US 12,215,385 B2
System and method for providing biology-based anti-tamper
David A. Selck, Merritt Island, FL (US); Om Prakash, McLean, VA (US); and Lito Medalle, Rolling Meadows, IL (US)
Assigned to NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION, Falls Church, VA (US)
Filed by NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION, Falls Church, VA (US)
Filed on Sep. 4, 2018, as Appl. No. 16/120,987.
Prior Publication US 2020/0071758 A1, Mar. 5, 2020
Int. Cl. C12Q 1/68 (2018.01); C12Q 1/04 (2006.01); C12Q 1/6876 (2018.01)
CPC C12Q 1/6876 (2013.01) [C12Q 1/04 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An anti-tamper system installed at a portion of an object and configured to detect a tampering activity to the object, comprising:
a biological member including at least one biological material that is engineered to change a state when exposed to one or more stimuli and is engineered such that the change of the state is detectable,
wherein the biological material includes a ribonucleic acid (RNA) strand including at least three fixed domains and a plurality of variable domains,
wherein among the at least three fixed domains two fixed domains are located closer to each other within the RNA strand relative to the third fixed domain, thereby rendering sections of nucleic acids of varying size located between the fixed domains,
wherein exposure of the RNA to one or more stimuli can degrade one or more sections of nucleic acids located between the fixed domains into one or more strands of varying size thereby showing the extent of degradation of the RNA; and
a medium disposed at the portion of the object to form a coating of the biological member, wherein the medium contains the biological member and holds the biological member in contact with the object, and wherein the medium comprises water and includes trehalose as a stabilization agent to ensure stability of the biological member in the medium.
 
9. An anti-tamper system installed at a portion of an object and configured to detect a tampering activity to the object, comprising:
one or more biological anti-tamper mediums comprising:
a biological member formed on the object; and
a medium that is disposed at the portion of the object to form a coating of the biological member, contains the biological member and holds the biological member in contact with the object, wherein:
the biological member includes at least one biological material that is engineered to change a state when exposed to one or more stimuli and is engineered such that the change of the state is detectable,
wherein the biological material includes a ribonucleic acid (RNA) strand including at least three fixed domains and a plurality of variable domains,
wherein among the at least three fixed domains two fixed domains are located closer to each other within the RNA strand relative to the third fixed domain, thereby rendering sections of nucleic acids of varying size located between the fixed domains,
wherein exposure of the RNA to one or more stimuli can degrade one or more sections of nucleic acids located between the fixed domains into one or more strands of varying size thereby showing the extent of degradation of the RNA; and
the plurality of the variable domains include barcoded variable domains, and
the barcoded variable domains are barcoded differently from each other.