Congratulations to the 2015 winners and thank you all for participating. Happy DNA Day!
This year ASHG received submissions from students in 37 states and 16 foreign countries, including Turkey, Taiwan, Macadonia, and Ghana. Asking students to focus on the evolving definition of a gene engaged them in deeper thinking about our current understanding of the human genome and the future of genetics. Many thoughtful and well-written essays were submitted. We would also like to thank the more than 500 genetics experts from the ASHG membership who participated in judging the essays.
2015 Question
In 1969, Jonathan Beckwith, James Shapiro, and Lawrence Eron isolated the first gene, the Lac Z gene from E.coli. At that time, genes were thought to be discrete, contiguous segments of DNA that coded for functional protein products. Using our current understanding of how the human genome is structured and regulated, and what products it can produce, choose a phenomenon (a molecular process, structure, or product, not a disease) that expands on the traditional definition of a gene. Explain the phenomenon and provide three specific examples of it in the human genome
2015 Winners
1st Place: David Yang, Grade 11
Teacher: Judith Pinto
School:Bergen County Academies
Location: Hackensack, NJ
2nd Place: Sagan Ghim, Grade 11
Teacher: Tammy Martin & Richard Rosenbaum
School: OHSU PSI Program; Wilson High School
Location: Portland, OR
3rd Place: Brian Lue, Grade 11
Teacher: Martina Davies
School: The John Cooper School
Location: The Woodlands, TX
3rd Place: Jacob Mueller, Grade 11
Teacher: Jessica Graham
School: McNary High School
Location: Keizer, OR
Honorable Mentions
| Daria Beatini Bergen County Academies Hackensack, NJ Teacher: Judith Pinto |
Isabella Li East Chapel Hill High School Chapel Hill, NC Teacher: Patricia Berge |
| Jennifer Chen Winston Churchill High School Potomac, MD Teacher: Anat Schwartz |
Rick Li Naperville Central High School Naperville, IL Teacher: Nicholas DiGiovanni |
| Arthur Dennis Bergen County Academies Hackensack, NJ Teacher: Judith Pinto |
Sarah Link Eureka High School Eureka, MO Teacher: Lindsay Mueller |
| Alex Dent James Madison Memorial High School Madison, WI Teacher: Cindy Kellor |
Paul Slaughter James Madison Memorial High School Madison, WI Teacher: Cindy Kellor |
| Thomas Ferrante Bergen County Academies Hackensack, NJ Teacher: Judith Pinto |
Dennis Yatunin Stuyvesant High School New York, NY Teacher: Maria Nedwidek-Moore |
About the Contest
The contest aims to challenge students to examine, question, and reflect on important ideas and issues related to human genetics. Competitive essays are expected to convey substantive, well-reasoned, and evidence-based arguments that demonstrate deep understanding.
Essays are evaluated through three rounds of judging, and every essay is read by a minimum of three judges. Top-scoring essays have typically been scored by a dozen or more judges.
Questions/Comments: Contact dnaday@ashg.org