Deoxyribonucleic acid alternatively known as DNA. It is the fundamental building block of the human race and practically all other species. It is the molecule that all living things use to carry genetic instructions.
And because DNA is so important, it deserves its own day! So, get ready to discover and celebrate National DNA Day!

• History of National DNA Day

During the 1950s, two scientists, one American biologist and one French physicist, presented a paper that explained how the DNA molecule existed in the shape of a three-dimensional double helix. Of course, the roots of this scientific inquiry go considerably deeper. In fact, it was almost a century ago, in the 1860s, that Swiss chemist Friedrich Miescher discovered DNA.
Around the same time, Gregor Mendel, a scientist from Moravia (now Czech Republic), was dubbed the "Father of Genetics" for his pioneering explanation of the fundamental rules of heredity. Though his work has been applied to human genetics, his initial research was conducted on the common pea plant rather than humans.
National DNA Day was established to commemorate the 50th anniversary of James Watson and Francis Crick's discovery (and subsequent publication) of the Double Helix, as well as the completion of the Genome Project, which took 13 years.
The Human Genome Project was an international scientific effort in which scientists collaborated to establish the DNA sequence of the entire human genome—a difficult task! The research was finished in April 2003, and National DNA Day was established to commemorate both that accomplishment and the discovery of the Double Helix.
Although the United States Congress declared National DNA Day an official celebration, it is the NGRI (National Human Genome Research Institute) that arranges festivities. During these events, lecturers go into lecture halls to educate both students and the general public who want to learn more about DNA, the building block of human life.