2024 Genome Camp

 Sequencing Your Genome Camp for High School Students:

Your Genome, in Your Hands

Individuals typically don’t understand their own genomic data despite its vital importance to the health of themselves and their families. A person’s genome is vast and difficult to analyze without appropriate tools and training.

Currently, if one does seek genome sequencing, their sequencing data is owned and analyzed by the sequencing company. It is common practice for companies to also sell this genetic data to others. We at miRcore want to provide individuals the option of owning their genomic data. This means that miRcore will have no access to the data.

This camp is to start that journey. Please join us in this exciting endeavor.

With your help, we would like to build a gene-literate citizenry. Students will learn to do real disease research in week 1, explore next generation sequencing technology and data in week 2, and then analyze their own sequenced genome to learn how to research it in week 3.

If you wish to continue doing self-data research after the camp, we will support you as needed.

The Michigan Institute for Computational Discovery and Engineering (MICDE) has provided access to the University of Michigan’s high performance computing Great Lakes Slurm cluster for all Your Genome campers to run calculations in a Linux environment (extra computing resources than for other camps over an extended period).

Session (Weeks 1 + 2 + 3): 
        Week 1.  Computational Biology Camp Content (in-person highly recommended); one of the following:
                  June 17 – 21, 2024 (Mon-Fri), Time: 9 am – 4 pm (Eastern Time), University of Michigan campus
                  June 24 – 28, 2024 (Mon-Fri), Time: 9 am – 4 pm (Eastern Time), University of Michigan campus
                  July 22 – 26, 2024 (Mon-Fri), Time: 9 am – 4 pm (Pacific Time), Scripps campus
 
             Virtual camps (Advanced arrangement and prior meetings needed.)
                 June 17 – 21, 2024 (Mon-Fri), Time: 10 am – 5 pm (Eastern Time)
                 June 24 – 28, 2024 (Mon-Fri), Time: 10 am – 5 pm (Eastern Time)
 
        Week 2.  Biotechnology Sequencing Camp Content
                  July 29 – August 2, 2024 (Mon-Fri), Time: 9 am – 4 pm (Pacific Time) hybrid format, either at Scripps Research Institute Campus, La Jolla, CA or virtual
 
         Week 3. Your Genome In Your Hands
                   August 5 – 9, 2024 (Mon-Fri), Time: 9 am – 4 pm (Pacific Time) virtual
 

INTENDED AUDIENCE: Academically motivated current (2023-24) high school students interested in computers, math, science, and medicine.

REQUIRED: 16+ years old on the first day of the Week 3 camp. We need the signed acknowledgement that the DNA they are submitting for sequencing must be their own, is strictly for self-data analysis, and is only for non-medical research purpose.

PREREQUISITE: High school biology class

TUITION: $3,240 (including one-year miRcore student membership $300 value)

A computer with internet connection is required to join the online camp. 

APPLICATION FEE: $50

APPLICATION

Student responses after 2023 SYG camp

 

 
 
 
Learning about genetics at camp was the best summer experience ever!
 
I learned that genes can tell us so much about our past, present, and future.
 
I want to be part of future research. It’s like being a detective, but for genes!
 
I want to do more camps next summer!
 
I want to contribute to our collective research by sharing my data anonymously

Sponsors:

wiselogo

MICDE logo

 

Week 1 Overview

  Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
Theme Genes in diseases Gene expression Statistics and biology Gene networks Social impact
Focus Personalized medicine and DNA RNA and microarrays T-test and Gene Ontology Protein functions and pathways Molecular functions and diseases
Goal Initial group presentations on a disease of choice Determining a dataset for group research Identifying RNA biomarkers in a disease Identifying biological functions to focus on

Final group presentations

PARENTS INVITED

Week 2 Overview

  Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
Themes -Biotech
-COVID-19
-Thermodynamics		 -PCR
-Next Gen Sequencing
-DNA-seq, RNA-seq

-Inter-disciplinary introduction

– Single nucleotie polymorphism

 -Careers introduction
-Functional mutations		 -Business introduction
Activities -Linux prep
-Basic Functions		 -Linux cluster
-Advanced Linux		 -Running programs to map to reference genome -Research time -Presentation preparation
Goals -Obtain SARS-CoV-2 sequences -Connect to server
-Moderate biology understanding
-Begin project ideas		 -Know research flow
-Identify pitfalls		 -Application of research
-80% done with research		 -Final presentations!

 

Tentative career focus

Academics
Business
Law (ethics, patents, policy, etc.)
Pharmaceutics/Biotechnology (industry)

Fridays

Week 1: Parents are invited for the group research presentation.

Week 2: Each group will pitch a biotechnology business plan based on the week’s research.

Refund Policy

– The $100 administrative fee will not be refunded once the camp application is accepted.
– If a student withdraws, the camp fee paid minus the administrative fee will be refunded if we are notified by May 7, 2024.
– If a student withdraws between May 8 and three weeks before the camp starting date, we will refund 50 percent of the camp fee paid.
– Refunds will be given until three weeks before the camp starting date.