A video game which tells players about one of the many research studies made possible by East London Genes & Health is now available to download on your phone.
Apple app store: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/gene-quest/id1068225497?mt=8
Google Play for Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.martinrees.cotc.genequest
Gene Quest puts the player in the shoes of a scientist exploring east London looking for people with genes that may hold the clue to curing illness. It has been launched as an app by Centre of the Cell, Queen Mary University of London’s science education Pod in Whitechapel.
The game was developed in partnership with the East London Genes & Health project which is one of the world’s largest community-based genetics studies, aiming to improve health among people of Pakistani and Bangladeshi heritage by understanding more about the nature of disease in those communities.
Players in the game collect saliva samples from people to try and find gene knockouts, in much the same way scientists at QMUL are aiming to collect the samples of 100,000 volunteers in east London. In addition to teaching the science behind genes and health, Gene Quest also explores ethical issues, including the importance of obtaining consent from study volunteers.
The game features local places in East London. Secret levels that skillfull players can unlock include the Royal London Hospital helideck and the Stratford Olympic Park !
Investigators from East London Genes & Health have published a first study about human gene knockouts in Science Magazine (scientific study, news editorial).
