Happy National DNA Day!
- Leslie Ryan
- Apr 22
- 2 min read
April 25, 1953 was the date that the first of three consecutive papers were published about the mysterious DNA molecule. Watson and Crick got the fame, but it was the additional x-ray work of Maurice Wilkins and Rosalind Franklin that confirmed the helical structure.
In 2003, President George H.W. Bush signed a proclamation declaring that this would forever after be celebrated as National DNA Day in the US. This was also when mapping 90% of the human genome finally completed (begun in October of 1990) by thousands of researchers working under the leadership of Francis Collins, MD, PhD, and future director of the NIH.
The human genome map shows how all the 4 bases in our DNA (A, C, G AND T)get together to form human beings, and not trees or dolphins. Humans have approximately THREE BILLION BASE PAIRS! Mapping of genes helps us see how we are different, but also the same. It has led to improvements in cancer research, vaccines, looking or cures for diseases like cancer or rare diseases.
And, of course, genetic testing is helping us solve family mysteries! Sadly, it can also cause NEW family mysteries (like an unexpected parent). I'm waiting for my latest client's DNA test results to come back so we can look for her biological parents!
Over the last few years I have written a few blogs about DNA testing and matches you may wish to review now that you have some MORE matches to sort through. These, you might say, are my greatest hits:
Color code your DNA matches to sort out who belongs to who:
DNA is not a true 50/50 distribution from each parent, get more testers:
DNA testing is helping to reunite separated families (i.e. Holocaust):
The importance of checking your SHARED matches in your results:
There are more DNA related blogs. If you'd like to see the rest, just click on the word "BLOG" in the upper right hand corner, and it will take show you the main categories.
You would think that National DNA Day would be a great time to find a SALE on DNA testing, but so far, FamilyTreeDNA is the only one advertising one through April 30 at this link: https://www.familytreedna.com/products/bundles
More sales will be coming for Mother's Day and Father's Day from all the usual sites, fear not. Remember that Ancestry DNA can be uploaded to other sites for different matches or results, but they will not accept other sites' tests. Plan ahead, and start there to save money in the long run!
How's your research coming? Are you having any fun? Let's talk! Email for a free, no obligation, look at your research!
Happy DNA Day!
Regards,
Leslie Ryan
For more information about the Human Genome Project and National DNA Day, go to the National Institute of Health site here: https://www.genome.gov/dna-day
No compensation is received for any links or referrals herein.
No copyright infringement is intended.
