🧬 HelixVault: Next-Gen DNA Data Storage

HelixVault is a futuristic web application designed to encode digital files (PDFs, Images, Text) into synthesized biological DNA sequences (.fasta, .gb GenBank formats) for millennia-scale data storage. It features advanced biological simulations, steganography, and robust error correction mathematically proving the viability of DNA storage.

Developed as a master-level MCA academic project.

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📸 Application Showcase

🏠 Homepage

The futuristic entry point to millennia-scale data storage.

⚙️ Encoding Process

Transforming digital files into biological sequences with Base-3 encoding.

🦠 Mutation Simulation

Testing system robustness by deliberately simulating biological DNA damage.

🛡️ Recovery Process

Reed-Solomon algorithms perfectly reconstructing data from mutated DNA.

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🏗️ Architecture Diagram

graph TD
    %% Styling
    classDef frontend fill:#0f172a,stroke:#38bdf8,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff;
    classDef backend fill:#0f172a,stroke:#10b981,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff;
    classDef storage fill:#0f172a,stroke:#f59e0b,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff;
    classDef bio fill:#0f172a,stroke:#8b5cf6,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff;

    %% Client Side
    subgraph Client [Client Interface]
        UI[React + Vite UI]:::frontend
        3D[3D Mutation Simulator]:::frontend
        Charts[Recharts Analytics]:::frontend
    end

    %% Backend Services
    subgraph Server [FastAPI Backend]
        API[RESTful API Gateway]:::backend
        Auth[JWT Authentication]:::backend
        
        subgraph Core Logic
            Encrypt[AES-256 Encryption]:::backend
            RS[Reed-Solomon ECC]:::backend
            Encode[Base-3 Encoder]:::backend
            Stego[DNA Steganography]:::backend
        end
        
        API --> Auth
        API --> Encrypt
        Encrypt --> RS
        RS --> Encode
        Encode --> Stego
    end

    %% Storage & Biology
    subgraph Storage [Data Persistence]
        DB[(PostgreSQL)]:::storage
    end
    
    subgraph Biological Output [Biological Domain]
        GenBank[GenBank/FASTA Files]:::bio
        SyntheticDNA[Synthetic DNA]:::bio
    end

    %% Connections
    UI <-->|JSON & Files| API
    3D -->|Mutation Params| API
    Auth <--> DB
    Stego --> GenBank
    GenBank -.->|Physical Synthesis| SyntheticDNA

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✨ Core Features

• 🧬 Digital-to-DNA Encoding: Uses a custom Base-3 encoding algorithm to convert binary data into homopolymer-free biological sequences (A, C, G, T).
• 🛡️ Reed-Solomon Error Correction: Mathematically injects redundant DNA bases to protect your data. Even if the DNA degrades physically over thousands of years, the file can be perfectly recovered.
• 🦠 DNA Steganography: Hides your encoded data deep inside a massive, naturally occurring "Host" DNA sequence (e.g., the E. coli genome) using biological start/stop marker codons.
• ⚠️ 3D Biological Mutation Simulator: A cinematic 3D CSS simulator that allows users to intentionally corrupt (mutate) random bases in their .gb file to test the Error Correction algorithm in real-time.
• 🔒 AES-256 Encryption: Secure your encoded DNA payload with bank-grade encryption before it is synthesized.
• ✅ SHA-256 Integrity Verification: Calculates cryptographic hashes to mathematically guarantee the recovered file is a 100% pixel-by-pixel match with the original.
• 💰 Synthesis Estimator: Calculates the real-world lab cost to print your sequence ($0.10/bp) and estimates the microscopic physical weight of the DNA in picograms.

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🛠️ Technology Stack

Frontend:

• React (Vite)
• Recharts (Analytics)
• Lucide React (Icons)
• Pure Vanilla CSS (Custom Glassmorphism & 3D Rendering)

Backend:

• Python FastAPI
• SQLAlchemy (Database ORM)
• BioPython (Genomic Sequence Manipulation)
• ReedSolo (Error Correction Coding)

Deployment:

• Frontend: Vercel (helixvault-omega.vercel.app)
• Backend: Render (helixvault.onrender.com)
• Database: PostgreSQL (Hosted on Render)

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🚀 How to Use the Simulator

1. Encode Data: Go to the Encoder, upload a PDF, check "Use Error Correction" and "Extract from Steganography", and click Encode. Download your .gb file.
2. Mutate DNA: Go to the Decoder, upload the newly created .gb file. Click "Simulate Biological Mutation" to intentionally damage the DNA sequence.
3. Recover Data: Click Extract Data. The backend will bypass the biological anomalies, slice out the steganography, trigger the Reed-Solomon engine to repair the damaged bases, and return your original file!

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💻 Running Locally

1. Start the Backend

cd backend
python -m venv venv
.\venv\Scripts\activate
pip install -r requirements.txt
uvicorn main:app --reload --port 8000

2. Start the Frontend

cd frontend
npm install
npm run dev

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📜 License

This project is open-source and available under the MIT License.