Genetic Science Confounds Students: Feedback Tells Us What We Are Not Teaching Them

摘要

So close but yet so far. This quote was taken from an essay written by a high school student for the National DNA Day Essay Contest. It reflects just one of the many misconceptions students have in the field of genetics. In 2006, the American Societyof Human Genetics (ASHG; www.ashg.org) began an essay contest for high school students in celebration of DNA Day—an event designed to enhance outreach in schools regarding genetics education. Initially, the contest was designed to encourage students tothink seriously about the important implications of human genetics research. Three years and over 3,000 essays later, we have gotten much more than we bargained for.