“Genomics Unplugged: AI in DNA Day Essay Showdown”
The Annual DNA Day Essay Contest, hosted by the American Society of Human Genetics, invites high school students (grades 9–12, global) to submit a concise (≤750 words) original essay on a genetics theme. Essays are evaluated through multiple rounds by geneticists, and winners are announced on DNA Day (April 25).
Eligibility Criteria for American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG)
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Open to individual high school students in grades 9–12 worldwide
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Essays must be submitted by a teacher or school administrator; homeschooled students may have a parent submit
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One essay per student; no group submissions
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Essays must be in English and ≤750 words (including in-text citations, excluding reference list)
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Student’s name must not appear in the essay text to promote impartial judging
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At least one scholarly reference required; citations in APA or MLA style; judges consider both citation use and source quality
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Use of large language models (LLMs) must be disclosed in citations; they cannot take author credit
How to apply for American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG)
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Account Creation & Submission
A teacher or eligible adult logs into the ASHG submission portal to create an account and submit the student’s essay -
Submission Window
For 2025, submissions closed at 11:59 pm US Eastern Time on Sunday, March 9, 2025 (extended from early March) -
Judging
Essays are evaluated by ASHG members in three scoring rounds based on scientific accuracy, evidence, writing quality, and quality of references -
Results
Winners are announced on April 25 (National DNA Day)
Specifications
| Type of Opportunity | Online competitions |
|---|---|
| Country | International |
| Deadline | March, 2025 |
| Organizer | American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG) |
| Official Link | Visit Now |