DNA Roulette: Understanding genetics and genetic testing through gaming

transcript

DNA Roulette: Understanding Genetics & Genetic

Testing through Gaming

by Professor Carrie Heeter

Dr. Barry Starr• Geneticist, Stanford• Director of Stanford at the Tech

If only I were in Boston…

Michigan State University launches fully online graduate certificate in

serious games

web:seriousgames.msu.edu

LIKE us on Facebook:facebook.com/GamesAndMeaningfulPlay

contact:Carrie Heeter

heeter@msu.edu

Games for Health Conference 2012

Meaningful Play conference

• meaningfulplay.msu.edu• July 16 submission deadline

for games, talks, & papers• Keynotes so far:

– Kurt Squire (U Wisconsin)

– Phaedra Boinodiris (IBM)

– Donald Brinkman (Microsoft)

– Ann DeMarle (Emergent Media Center, Breakaway)

– John Ferrara (Fitter Critters, Playful Design)

What I’m Playing

Innovation Games’ Budget Balancing

Superbetter

• Who has had your genome tested?

• If you could buy a kit at Walgreens for $150 to have your genome tested, would you?

• Why or why not?

Oops, sorry.

• Pathway Genomics had announced that its saliva swab would be on Walgreen's shelves, offering millions of Americans the chance peek into their genetic code for signs of inheritable diseases like Alzheimer's.

• The FDA blocked it, saying the kit has not been proven effective.

• Today, to use Pathways, “ a physician will need to register and order the report for you.”

Direct to Consumer Testing (DTC)

• Is a big deal because– Science and technology are advancing

rapidly– DTC testing is currently legal and

available– It’s controversial– Legislative decisions may eliminate DTC

What’s your opinion?• Individuals should be free to find out

information about their own genes to whatever extent they wish, in accord with what they judge to be their own best interests, uncoerced by law or public policy. AGREE!

DISAGREE!

Genetic testing should only be available when ordered by a doctor.

An informed citizenry

• Citizens, policy makers, and health care professionals need to understand what DTC testing does and does not tell us, to make good decisions.

One piece of a larger strategy

GameGameGameGame

Pre-game

Post-game

During game

DNA Roulette

• 2 teams, 3 rounds each, high score at the end wins $1.

• 3 collective exploratory rounds to help you plan your strategies.

• Let’s see what you learn.

Game Demo and Competition

• note: DNA Roulette will be published to the Understanding Genetics web site run by the San Jose Tech Museum of Innovation and Stanford University in August, 2012. To play, go to:

• http://genetics.thetech.org/online-exhibits

Now that you’ve played, what have you learned? Quick Quiz• Having your DNA tested tells you

exactly what diseases you will develop.– True– False

• Most diseases and traits are caused by:– A single genetic variant– Multiple variants

Genes are Destiny

• MISCONCEPTION: “Genes determine everything form your sex, and hair color, to what diseases you many have and how high you will grow.”

• CORRECT CONCEPTION: Genes are not necessarily deterministic. More frequently, environmental influences coupled with genotype determine phenotype.

One Gene, One Trait

• MISCONCEPTION: One gene is always responsible for one trait or one gene with one mutation always causes one disease.

• CORRECT CONCEPTION: Instead, multiple factors contribute to phenotype. Multiple genes often work together, with the environment, to determine ultimate phenotype.

Essay Contest Reveals Misconceptions of High School Students in Genetics ContentKenna R. Mills Shaw, Katie Van Horne, Hubert Zhang, Joann BoughmanGenetics. 2008 March; 178(3): 1157–1168. doi: 10.1534/genetics.107.084194PMCID: PMC2278104

Data the game is based on…

• These next slides will show the kinds of data available on DTC genetics testing sites. The screen shots are from 23andMe.com

• DNA Roulette pulls data from an XML file, making it easy to add new traits and disease conditions without changing the game engine.

118 Diseases

(I made a version that plays MY genes)

44 Carrier Status

19 Drug Responses

55 Traits

Muscle Performance SNP(single nucleotide polymorphism)

Alzheimer’s Type 2 Diabetes

Scary (and rare): single marker, large genetic impact, no treatment or cure

Not so scary (and common): 11+ markers, moderate genetic impact, treatable

Games for Health Conference

Thank you!

Professor Carrie Heeterheeter@msu.edu

seriousgames.msu.edu

Professor Carrie Heeterheeter@msu.edu

seriousgames.msu.edu

DNA Roulette: Understanding genetics and genetic testing through gaming

Health & Medicine