Become a Citizen Scientist in Play to Cure: Genes in Space game, the game built around Candy Crush
In a previous article, we mentioned that new studies found that Candy Crush is actually a math problem – an NP-Complete problem. These types of problems can be used in science to apply to actual real world problems. A company put together a new game that allows people to play a fun game while actually doing some research. The hours that we spend on gaming can actually be put to use now, giving us a reason to do so!
The new game is called ‘Play to Cure: Genes in Space’. The goal of this game is to help researches at the Cancer Research UK to decode genetic material. Since the release in February, it is reported that the game has led the scientists to decode DNA that would have typically taken up to six months! Medical News Today said:
“Each time gamers play the game they analyze the DNA of one chromosome – one classification – some 2yds/0.002km of DNA. If the tightly wound spirals of DNA were stretched out flat, players from around the world have decoded around 40 miles of genetic information in a mere month.”
It seems crazy that playing a game has the possibility of curing diseases that have such an impact on our society today. The games that we all know like ‘Candy Crush’, ‘Angry Birds’ and ‘Flappy Bird’ have all led to the development of creating ‘Citizen Scientists’. When scientist and researches figured out how many hours and how many people were playing these games, they put it to good use. Players of ‘Play to Cure: Genes in Space’ are now given the name of ‘Citizen Scientists’, so you too could help solve and cure cancer.
To play the game you want to map out a route through areas of Element Alpha (which represents genetic cancer data) and collect as much as possible while destroying asteroids. When you map out the route to succeed in the game and fly the spaceship, you are actually helping to analyze genetic data.
So, you now have an excuse to play and get addicted to a mobile game! By playing this game you are helping research and find a cure for cancer! Take a look at the game below:
Featured Image Via: android.mob.org
