dna roulette: understanding genetics and genetic testing through gaming
DESCRIPTION
DNA Roulette was developed by Michigan State University professor Carrie Heeter and Stanford geneticist Barry Starr to help players understand what Direct to Consumer (DTC) testing does and does not tell you about your health. This presentation at Games for Health 2012 in Boston introduces the game.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
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)
Games for Health Conference 2012
What I’m Playing
Games for Health Conference 2012
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.”
Games for Health Conference 2012
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
Games for Health Conference 2012
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
Games for Health Conference 2012
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
Games for Health Conference 2012
Thank you!
Professor Carrie [email protected]
seriousgames.msu.edu
Professor Carrie [email protected]
seriousgames.msu.edu
Games for Health Conference 2012