The european DNA day essay contest

http://www.dnaday.eu/
https://www.eshg.org/

The ESHG (European Society of Human Genetics) has held the annual DNA day contest for the 8 time. Some of our students, belonging to 4B, have bravely participated although it has not been easy for two reasons:

- they needed to find extra time to write essays while coping with homework, other contests, exams, leading a normal life...

- they had to make a big effort to understand top genetic concepts and vocabulary in order to write a proper essay 

The idea of participating in the contest was perfectly fitted in the curriculum of BIOLOGY 4 ESO. This is when we start to discuss about genetics and DNA for the first time. Our students normally get fascinated at the idea of what we are simply being coded in our DNA, in our genes. Nevertheless there are a lot more surprises waiting for us. Genetics is an exciting branch of Biology mainly explaining why we look the way we do, our physical appearance. 

This DNA day essay contest edition was proposing the following two questions. Our great 4B students answered to them after doing a tough research work. They neatly put all ideas together and finally wrote great essays. 

Question 1: Do you think genome sequencing will impact on your future life? Give examples of what you would want and what you would not want to happen because of genome sequencing.

Question 2: How can you explain human complexity when we have so few protein coding genes, e.g. about 5,000 less than a cucumber?

Joel Jara´s essay (Question 1)
Amaya Tello´s essay (Question 1)

Oscar Peral´s essay (Question 2)
Marta Sáez´s essay (Question 2)