DNA Day Essay Contest for High School Students with $1000 Prize from ASHG

The American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG) is inviting students in grades 9-12 worldwide to participate in the DNA Day Essay Contest. ASHG is proud to support National DNA Day through the Annual DNA Day Essay Contest. DNA Day commemorates the completion of the Human Genome Project in April 2003 and the discovery of the double helix of DNA in 1953.

Competition Theme:-

• All humans are 99.9% genetically identical at the DNA level. Remarkably, just a small fraction (0.1%) of our DNA contributes to the different characteristics among populations around the world and that make every person unique. 

• Important discoveries in human genetics and genomics often rely on comparing groups of people, for example people with a given disease compared to people without the disease. These studies utilize genomic data from individuals who have contributed their DNA for research purposes, most of which (approximately 80%) are individuals of European ancestry. 

• How does this population representation impact genomic findings? Can the data and results of these studies still be useful for studies in other populations from around the world? Discuss whether inclusion of more diverse populations in genetic and genomic studies holds a potential to benefit future genetic research and improve human health.

Eligibility:-

This contest is open to students in grades 9-12 worldwide and asks students to examine, question, and reflect on important concepts in genetics. 

Requirements:-

• Essays must be submitted by a teacher or administrator and written by high school students (grades 9-12).

• Essays must be written by one individual student; group submissions are not permitted.

• Essays must be in English and no more than 750 words. Word count includes in-text citations, but not reference lists.

• Submissions should not include the student’s name in the essay text. This helps with impartial judging.

• Essays must include at least one reference. References should be clearly documented with both in-text citations and in the references list. The reference list should be separately entered in the “References” section of the submission page.

• Essays are expected to be well-reasoned arguments that indicate a deep understanding of scientific concepts related to the essay question. They are evaluated by ASHG members through three rounds of scoring.

• APA or MLA style can be used for citations. There is no limit on how many references students may use, but they should avoid too many references, as judges want to know the student’s opinion on the question and not the opinion of the resources.

• Quality of references will be considered by judges when scoring.

• Only classroom teachers are eligible for the equipment grant.

Prizes:-

• 1st Place Winner: $1,000.

  • $1,000 genetics materials grant.

• 2nd Place Winner: $600.

  • $600 genetics materials grant.

• 3rd Place Winner: $400.

  • $400 genetics materials grant.

• Honorable Mentions: 10 student prizes of $100 each.

About ASHG:-

The American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG), founded in 1948, is a professional membership organization for specialists in human genetics. As of 2009, the organization had approximately 8,000 members. The Society's members include researchers, academicians, clinicians, laboratory practice professionals, genetic counselors, nurses, and others who have a special interest in the field of human genetics. The American Society of Human Genetics envisions a future where people everywhere realize the benefits of human genetics and genomics research.

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