Josie Benson had the best answer to a question on Neanderthal DNA, and won a cash prize for herself as
well as her science classroom.
Benson, a sophomore at Bowling Green High School, took first place in the sixth annual National DNA Day
essay contest, sponsored by the American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG). In addition to receiving a
$400 prize as the first place winner, Benson’s science teacher, Hans Glandorff, will receive a $2,000
grant from ASHG to purchase new genetics laboratory equipment for the biology classrooms at the high
school.
Celebrated annually in April, National DNA Day commemorates the discovery of DNA’s double helix and the
completion of the Human Genome Project in April 2003. ASHG’s essay contest is designed to excite
students about human genetics and help them gain a better understanding of the underlying scientific
principles and research methods.
The contest challenged high school science students in grades 9-12 to examine, question, and reflect on
important concepts in human genetics by writing an original essay that provides a substantive,
well-reasoned argument to one of two questions about human genetics, inheritance, and disease. This
year, the first question option asked students to explain the importance and relevance of a recent
scientific research discovery that found some modern human populations carry small amounts of
Neanderthal DNA. The second question option asked students to consider the ethical, legal, and social
implications of direct-to-consumer (or DTC) genetic testing.
Benson won first place for her response to the following question: "In 2010, a major discovery in
genetics research found that the DNA of some modern humans contains small amounts of Neanderthal DNA.
Briefly explain this finding and discuss its relevance to human ancestry and evolution."
She explained the idea that contemporary civilization may have the wrong idea about our Neanderthal
ancestors. In her essay, Benson described that the typical modern-age man envisions Neanderthals as,
"Hairy men in fur. Grunts instead of language. … These images may come to mind when we think
about Neanderthals. Contributing to Neanderthal stereotypes, popular ads proclaim, ‘So easy a caveman
can do it,’ implying our ancestral cousins lacked intelligence. Neanderthals need an image
makeover."
However, Benson went on to explain that advances in genetic research have led to new discoveries about
human evolution, "Using DNA analysis, scientists are illuminating our evolutionary history. Recent
findings shed light on Neanderthals and ourselves, our past and our future." She then cited
evidence from recent scientific research to support her claims, "Last year, researchers announced
some modern humans share Neanderthal DNA, implying Neanderthals live on in our genes. Neanderthal DNA
makes up 1-4% of our genome."
In her prize-winning essay, "Josephine’s essay indicates that she clearly understands the important
concepts of human evolution and genetic ancestry, and furthermore she grounded her response in evidence
based on scientific research," said ASHG’s Education Director, Dr. Michael Dougherty, in describing
why the ASHG judges selected her essay as this year’s top contest entry.
The society received more than 700 submissions for this year’s contest, representing the best essays from
among more than 6,000 essays written by students (teachers could only submit the three best essays from
their classes). Entries were received from high school students in 45
U.S. states and seven foreign countries, including Canada, India, Singapore, Taiwan, and Turkey. More
than 250 geneticists from the ASHG membership volunteered to judge the students’ essays on the basis of
scientific accuracy, creativity, and writing quality.