UAE students fine-tune ideas for Genes in Space contest

With the Genes in Space contest submission deadline fast approaching, youngsters have come up with experiments that will help them understanding the effects of microgravity on the passing of genetic traits, rates of DNA mutation, and enzymes attaching to nucleotides, among other subjects.

Karan Paranganat, a student from Cambridge High School Abu Dhabi, constructs a space station as he talks about his intentions to enter Genes in Space competition in Abu Dhabi. Ravindranath K / The NatShow more

ABU DHABI // Students are fine-tuning their ideas for science experiments that could be sent into space.

With the Genes in Space contest submission deadline fast approaching, youngsters have to come up with experiments that will help them understand the effects of low gravity on the building blocks of life.

This might prove useful for growing the vegetation needed for prolonged manned space missions. It might also provide a better insight into how bacteria and viruses evolve here on Earth. As part of The National Space Programme contest, high school pupils were challenged to come up with an idea for a DNA experiment that takes advantage of low gravity in orbit.

The winning students will travel to the United States to watch their experiment launched to the International Space Station, where astronauts will conduct it.

“This competition will help me learn more about research and genetics, and it will be a lot of fun,” said 13-year-old Omar Mallet.

The Canadian International School ninth grader said the contest offered him an opportunity to further his knowledge of a subject he loved.

“My dad is a surgeon, so at first I was interested mainly in biology but now I’ve branched off into genetics and radiology,” he said.

The teen said his experiment would look at possible ways low gravity affects the passing of genes.

“I am interested in why some traits are passed along while others aren’t. Seeing how conditions in space affects this could be useful, especially for long manned space missions.”

More interested in how DNA multiplies, 18-year-old Cambridge High School Abu Dhabi student Karan Paranganat said his experiment would look into how a space environment would influence the building blocks of DNA.

Although many of his fellow students were a little intimidated by the complexity of the experiment, he said they were generally enthusiastic about the competition.

“It’s exciting because it’s very accessible. You usually don’t hear about competitions like this in the UAE so its great to be able to get involved right here.”

His classmate, Neesha Shewakramani, said her experiment would focus on the rate of mutation of genes in space.

After reading about the winner of the first Genes in Space competition held in the United States, Neesha said she was inspired to be a part of the UAE edition.

“It gave me a different perspective on the entire thing and made me feel I had a good chance to win it,” said the 17-year-old.

With the competition allowing for up to four students to collaborate on a single experiment, Neesha said she would be looking to bring in two or three others to help.

With this being her final year in high school, Neesha said the contest would offer a hands-on approach to learning while giving her a good idea of what she would like to do in the future.

Submissions are now being accepted for Genes in Space from pupils in Grades 7 to 12 at genesinspace.org with the deadline being February 3 next year.

To find out more and get involved follow #theuaespacestory on social media or visit thenational.ae/uae/genes-in-space.