Citizen Science Genetics Projects
Here are six citizen science projects in need of your help to explore life all around us.
If you are interested in additional genetics themed citizen science, be sure to visit our storify of the January #CitSciChat which focused on citizen science and genetics!
Cheers!
The SciStarter Team
Genetics and Smell Chemistry
Part of the way we smell things is controlled by our genes. Families are needed to smell a provided sample and record how their perceptions of the smell differ. The results will inform understanding of the genetics of smell.
Genetics of Taste
Have a sweet tooth? It could be genetic. This project, based at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, explores the factors that influence taste.
Fraxinus
If you like both online games and trees, this might be the project for you! You can play a game using real genetic data to help protect ash trees (Fraxinus excelsior) from disease.
Pieris Project
The cabbage white (Pieris rapae) is one of the most common butterflies worldwide. Help this project collect genetic data on cabbage whites to investigate how the species has successfully spread and adapted to many different environments.
The Genographic Project
National Geographic is collecting and analyzing samples of DNA to learn how humanity spread across the earth. With a simple cheek swab, you can learn about your personal genetic history and contribute to a larger body of knowledge
Personal Genome Project
Harvard’s Personal Genome Project studies how genetics and the environment influence traits, while at the same time creating a publically accessible database for genetic and health information.