Understanding the structure of DNA, the key chemical entity determining genetic inheritance, is considered to be one of the most significant events in 20th century science. The description of the DNA structure by James Watson and Francis Crick was published on 25th April 1953 and fifty years later, in 2003, the genetic manual for humans (the human genome) was sequenced in its entirety under the aegis of the Human Genome Project. To celebrate these remarkable events in scientific history, April 25th is being celebrated as the DNA Day. This is the first time that Hyderabad will be celebrating the DNA Day at the BM Birla Science Center and invites everyone to be part of the celebrations.

The science of genetics has come a long way in the past century from understanding the fundamental laws of biological inheritance to the sequencing of genomes of several life forms. New discoveries are being made, which are constantly refining our understanding of life. This field of inquiry has in turn been crucial to the founding and continued growth of the field of biotechnology. Developments in DNA science and technology have led to historic scientific and economic advances for the world. These advances have been possible due to the collaborative efforts of several scientists and technologists across the globe.

Our society has benefited immensely with the advances in DNA science and its applications. Significant improvements to human health have been made by creating novel methods of disease prevention and treatment, better disease diagnosis and increasingly sophisticated detection of diseases. Traditional methods of crop production have been improved remarkably by knowledge of DNA science to produce better crops. Environmental and ecological problems are being addressed using technologies derived from DNA science. In essence, DNA science is influencing the essential aspects of human life on this planet.

While the benefits offered by DNA science are impressive, they have unprecedented ethical, legal, and social implications. Unless the society understands the science and its outcomes objectively, it will be hard to address many of these implications. Towards this end, public understanding of, and informed debates on DNA science become imperative.

India is becoming a notable player in the creation and use of knowledge obtained from DNA science. The sustained growth and development of this field will be highly dependent on public awareness. One of the main goals of celebrating DNA Day in Hyderabad is to create a platform for sharing knowledge and facilitate discussions on the advances in DNA science and it’s impact on the society. We urge people from all walks of life to participate in the event and help spread the awareness, and excitement of DNA science.

The event will have a walking exhibit on the history of DNA and the many applications of the science. There will also be multimedia presentations and demonstrations of experimental methods in DNA science. This event is hosted by the BM Birla Science Center and is funded by the Andhra Pradesh Academy of Sciences.

Contact: Anil Kumar Challa (9866481361 | challa.anilkumar@gmail.com)