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We celebrate today The National Day of DNA, going back to the 25th of April 1953, when the first articles about DNA structure were published by James Watson, Francis Crick, Maurice Wilkins and Rosalind Franklin in „Nature” magazine. The first three of them were also rewarded with the Nobel prize for medicine, after discovering the molecular structure of nucleic acids and their key role in the transfer of information into the living material.
The 25th of April was declared the International Day of DNA in the year of 2003 by The American Congress, acknowledging the sequencing of human genome as the biggest breakthroughs in the last 100 years. This day is being celebrated worldwide ever since.
DNA is the molecule that represents the hereditary material in all living cells. It contains information, the necessary information to build a living organism. As part of the human genome, it functions as an instructions manual that develop us from a single cell into the person we are today. From strawberries to kitties, all living organisms have their own genome, which maps their growth, helps the organs perform and repairs itself when it ends up being damaged, and most of all, it is unique. In short, the genome is divided into chromosomes, chromosomes contain genes, and genes are made of DNA.
“Genes are like the story, and DNA is the language that the story is written in”, says the American author, Sam Kean. In addition to this resemblance with artistic creation comes the American molecular biologist Kenneth R. Miller, stating that „Our own genomes carry the story of evolution, written in DNA, the language of molecular genetics, and the narrative is unmistakable”.