Apr25 Fun Holiday – DNA Day
Observed every year on April 25 since 2003, DNA Day celebrates and recognizes the importance of genetics and the scientific advances made in the field.
Learn more about DNA that makes you.
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DNA Day was instituted as a one-time celebration in the United States by a proclamation of the US Congress in 2002.
Double Helix
April 25 was chosen as the day to acknowledge the contribution of genetics because on this day in 1953, scientists James Watson, Francis Crick, and their colleagues published the double helix structure of DNA in the journal, Nature.
Worldwide Celebration
While DNA Day was first commemorated in the United States in 2003, it is now celebrated around the world. In the US, the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) is at the helm of organizing celebrations for the day. Universities and scientific organizations around the world also celebrate DNA day by organizing scientific conferences, educational outreach, online discussions and essay competitions.
The holiday is also called International DNA Day and World DNA Day.
How to Celebrate?
- Attend scientific lectures to learn about the advances made in genetics.
- Learn more about DNA, its structure, and its components. Read up about how it affects our daily lives.
- If you have kids in your life, make a 3-D model of DNA with them. Get creative – use materials you can find at home or in your kitchen.
Did You Know…
…that each human cell contains approximately 6.5 feet (2 meters) of DNA?
DNA Day Observances
| Fun Holiday: DNA Day Observances | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Weekday | Date | Name |
| 2024 | Thu | 25 Apr | DNA Day |
| 2025 | Fri | 25 Apr | DNA Day |
| 2026 | Sat | 25 Apr | DNA Day |
| 2027 | Sun | 25 Apr | DNA Day |
| 2028 | Tue | 25 Apr | DNA Day |
| 2029 | Wed | 25 Apr | DNA Day |
| 2030 | Thu | 25 Apr | DNA Day |
| 2031 | Fri | 25 Apr | DNA Day |
| 2032 | Sun | 25 Apr | DNA Day |
| 2033 | Mon | 25 Apr | DNA Day |
