Congratulations to our winners and thank you to all who participated. Happy DNA Day!
Thank you for making this another successful year! We received many submissions from students in 40 U.S. states, and 30 countries. We would also like to thank the ASHG members who participated in judging the essays.
Continue the celebration: ASHG has even more planned to celebrate DNA Day. See how else you can participate on the celebration page.
2021 Question
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.
2021 Winners
1st Place: Lea Andrew, Grade 12
Teacher: Mrs. Katherine Walker
School: Guildford High School
Location: Guildford, United Kingdom
2nd Place: Alyssa Wang, Grade 12
Teacher: Ms. Cindy Law
School: William Lyon Mackenzie C. I.
Location: Toronto, Canada
3rd Place: Kyla Cuesta, Grade 10
Teacher: Mrs. Lorraine MacDonald
School: St Robert CHS
Location: Thornhill, Canada
Honorable Mentions
| Jadesola Akinbi Governor’s School at Innovation Park Manassas, Virginia Teacher: Dr. Alexis Patanarut |
Daniel Nazeri South Windsor High School South Windsor, Connecticut Teacher: Ms. Janet Belval |
| Matthew Aldrich HM Jackson High School Mill Creek, Washington Teacher: Mrs. Emily Borden |
Alison Ryan Harborfields High School Greenlawn, New York Teacher: Mr. Michael Pinto |
| Jonathan Chung Smithtown High School East St. James, New York Teacher: Ms. Maria Zeitlin |
Derek Ryan Rye Neck High School Mamaroneck, New York Teacher: Ms. Susan Hannon |
| Jose Gabriel Cruz Philippine Science High School – CALABARZON Region Campus Batangas City, Philippines Teacher: Ms. Avril Ley Ann Recto |
Anjana Shriram Canyon Crest Academy San Diego, California Teacher: Ms. Kellianne Abshier |
| Kevin Lei PSI Program Portland, Oregon Teacher: Dr. Hayleigh Ast |
Analiese Smith Winston Churchill High School Potomac, Maryland Teacher: Ms. Mary Catherine Mcgehee |
| Kshemaahna Nagi Home School Kolkata, India |
Maria Yampolsky William Lyon Mackenzie Collegiate Institute North York, Canada Teacher: Dr. Elaine Sinclair |
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.
Check out the links below for excerpts from past winners’ essays!
Questions/Comments: Contact dnaday@ashg.org