and fostering innovation in healthcare. However, DNA sequences encode sensitive information, such as gender, physical attributes, and genetic predispositions, necessitating stringent privacy safeguards. Existing data-sharing frameworks often fail to adequately address these privacy concerns. To overcome these challenges, this study proposes a blockchain-based, privacy-preserving ecosystem for DNA sequence sharing. The system employs a decentralized architecture to manage digital identities and access permissions, ensuring robust privacy and data security. Smart contract functionalities allow users to assign granular access controls to specific DNA sequence segments, enabling selective sharing with trusted recipients. Furthermore, research institutions are required to obtain certification and classification from governmental authorities, enhancing trust and system reliability. The user-centric design prioritizes privacy, security, and autonomy, simplifying operational processes and fostering user trust. By incentivizing DNA data sharing, the proposed model aims to accelerate medical advancements while maintaining stringent privacy protections, establishing a secure and scalable ecosystem for DNA sequence sharing. Experimental results from a prototype implementation indicate that the system achieves a throughput of up to 10–20 transactions per second for identity and access operations while incurring acceptable on-chain costs (≈1.3 million gas to deploy contracts and 400–800 k gas per user registration). These performance metrics underscore the feasibility and efficiency of the proposed approach.
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issn 2076-3417
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spelling doaj-art-8d561a68c08b4bf281161de3a855469c2025-08-20T03:43:30ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172025-03-01156319310.3390/app15063193Blockchain-Enabled Privacy-Preserving Ecosystem for DNA Sequence SharingThi-Thanh-An Nguyen0Yu-Heng Hsieh1Ching-Hsi Tseng2Yu-Chen Lin3Shyan-Ming Yuan4Department of Computer Science and Information Engineering, Minghsin University of Science and Technology, Hsinchu 304, TaiwanCS Department, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 300, TaiwanCS Department, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 300, TaiwanCS Department, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 300, TaiwanCS Department, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 300, TaiwanThe sharing of DNA sequence data is essential for advancing medical technology and fostering innovation in healthcare. However, DNA sequences encode sensitive information, such as gender, physical attributes, and genetic predispositions, necessitating stringent privacy safeguards. Existing data-sharing frameworks often fail to adequately address these privacy concerns. To overcome these challenges, this study proposes a blockchain-based, privacy-preserving ecosystem for DNA sequence sharing. The system employs a decentralized architecture to manage digital identities and access permissions, ensuring robust privacy and data security. Smart contract functionalities allow users to assign granular access controls to specific DNA sequence segments, enabling selective sharing with trusted recipients. Furthermore, research institutions are required to obtain certification and classification from governmental authorities, enhancing trust and system reliability. The user-centric design prioritizes privacy, security, and autonomy, simplifying operational processes and fostering user trust. By incentivizing DNA data sharing, the proposed model aims to accelerate medical advancements while maintaining stringent privacy protections, establishing a secure and scalable ecosystem for DNA sequence sharing. Experimental results from a prototype implementation indicate that the system achieves a throughput of up to 10–20 transactions per second for identity and access operations while incurring acceptable on-chain costs (≈1.3 million gas to deploy contracts and 400–800 k gas per user registration). These performance metrics underscore the feasibility and efficiency of the proposed approach.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/6/3193blockchainDNA sequencesaccess controlprivacy preservation
spellingShingle Thi-Thanh-An Nguyen
Yu-Heng Hsieh
Ching-Hsi Tseng
Yu-Chen Lin
Shyan-Ming Yuan
Blockchain-Enabled Privacy-Preserving Ecosystem for DNA Sequence Sharing
Applied Sciences
blockchain
DNA sequences
access control
privacy preservation
title Blockchain-Enabled Privacy-Preserving Ecosystem for DNA Sequence Sharing
title_full Blockchain-Enabled Privacy-Preserving Ecosystem for DNA Sequence Sharing
title_fullStr Blockchain-Enabled Privacy-Preserving Ecosystem for DNA Sequence Sharing
title_full_unstemmed Blockchain-Enabled Privacy-Preserving Ecosystem for DNA Sequence Sharing
title_short Blockchain-Enabled Privacy-Preserving Ecosystem for DNA Sequence Sharing
title_sort blockchain enabled privacy preserving ecosystem for dna sequence sharing
topic blockchain
DNA sequences
access control
privacy preservation
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/6/3193
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AT yuhenghsieh blockchainenabledprivacypreservingecosystemfordnasequencesharing
AT chinghsitseng blockchainenabledprivacypreservingecosystemfordnasequencesharing
AT yuchenlin blockchainenabledprivacypreservingecosystemfordnasequencesharing
AT shyanmingyuan blockchainenabledprivacypreservingecosystemfordnasequencesharing