Our genomics short story competition was launched in January 2009, and invited authors to let their imaginations lose on the weird and wonderful sounding Zipper, Mad/Max, Hip/Hop, Agnostic, Mindbomb, Tigger and Disheveled Zinc Finger genes and write a story inspired by genetics. To read our press release click here.

Pippa Goldschmidt, Genomics Forum writer in residence who ran the competition, commented:

 “The overall winner, ‘The Test’, was felt by the judges to be both very well written and a moving exploration of the impact of testing for a genetic illness. The second prize went to ‘Most Likely To…’ which has a quirky humour enjoyed by the judges, as well as a serious point about knowledge being a source of power and enabling people to direct their lives. The judges were unable to agree on a single third prize, which is why we ended up awarding two; to ‘Phrenology, or the Causes of Crime’ and ‘Original Mike’s Coffee Shop’. The former is a historic cautionary tale of the fallacies of science, and the latter may make you look twice at those baristas in your nearest Starbucks….”

Winners:

First prize: 'The Test' by Ben Smart

Second Prize: 'Most Likely To' by Anna Faherty

Joint 3rd prize: 'Phrenology, or the Causes of Crime' by Jonathan Gibbs

Joint 3rd prize 'Original Mike's Coffee Shop' by Patrick Hudson

Runners up (in no order):

'The Big Boys of Lumphanan' by George Anderson

'Living with Cally' by Penny Feeny

'The Problem Child' by Neil James Hudson

'Killer Genes' by Sarah Shaw

'Unnatural Selection' by Kate Tough

Congratulations to all the winners and runners up. Thanks and commiserations to all who entered but who didn't get placed.

Click here for the Judges' Report on Short Story Competition