Genetic information storage apparatus, genetic information search apparatus, genetic information storage program, genetic information search program, genetic information storage method, genetic information search method, and genetic information search system

A genetic information search apparatus which searches genetic information stored in a storage apparatus managed by a data management apparatus, the genetic information search apparatus comprising:

• a computer processor;
• and
• a memory storing a program which, when executed by the computer processor, performs a first process comprising,
• receiving as input differential information of the genetic information to be searched with a reference gene which is predefined genetic information;
• generating a search query in which the differential information received by the differential information input part is embedded;
• and
• sending the generated search query to the data management apparatus, and obtaining the genetic information including the differential information,
• wherein the genetic information stored in the storage apparatus includes an encrypted target gene stored in relation to a tag, which is embedded with differential information of the target gene with the reference gene and them encrypted,
• wherein the search query is used to search the genetic information stored in the storage apparatus according to a second process in which an external computer:
• extracts the differential information from the search query,
• decrypts the encrypted tag stored in relation to the encrypted target gene, and extracts the differential information from the decrypted tag,
• performs a comparison to determine whether the differential information from the search query is the same as the differential information extracted from the decrypted tag, and
• in case the differential information from the search query and the decrypted tag are determined to be the same, designates the encrypted target gene as a search match,
• wherein, according to the second process, no part of the target gene is exposed to the external computer in unencrypted form during the search, and the search is conducted by the external computer without use of a search index descriptive of the target gene, thereby preserving privacy of information corresponding to the target gene.

A non-transitory computer readable medium on which is stored a genetic information storage program which makes a storage apparatus store genetic information, the genetic information storage program being executed by a computer to perform:

• a reference gene obtainment process to obtain a reference gene which is predefined genetic information;
• a gene input process to receive a target gene which is the genetic information to be stored in the storage apparatus;
• a difference generation process to compare the reference gene obtained by the reference gene obtainment process with the target gene received by the gene input process to generate differential information,
• a data encryption process to encrypt the target gene to generate an encrypted gene;
• an encrypted tag generation process to
• generate a tag in which the differential information generated by the difference generation process is embedded, and
• encrypt the tag to generate the encrypted tag;
• and
• a data storage process to make the storage apparatus store the encrypted gene generated by the data encryption process in relation to the encrypted tag generated by the encrypted tag generation process,
• wherein the stored encrypted target gene is searched according to a search process in which an external computer:
• decrypts the encrypted tag stored in relation to the encrypted target gene,
• extracts the generated differential information from the decrypted tag,
• compares the extracted differential information to a keyword received in a search query to determine whether the extracted differential information and the keyword are the same, and
• in case the extracted differential information and the keyword are determined to be the same, designates the encrypted target gene as a search match,
• wherein, according to the search process, no part of the target gene is exposed to the external computer in unencrypted form during the search, and the search is conducted by the external computer without use of a search index descriptive of the target gene, thereby preserving privacy of information corresponding to the target gene.

A non-transitory computer readable medium on which is stored a genetic information search program which searches genetic information stored in a storage apparatus managed by a data management apparatus, the genetic information search program being executed by a computer to perform:

• a differential information input process to receive differential information of the genetic information to be searched with a reference gene which is predefined genetic information;
• a search query generation process to generate a search query in which the differential information received by the differential information input process is embedded;
• and
• a genetic information obtainment process to send the search query generated by the search query generation process to the data management apparatus, and obtains the genetic information including the differential information,
• wherein the genetic information stored in the storage apparatus includes an encrypted target gene stored in relation to a tag, which is embedded with differential information of the target gene with the reference gene and them encrypted,
• wherein the search query is used to search the genetic information stored in the storage apparatus according to a search process in which an external computer:
• extracts the differential information from the search query,
• decrypts the encrypted tag stored in relation to the encrypted target gene, and extracts the differential information from the decrypted tag,
• performs a comparison to determine whether the differential information from the search query is the same as the differential information extracted from the decrypted tag, and
• in case the differential information from the search query and the decrypted tag are determined to be the same, designates the encrypted target gene as a search match,
• wherein, according to the search process, no part of the target gene is exposed to the external computer in unencrypted form during the search, and the search is conducted by the external computer without use of a search index descriptive of the target gene, thereby preserving privacy of information corresponding to the target gene.

A genetic information storage method which makes a storage apparatus store genetic information, the genetic information storage method comprising executing a program in a computer processor to:

• obtain a reference gene which is predefined genetic information;
• receive as input a target gene which is the genetic information to be stored in the storage apparatus;
• compare the obtained reference gene with the received target gene to generate differential information;
• encrypt the target gene to generate an encrypted gene;
• generate a tag in which the generated differential information is embedded;
• encrypt the tag to generate an encrypted tag;
• and
• cause the storage apparatus to store the generated encrypted gene in relation to the encrypted tag generated by the encrypted tag generation step,
• wherein the stored encrypted target gene is searched according to a second process in which an external computer:
• decrypts the encrypted tag stored in relation to the encrypted target gene,
• extracts the generated differential information from the decrypted tag,
• compares the extracted differential information to a keyword received in a search query to determine whether the extracted differential information and the keyword are the same, and
• in case the extracted differential information and the keyword are determined to be the same, designates the encrypted target gene as a search match,
• wherein, according to the second process, no part of the target gene is exposed to the external computer in unencrypted form during the search, and the search is conducted by the external computer without use of a search index descriptive of the target gene, thereby preserving privacy of information corresponding to the target gene.

A genetic information search system having a genetic information storage apparatus which makes a storage apparatus managed by a data management apparatus store genetic information and a genetic information search apparatus which searches genetic information including a search keyword from the genetic information that is made to store by the genetic information storage apparatus,

• wherein the genetic information storage apparatus comprises:
• a computer processor, and
• a memory storing a program which, when executed by the computer processor, performs a process comprising,
• obtaining a reference gene which is predefined genetic information;
• receiving as input a target gene which is the genetic information to be stored in the storage apparatus;
• comparing the obtained reference gene with the received target gene to generate differential information;
• encrypting the target gene and to generate an encrypted gene;
• generating an encrypted tag in which the generated differential information is embedded;
• and
• causing the storage apparatus to store the generated encrypted gene in relation to the generated encrypted tag,
• wherein the genetic information search apparatus comprises:
• a second computer processor;
• and
• a second memory storing a program which, when executed by the second computer processor, performs a second process comprising,
• receiving as input differential information of the genetic information to be searched with a reference gene which is predefined genetic information;
• generating a search query in which the received differential information is embedded;
• and
• sending the generated search query to the data management apparatus, and obtaining the genetic information including the differential information,
• wherein the stored encrypted target gene is searched according to a search process in which an external apparatus with a third computer processor:
• decrypts the encrypted tag stored in relation to the encrypted target gene,
• extracts the generated differential information from the decrypted tag,
• compares the extracted differential information to a keyword received in a search query to determine whether the extracted differential information and the keyword are the same, and
• in case the extracted differential information and the keyword are determined to be the same, designates the encrypted target gene as a search match,
• wherein, according to the search process, no part of the target gene is exposed to the external apparatus in unencrypted form during the search, and the search is conducted by the external apparatus without use of a search index descriptive of the target gene, thereby preserving privacy of information corresponding to the target gene.