Players needed to solve puzzles and help advance cancer research

Date:
January 27, 2022
Source:
Center for Genomic Regulation
Summary:
Scientists have just launched GENIGMA, 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 was 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 are a lack of high-resolution genome reference maps, which are
necessary to help researchers interpret their scientific results.



FULL STORY ========================================================================== Scientists in Barcelona have today launched GENIGMA, 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 today on iOS and Android and available in English, Spanish, Catalan and Italian, is the result of a two-and-a-half-year long citizen science project developed by a team of researchers at the Centre for
Genomic Regulation (CRG), the Centro Nacional de Ana'lisis Geno'mico
(CNAG-CRG) and game professionals.

The game was 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 are 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.

"Cell lines are responsible for the discovery of vaccines, chemotherapies
for cancer or IVF for infertility. This makes them a pillar of modern
biology," explains ICREA Research Professor Marc A. Marti-Renom, with
dual affiliation at the CRG and CNAG-CRG and whose research underpins
GENIGMA. "However, the lack of genome reference maps limits current
scientific progress. It's 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." Professor Marti-Renom's 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.

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 'herd intelligence' of players can
also provide creative solutions in ways that AI might not be able to.



==========================================================================
To play GENIGMA, 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.

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.

"Anyone with a smartphone from anywhere in the world can download
GENIGMA for free and make a direct contribution to research, lending
their logic and dexterity to the service of science," says Elisabetta
Broglio, citizen science facilitator at the CRG. "GENIGMA will analyze the solutions provided by the players as a collective and not as individuals,
and will take advantage of creative solutions impossible to find with deterministic algorithms." The first genome reference map researchers
will attempt to solve is for the T- 47D breast cancer cell line, one of
the most commonly used resources in cancer research. GENIGMA's research
team estimate that 30 thousand players solving an average of 50 games
each would generate enough data to reveal the reference map of the 20,000
genes in this breast cancer cell line.

The game launches today with a three-month long campaign -- the #GenigmaChallenge. Every week on Monday, for a total period of three
months, the GENIGMA team will introduce new genome fragments from the
T-47D cell line to be arranged by players. The first genome fragments
needing to be arranged are from chromosome 17, which contain a high
number of breast cancer related genes. This includes BRCA1, for which
mutations have been associated with about 40% of inherited breast cancer.

GENIGMA was developed over two and a half years, involving more than 500
people across 13 workshops. The game was conceived and tested by a diverse group of people from different backgrounds, including researchers,
students, teachers, artists, medical professionals, bioethicists,
journalists, representatives from patient organisations, artists and
game developers.

According to Oriol Ripoll, Creative at JOCS al SEGON and Coordinator
of GENIGMA's game design team, "Science can often feel inaccessible
for most people, which is why being able to pick up your phone to play
GENIGMA is so exciting. Not only can you combine the universal appeal and popularity of videogames to contribute towards advancing medical research,
you will also learn more about science." special promotion Get a free
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things we always get wrong about diet and exercise. Claim_yours_now_>>> ========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by Center_for_Genomic_Regulation. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


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Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/01/220127172646.htm

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