Today is the annual celebration of National DNA Day, which marks the discovery of the DNA double helix structure. Not only is today the 70th anniversary of the discovery of the DNA double helix, but it is also the 20th anniversary of the Human Genome Project’s completion. 

The double helix structure of DNA was discovered in 1953 by James Watson and Francis Crick, a discovery made possible by the revolutionary discoveries of Rosalind Franklin and Maurice Wilkins. This has created groundbreaking advancements in genetic engineering, the understanding of protein synthesis, and heredity.

The Human Genome Project was a collaborative international effort in DNA research that generated the first sequence of the human genome and that of several additional well-studied organisms. For more information about the Human Genome Project, visit this link! 

Ever since 2003, National DNA Day has brought students, teachers, and the general public together on April 25th to celebrate the discovery of the double helix in 1953 and the completion of the human genome project in 2003.

National DNA Day is designed to be a global movement to mobilize, energize and empower communities, teachers, and students to collaborate, innovate, and discover the promise of our shared humanity and connection to the natural world. To learn more about National DNA Day, look here!