How a Computer Game Crowdsources Genetic Research

 

Canadian scientists have stumbled on a novel way to conduct genetic studies: Using a game to crowdsource the deciphering of human DNA.

The new project, Phylo, was launched by a team at Montreal's McGill University on November 29. Players are allowed to recognize and sort human genetic code that's displayed in a Tetris-like format. Phylo, which runs in Flash, allows users to parse random genetic codes or to tackle DNA patterns related to real diseases. In a random game, a user found himself assigned to DNA portions linked to exudative vitreoretinopathy 4 and vesicoureteral reflux 2.

According to project co-supervisor J�r�me Waldispuhl, the game is designed to harness creative thinking on the part of players:

?There are some calculations that the human brain does more efficiently than any computer can, such as recognizing a face [?] Recognizing and sorting the patterns in the human genetic code falls in that category. Our new online game enables players to have fun while contributing to genetic research--players can even choose which genetic disease they want to help decode. [?] We're hoping that people will enjoy playing the game and that many participants will sign up [?] This is an opportunity for people to use their free time to contribute in an extremely important way to medical research."

Players choose from a variety of categories such as digestive system diseases, heart diseases, brain diseases and cancer. All the DNA portions in the game are linked to different diseases. Once completed, they are analyzed and stored in a database; McGill intends to use players' results in the game to optimize future genetic research.

Fast Company just published an extensive piece on the infiltration of gaming into education, advertising and media. McGill's project is a perfect example of this: Rather than following the observer-centered model of  crowdsurfing efforts such as SETI@Home, Phylo opts for a participatory model that turns players at home into impromptu researchers.

And Phylo's creators, Alex Kawrykow and Gary Roumanis, are intent on getting ordinary players rather than academics. Phylo has an active Facebook page and, in promotional materials, McGill expressed its hope to port the game to Facebook.

The DNA patterns assigned to users were already aligned by a heuristic algorithm. Although the game might be fun, players will essentially be optimizing already-parsed data for the researchers. It's like Tetris but with the ability to make a significant difference in disease research.

 

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