DNA day
Encyclopedia
DNA Day is a holiday celebrated on April 25. It commemorates the day in 1953 when James Watson
and Francis Crick
's article on the structure of DNA
was published, and the day in 2003 when the Human Genome Project
was completed, both of which were on April 25.
In the United States
, DNA Day was first celebrated on April 25, 2003 by proclamation of both the Senate
and the House of Representatives
. However, they only declared a one-time celebration, not an annual holiday. Subsequent annual DNA Day celebrations have been organized by the National Human Genome Research Institute
(NHGRI). In recent years, the NHGRI has been changing the dates of DNA Day. In 2010, they declared it would be on April 23, and in 2011 it was celebrated on April 15.
James D. Watson
James Dewey Watson is an American molecular biologist, geneticist, and zoologist, best known as one of the co-discoverers of the structure of DNA in 1953 with Francis Crick...
and Francis Crick
Francis Crick
Francis Harry Compton Crick OM FRS was an English molecular biologist, biophysicist, and neuroscientist, and most noted for being one of two co-discoverers of the structure of the DNA molecule in 1953, together with James D. Watson...
's article on the structure of DNA
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms . The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in...
was published, and the day in 2003 when the Human Genome Project
Human Genome Project
The Human Genome Project is an international scientific research project with a primary goal of determining the sequence of chemical base pairs which make up DNA, and of identifying and mapping the approximately 20,000–25,000 genes of the human genome from both a physical and functional...
was completed, both of which were on April 25.
In the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, DNA Day was first celebrated on April 25, 2003 by proclamation of both the Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
and the House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
. However, they only declared a one-time celebration, not an annual holiday. Subsequent annual DNA Day celebrations have been organized by the National Human Genome Research Institute
National Human Genome Research Institute
The National Human Genome Research Institute is a division of the National Institutes of Health, located in Bethesda, Maryland.NHGRI began as the National Center for Human Genome Research , which was established in 1989 to carry out the role of the NIH in the International Human Genome Project...
(NHGRI). In recent years, the NHGRI has been changing the dates of DNA Day. In 2010, they declared it would be on April 23, and in 2011 it was celebrated on April 15.