The sense of play lies at the roots of learning

In a famous book,Johann Huizinga referred to Homo sapiens(“thinkers”)as Homo ludens(“play? ers”). Here I try to foster an appreciation of the importance of play in the learning process,not only during childhood but continuously afterwards. Play is a major biological incentive for generating pleasure during learn? ing and helps to accept the challenges and to overcome the difficulties attached to any intellectual effort or work. Play is rooted in the randomness of interactions between participants,with chance channeled by the rules of the game. Parallels with Darwinian evolution based on chance(randomness of mutations and changes in condi? tions)and necessity(the physico-chemical rules)are made. The development of science-based challenges or computer games and their roles in citizen-oriented science are also described. Some basic concepts of RNA structural biology illustrating the text are explained. “Play is the work of childhood”,Jean Piaget. “Every game has its rules”,Johann Huizinga.