{"id":70981,"date":"2022-02-08T09:13:54","date_gmt":"2022-02-08T08:13:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pcb.ub.edu\/cnag-and-crg-launch-the-genigmachallenge-a-citizen-science-initiative\/"},"modified":"2022-02-10T12:57:23","modified_gmt":"2022-02-10T11:57:23","slug":"cnag-and-crg-launch-the-genigmachallenge-a-citizen-science-initiative","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pcb.ub.edu\/en\/cnag-and-crg-launch-the-genigmachallenge-a-citizen-science-initiative\/","title":{"rendered":"CNAG and CRG launch the #GenigmaChallenge, a citizen science initiative"},"content":{"rendered":"

Researchers at the Centro Nacional de An\u00e1lisis Gen\u00f3mico (CNAG-CRG<\/a>) -located at the Barcelona Science Park- the Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG<\/a>) and game professionals, launch Genigma<\/a>, a videogame that enlists players to solve puzzles while generating real-world scientific data that can detect alterations in genomic sequences and ultimately advance breast cancer research. The game, out on iOS and Android and available in English, Spanish, Catalan and Italian and is the result of a two-and-a-half-year long citizen science project.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Genigma – developed by a team of researchers at CNAG-CRG and CRG with game professionals from Jocs al Segon<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0X-Lives,<\/a>\u00a0was created to boost worldwide research efforts that depend on cancer cell lines, a critical resource used by scientists to study cancer and test new drugs to treat the disease. One of the limitations of cancer cell lines is a lack of high-resolution genome reference maps, which are necessary to help researchers interpret their scientific results, for example pinpointing the location of genes of therapeutic interest or potential mutation sites.<\/p>\n

\u201cCell lines are responsible for the discovery of vaccines, chemotherapies for cancer or IVF for infertility. This makes them a pillar of modern biology,\u201d explains ICREA Research Professor\u00a0Marc A.\u00a0Marti-Renom<\/strong>, with dual affiliation at the CNAG-CRG and CRG and whose research underpins Genigma. \u201cHowever, the lack of genome reference maps limits current scientific progress. It\u2019s like asking people to navigate modern cities using maps from the past. With the help of other people, we can update these maps, which will allow us to make fast progress in breast cancer research.\u201d<\/p>\n

Professor Marti-Renom\u2019s research group has developed methods to create genomic reference maps by visualising the genome in three-dimensional space. However, this requires significant time and resources to train artificial intelligence, as well as vast computational power.<\/p>\n

The researchers launched Genigma because they believe that data generated by players could be a more effective method of updating the reference maps compared to using AI alone. The \u2018herd intelligence\u2019 of players can also provide creative solutions in ways that AI might not be able to.<\/p>\n

Players needed to solve puzzles and help advance cancer research<\/strong><\/h3>\n

To play Genigma<\/a>,<\/strong>, players have to solve a puzzle involving a string of blocks of different colours and shapes. Each string represents a genetic sequence in the cancer cell line, and how players organise the blocks is a potential solution to the location of genes.<\/p>\n

Players have to reorganise the blocks so that they attain the highest-score possible. The higher the number of players and high scores, the higher likelihood that researchers have found the correct sequence for this particular location in the reference map.<\/p>\n