Enloe High student Jennifer Li won second place for her essay in the 4 th Annual DNA Day Essay Contest.
Dr. Michael J. Dougherty, Director of Education for the American Society of Human Genetics noted that Li adeptly displayed her understanding of how certain environmental factors can influence human health and disease by describing the surprising complexity of phenylketoneuria (or PKU).
This year, the DNA Day contest received 300 essays from high school students in the US, Canada and other countries, such as China, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Ghana.
Dr. Dougherty said the geneticist judges enjoyed reading the essays, and found it refreshing to see what the younger generation thinks about genetics.
He sent his best wishes for a happy DNA Day, celebrated this year on April 25.
More information on the DNA Day essay contest can be found here.
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Thanks to teacher Chad Ogren for sharing this story.