International DNA Day

On April 25, 1953, molecular genetics was born. The scientific journal Nature published a trio of articles describing the structure of DNA, the molecule that codes for life.

This extraordinary discovery was made thanks to the scientific work of James Watson, Francis Crick, Maurice Wilkins and Rosalind Franklin. To the day, half a century later, the completion of the complete sequencing of DNA chemical base pairs in the Human Genome Project mapping was announced. Since that day, 25th April has been celebrated as International DNA Day.

The DNA macromolecule is the carrier of the genetic information of all complex organisms on our planet. Its existence was anticipated almost a century earlier by the discoveries of the founder of genetics, Johann Gregor Mendel. His experiments with plant hybrids revealed the laws of heredity and variation, assuming that they were based on the existence of ordered elements of heredity. As of April 25, 1953, we now know that these elements of heredity are the sequences of chemical base pairs of the DNA molecule.

The Mendelianum traditionally commemorates these anniversaries with a special programme.