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Follow on Google News | ASHG Announces Winners of Fourth Annual National DNA Day Essay Contest for High School StudentsIn celebration of National DNA Day, the American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG) announced the winners of the fourth annual National DNA Day Essay Contest, which serves to educate students and teachers about important concepts in genetic science.
By: American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG) Celebrated annually on April 25, National DNA Day commemorates the discovery of DNA's double helix and the completion of the Human Genome Project in April 2003. The essay contest is just one of the many DNA Day activities designed to excite students about human genetics and help them gain a better understanding of the underlying scientific principles and research methods. “ASHG’s National DNA Day Essay Contest is an educational initiative that brings students and their teachers together with some of the best geneticists in the world,” said Joann Boughman, Ph.D., executive vice president of ASHG. “Our organization coordinates the essay contest and other educational activities because, as the largest society for genetics professionals, we feel that it is important for us to raise awareness about the value of genetics education and research. ASHG is also committed to sharing a broader understanding of human genetics by reaching out to students in science classrooms around the world, in an effort to increase their excitement about and interest in the field.” ASHG’s annual DNA Day Essay Contest challenges science students in grades 9-12 to question and reflect on key concepts of human genetics by writing an original essay that provides a substantive, well-reasoned argument about the genetic basis of various traits, including those related to health and disease. This year, ASHG received a total of 300 essay submissions from high school students in the U.S., Canada, and other countries, such as China, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Ghana. More than 150 geneticists from ASHG and GSA volunteered to judge the students’ essays on the basis of critical thinking, scientific accuracy, creativity and organization. High school students in grades 9-12 were invited to submit written essays on one of the following two questions. The first essay question asked students to explain the relationship between genes and traits. More specifically, students had to explain whether all inherited traits come in only two distinct varieties, or whether some traits have a more complex pattern of inheritance. “Most genetics units in high school contain little or no information about complex traits – which are those influenced by many different genes and the environment,” Today, in celebration of National DNA Day, ASHG and corporate sponsor Life Technologies Foundation announced the winners of the fourth annual DNA Day Essay Contest during the live online DNA Day 2009 Chatroom sponsored by the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI/NIH). The students who submitted the top responses for each of the two essay contest questions were awarded $400; second place winners were awarded $250; and third place winners, $150. Teachers of the students who won first place prizes will each receive $2,000 to purchase new laboratory equipment for their science classrooms. For more information about the National DNA Day Essay Contest and to view a list of the students who were named as prize winners in this year's contest, please visit the education section of ASHG’s Web site at: http://www.ashg.org/ *** ABOUT NATIONAL DNA DAY National DNA Day occurs annually on April 25 to mark the 50th anniversary of the discovery of DNA's double helix, and to commemorate the completion of the Human Genome Project in April 2003. Genetics researchers, clinicians, hospitals, professional organizations, private companies, advocates, academicians and schools across the U.S. host various activities and events on National DNA Day in a coordinated effort to engage and inform students about genomics, and inspire the next generation of scientists who will use genetics research to benefit personal and public health. For more information about National DNA Day, please visit: http://www.ashg.org/ ABOUT THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF HUMAN GENETICS Founded in 1948, the American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG) is the primary professional membership organization for human genetics specialists worldwide. The nearly 8,000 members of ASHG include researchers, academicians, clinicians, laboratory practice professionals, genetic counselors, nurses and others involved in or with a special interest in human genetics. The Society’s mission is to serve research scientists, health professionals and the public by providing forums to: (1) share research results through the Society’s Annual Meeting and in the American Journal of Human Genetics (AJHG); (2) advance genetic research by advocating for research support; (3) educate current and future genetics professionals, health care providers, advocates, policymakers, educators, students and the general public about all aspects of human genetics; and (4) promote genetic services and support responsible social and scientific policies. For more information about ASHG, please visit: http://www.ashg.org. ABOUT THE GENETICS SOCIETY OF AMERICA Founded in 1931, The Genetics Society of America (GSA) includes over 4,000 scientists and educators interested in the field of genetics. The Society promotes the communication of advances in genetics through publication of the journal GENETICS, and by sponsoring scientific meetings focused on key organisms widely used in genetic research. The GSA supports genetic science education for students of all ages and advocates for genetic science research funding via the Joint Steering Committee, an organization of several scientific societies that informs Congress about the importance of scientific research. For more information, please visit: http://www.genetics- ABOUT LIFE TECHNOLOGIES Life Technologies Corporation is a global biotechnology tools company dedicated to improving the human condition. Our systems, consumables and services enable researchers to accelerate scientific exploration, driving to discoveries and developments that make life even better. Life Technologies customers do their work across the biological spectrum, working to advance personalized medicine, regenerative science, molecular diagnostics, agricultural and environmental research, and 21st century forensics. Life Technologies had sales of more than $3 billion in 2008, employs approximately 9,500 people, has a presence in more than 100 countries, and possesses a rapidly growing intellectual property estate of approximately 3,600 patents and exclusive licenses. Life Technologies was created by the combination of Invitrogen Corporation and Applied Biosystems Inc. For more information on how we are making a difference please visit our website: http://www.lifetechnologies.com. *** MEDIA CONTACT: Kristen Long 301-634-7346 (o) 240-281-2386 (c) klong@ashg.org End
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