April 2020

Congratulations to our winners and thank you all for participating. Happy DNA Day! Thank you for making this another successful year! We received many submissions from students in 39 U.S. states, and 28 non-U.S. countries. We would also like to thank the ASHG members who participated in judging the essays. Certificates/Essay Feedback: Participation certificates and... Read More

1st Place: Anisha Parsan, Grade 9 Teacher: Mr. Ricardo Garcia School: Clements High School Location: Sugar Land, TX In the past decade, genetic testing aimed at identifying ancestry has experienced exponential growth, with nearly 26 million tests sold since 2018 (6). Companies – such as 23andMe – offer kits to trace your genetic legacy and geographical origins using Y-chromosome, mitochondrial,... Read More

Published: Friday, April 24, 2020, 12:00 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time Media Contact: Kara Flynn, 202.257.8424, press@ashg.org Contest Addressed Ancestry Tests and Cultural Heritage ROCKVILLE, MD – As part of its celebration of National DNA Day, the American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG) announced today the winners of its 2020 DNA Day Essay Contest, which encourages... Read More

Speaking out about the value of human genetics and genomics research is all the more important during the COVID-19 pandemic. This week, the genetics community has been doing just that, raising awareness about both the major challenges faced by the community and the ways in which genetics research can provide answers. First, on Monday, ASHG... Read More

It’s National Volunteer Appreciation Week! It’s the perfect time to celebrate people doing extraordinary things through service. Established in 1974, National Volunteer Appreciation Week focuses on the power of volunteerism as an integral aspect of community leadership and membership. At a challenging time for public health and the genetics and genomics community, it is so... Read More