DNA Day

{{short description|Holiday celebrated on April 25}}

{{Infobox holiday

| holiday_name=National DNA Day

| significance=The day celebrates the discovery and understanding of DNA and the scientific advances that understanding has made possible.

| observedby=Biologists, science teachers and students, anyone interested in genetics

| date=April 25

|duration = 1 day

|frequency = Annual

| scheduling=same day each year

| celebrations=Various

}}

Image:Dna-split.png. The two base-pair complementary chains of the DNA molecule allow for replication of the genetic instructions.]]

National DNA Day is a United States holiday celebrated on April 25. It commemorates the day in 1953 when James Watson, Francis Crick, Maurice Wilkins, Rosalind Franklin and colleagues published papers in the journal Nature on the structure of DNA.{{cite journal |last1=Watson |first1=James Dewey |author-link1=James Watson |last2=Crick |first2=Francis Harry Compton |author-link2=Francis Crick |title=Molecular structure of nucleic acids; a structure for deoxyribose nucleic acid |journal=Nature |date=1953-04-25 |volume=171 |issue=4356 |pages=737–738 |pmid=13054692 |doi=10.1038/171737a0 |bibcode=1953Natur.171..737W |s2cid=4253007 |url=https://www.mskcc.org/teaser/1953-nature-papers-watson-crick-wilkins-franklin.pdf }}{{cite journal |last1=Franklin |first1=Rosalind Elsie |author-link1=Rosalind Franklin |last2=Gosling |first2=Raymond |author-link2=Raymond Gosling |title=Molecular configuration in sodium thymonucleate |journal=Nature |date=1953-04-25 |volume=171 |issue=4356 |pages=740–741 |url=https://www.mskcc.org/teaser/1953-nature-papers-watson-crick-wilkins-franklin.pdf |pmid=13054694 |doi=10.1038/171740a0 |bibcode=1953Natur.171..740F |s2cid=4268222 }}{{cite journal |last1=Wilkins |first1=Maurice Hugh Frederick |author-link1=Maurice Wilkins |last2=Stokes |first2=Alexander Rawson |author-link2=Alex Stokes |last3=Wilson |first3=Herbert R. |author-link3=Herbert Wilson |title=Molecular structure of deoxypentose nucleic acids |journal=Nature |date=1953-04-25 |volume=171 |issue=4356 |pages=738–740 |url=https://www.mskcc.org/teaser/1953-nature-papers-watson-crick-wilkins-franklin.pdf |pmid=13054693 |doi=10.1038/171738a0 |bibcode=1953Natur.171..738W |s2cid=4280080 }} Furthermore, in early April 2003 it was declared that the Human Genome Project was very close to complete, and "the remaining tiny gaps were considered too costly to fill."{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/2940601.stm |title=Human genome finally complete |work=BBC News |first=Ivan |last=Noble |date=2003-04-14 |access-date=2006-07-22}}{{cite journal |title=Finishing the euchromatic sequence of the human genome |author=International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium |journal=Nature |date=2004-10-21 |volume=431 |issue=7011 |pages=931–945 |doi=10.1038/nature03001 |pmid=15496913 |bibcode = 2004Natur.431..931H|doi-access=free }}

In the United States, DNA Day was first celebrated on April 25, 2003, by proclamation of both the Senate{{cite web |url=http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-108sconres10ats/pdf/BILLS-108sconres10ats.pdf |title=A concurrent resolution designating April 2003 as "Human Genome Month" and April 25 as "DNA Day". |publisher=United States Government Printing Office |date=2003-02-27 |access-date=2012-02-09 }} and the House of Representatives.{{cite web |url=http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d108:H.CON.RES.110: |title=Recognizing the sequencing of the human genome as one of the most significant scientific accomplishments of the past one hundred years and expressing support for the goals and ideals of Human Genome Month and DNA Day. |publisher=Library of Congress |access-date=2011-04-16 |archive-date=2014-10-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141007110059/http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d108:H.CON.RES.110: |url-status=dead }} However, they only declared a one-time celebration, not an annual holiday. Every year from 2003 onward, annual DNA Day celebrations have been organized by the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), starting as early as April 23 in 2010, April 15 in 2011{{cite web |url=http://www.genome.gov/27544071 |title=Join us April 15 for National DNA Day! |publisher=National Human Genome Research Institute |date=2011-04-11 |access-date=2011-04-16}} and April 20 in 2012.{{cite web |url=http://www.genome.gov/10506367 |title=DNA Day 12 |publisher=National Human Genome Research Institute |date=2011-11-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120127102948/http://www.genome.gov/10506367 |archive-date=2012-01-27 |access-date=2012-02-09}} April 25 has since been declared "International DNA Day"{{cite web |url=http://www.bsn.org.np/index.php?pages=news&&id=22 | title=International DNA day to be celebrated |publisher=Biotechnology Society of Nepal |date=2009-06-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090615101014/http://www.bsn.org.np/index.php?pages=news&&id=22 |archive-date=2009-06-15 |access-date=2012-02-09}}{{cite web |url=http://www.dalecarnegiewayala.com/2011/04/21/celebrate-international-dna-day-in-huntsville |title=Celebrate International DNA Day in Huntsville |last=Finley |first=Erica |location=Huntsville, Alabama |date=2011-04-21 |access-date=2012-02-09 |archive-date=2019-04-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190421092804/http://www.dalecarnegiewayala.com/2011/04/21/celebrate-international-dna-day-in-huntsville/ |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=http://www.vu.lt/en/news/1559-annual-international-dna-day-at-the-university | title=Annual International DNA Day at the University |publisher=Vilnius University |date=2009-04-06 |access-date=2012-02-09}} and "World DNA Day"{{cite web|url=http://www.bitlifesciences.com/dnaday/en/DNA%20Resource/gov4.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120721175645/http://www.bitlifesciences.com/dnaday/en/DNA%20Resource/gov4.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-07-21 |title=International Consortium Publishes Sequence, Analysis Of The Human Genome |publisher=World High Technology Society |access-date=2012-02-09 }}{{cite web |url=http://www.getconference.org |title=Genomes, Environments and Traits Conference |publisher=GET Conference |access-date=2012-02-09}} by several groups.

Genealogical DNA testing companies and genetic genealogy publishers run annual sales around DNA Day, seeking interest from the public and promoting their services.{{Cite web|url=https://nationaldnaday.com/best-promo-codes-coupons-and-savings-on-dna-during-national-dna-day-sale/|title=Best Promo Codes, Coupons and Savings on DNA during National DNA Day Sale|last=MacEntee|first=Thomas|date=2019-04-23|website=National DNA Day|language=en-US|access-date=2020-02-25|archive-date=2020-02-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200225212635/https://nationaldnaday.com/best-promo-codes-coupons-and-savings-on-dna-during-national-dna-day-sale/|url-status=dead}}