DNA-DAY 2012 - ESSAY CONTEST

Fifth Annual European DNA Day Essay Contest
for High School Students

Hi, I’m Celia DeLozier, a Ph.D. medical geneticist now specializing in cancer genetics. I’ve been fortunate enough to have worked in medical genetics in both Europe (Switzerland) and the United States (now in California). So, to “pay back” a little of what I have learned, I volunteer as the “liaison” person between the Education Committees of the European Society of Human Genetics (ESHG) and the American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG). The DNA Day essay contest is a joint activity of these groups- and 2012 is the fifth year that the ESHG has sponsored this DNA Day activity.

A great year for the contest! We had 266 essays submitted from 23 countries; this number has grown from about 90 the first year. The “top three” participating countries were, once again, ITALY, PORTUGAL and LITHUANIA. Some countries participated for the first time, such as France, Sweden and Germany . These 266 essays represent some 151 science classrooms.

I’d like to thank all of you, teachers and students for taking part in the 2012 essay contest. And I would also like to thank the 19 ESHG geneticists who have served as “judges” – they tell me they have really enjoyed this and learned from you! You can find their names and countries here. I’d also like to thank Dr. Marjolein Kriek and Dr. Jon Frampton for the videos they are preparing for April 25……and our wonderful ESHG administrators for their essential behind-the-scenes work.

Teachers and students! Please also check the “downloads” section for websites and references you will want to discover relative to DNA Day.

...and now to the winners!

ACCESS THE VIDEOS

COMMENTING ON ESSAY QUESTION #1, Sequencing a person’s genome:

Marjolein Kriek, M.D., 38 years old. is a Clinical Geneticist at the Leiden University Medical Center in the Netherlands. Clinical geneticists are physicians specialized in inherited disorders. In addition, she is involved in implementing new technologies in a scientific and diagnostic setting.

Dr. Kriek says, “The ability of combining clinic with science is fantastic!” In 2008, she was the first non-anonymous woman to have her genome sequenced.

COMMENTING ON ESSAY QUESTION #2, Gene regulation mechanisms:

Jon Frampton, Ph.D. is a stem cell biologist at the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom. His primary area of interest is in how stem cells operate in adults. Jon’s research involves examining the processes that regulate stem cells to determine how these fail during ageing or as part of disease processes, especially in cancer (from Faculty Profiles: http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/staff/profiles/iandi/frampton-jon.aspx)

For the fifth year, the European Society of Human Genetics (ESHG), will be sponsoring a DNA Day Essay contest in European high schools. Once again we will partner with the American Society of Human Genetics in this initiative; using similar essay questions, thus allowing a better assessment of knowledge and perspectives on genetics among students from both continents.

The essay contest is meant as a learning tool and a means to promote knowledge of genetics within Europe. It intends to challenge students to examine, question and reflect on the importance and social implications of genetic research and its applications. Essays are expected to contain substantive, well-reasoned arguments indicative of a depth of understanding of the issues addressed by the selected essay question.

1. Question 1: It is reported that it will soon be possible to sequence a person's genome for under 1000 Euros. Would you want to have your genome sequenced? What would be the potential advantages and disadvantages , particularly as related to your health? What would you like to know about your health risks and those of your family and what would you rather not know? How might this information lead you to modify your life style or life choices?
    

2. Question 2: Genes exert their influence on organisms by being turned on and off in precise ways and at precise times. Normal development and even behaviour are regulated by these processes, whereas birth defects and disease can result when problems arise during the process of "gene regulation". In the last 30 years, genomic research has uncovered many mechanisms affecting gene expression that earlier scientists could have never imagined. Choose a gene regulation process (some are listed below) and, using references to support your arguments, explain how that process, when it goes wrong, can be involved in the production of disease, such as cancer.
   
   Examples of gene regulation mechanisms: repressors, activators, enhancers, RNA interference, uniparental disomy, imprinting, epigenetic changes to chromatin, environmental modifiers

Second Place Winner: EUR 200.-
In addition, sponsoring teachers of first place students will receive EUR 800.- to organise a science project or to purchase classroom equipment

Third Place Winner: EUR 100.-
In addition, sponsoring teachers of first place students will receive EUR 500.- to organise a science project or to purchase classroom equipment

All participants will receive a certificate of appreciation for their participation in the contest.

• Kristin Becker, Germany

• Steffan Bos, The Netherlands

• Ana Carrio, Spain

• A J. Clarke, United Kingdom

• Christophe Cordier, France

• Martina Cornel, The Netherlands

• Domenico Coviello, Italy

• Celia DeLozier, Fresno, CA, United States

• Georg B. Ehret, Switzerland

• Gerry Evers-Kiebooms, Belgium

• Sarah Funtowiez, France

• Shirley Hodgson, United Kingdom

• Dorit Lev, Israel

• Bela Melegh, Hungary

• Laszlo Nagy, Hungary

• Beata Nowakowska, Belgium

• Tayfun Ozcelik, Ankara, Turkey

• Reiner Siebert, Germany

• Cristina Skrypnyk, Bahrain

• Maria Soller, Sweden

• Henna Tyynismaa, Finland