First Place Winner: EUR 300.-
In addition, sponsoring teachers of first place students will receive EUR 1.000.- to organise a science project or to purchase classroom equipment.

Second Place Winner: EUR 200.-
In addition, sponsoring teachers of first place students will receive EUR 800.- to organise a science project or to purchase classroom equipment

Special Commendation by the Jury: EUR 100.-
In addition, sponsoring teachers of first place students will receive EUR 500.- to organise a science project or to purchase classroom equipment

All participants will receive a certificate of appreciation for their participation in the contest.

Ninth Annual European DNA Day Essay Contest for High School Students

The Winners have been selected!

The European Society of Human Genetics was delighted that students from 19 European countries submitted 189 essays this year. The evaluation was made involving 58 experts in the field, who selected the following 3 winners and 5 honourable mentions.

The names of the winners (and those who received commendation and honourable mentions) will be announced in front of more than 3.000 international scientists and doctors attending the European Human Genetics Conference in Barcelona on May 24, 2016.

Winners, commendation as well as honourable mentions will receive a diploma within the next weeks. Acknowledgements will be sent to all submitters.

The "Downloads"-section of website will be updated shortly with memorable quotes.

Sam Blanc Teacher: Christelle Marecaux  Lycée Les Eaux Claires, Grenoble, France  View Essay
Antonia Buongiorno  Liceo Linguistico V.Gioberti, Torino, Italy View Essay
Jonas Cerneckis Teacher: Alyda Daulenskiene  Vilnius Lyceum, Vilnius, Lithuania   View Essay
Matija Pecnik  Teacher: Bernarda Devetak  II.gimnazija Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia  View Essay
Sandro Surmava Teacher: Lali Jibladze  Tbilisi Green School, Tbilisi, Georgia  View Essay

Are you one of the winners and there is no picture of you? Then send us your picture to:
contest(at)dnaday.eu 

One of the following questions had to be answered:

1. Choose a genetic test that is currently available for a condition or disease that does not cause symptoms until adulthood (i.e., an adult-onset condition such as hereditary breast cancer). Describe how the test works and how certain the test results are.
Then, either defend or refute the recommendation below from ESHG on  "Genetic testing in asymptomatic minors”:   
"Presymptomatic and predictive genetic testing of minors for conditions with adult-onset is acceptable only if preventive actions (e.g. preventive surgery or early detection aimed at therapeutic interventions) can be initiated before adulthood. Otherwise pre symptomatic and predictive genetic testing in minors for adult-onset disorders should be deferred until the person has the maturity and competence to understand the nature of the decision and its implications." 

or

2. Genomics is one of the main technologies that will facilitate personalized (or precision) medicine. In order to maximize the potential for personalized medicine, many people now advocate a big data approach. The future they see is that data from individuals held in  electronic medical records, may be coupled with other information from wearable sensors as well as their biological samples held in DNA biobanks.  Do you agree that the collection of biological samples from entire populations in large biobank facilities is a good idea to better understand the link between genomic markers and correct prevention/curative treatment? Is this the future of personalized medicine or do you see arguments not to share private information so widely?