April 25 is National DNA Day!

In April 2003, the Human Genome Project was completed. Nearly fifty years earlier, James Watson and Francis Crick, using research from Rosalind Franklin, discovered DNA's double helix. Commemorate DNA day to celebrate these important anniversaries. Learn more about genetics and genomics. Find out how researchers are using this knowledge today!

Clinicians, read this important document: Educating Health-Care Professionals about Genetics and Genomics from the 2007 issue of Nature Reviews: Genetics. Genomics will irrevocably change healthcare and medicine.  Yet, relatively few practitioners know how to utilize genomics in their practice. This paper gives guidelines for medical genetic training and provides resources for continuing genetic training. Case studies are given to address referral of patients to genetic experts, the use of genetic tests, and the ethical concerns associated with genetic information.

Educators, students can learn about the exciting research in genetics and genomics as well as learn about genomic career opportunities by checking out the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) Web site. Click here. Chat with leading researchers in the field of genetics. Or listen to webcasts of NHGRI researchers.  Some of these webcasts are also available in RSS for podcast. Click here. 

Public health practitioners, check out online presentations that showcase some important genomics information from the UW Center for Genomics and Public Health related to public health practice. Click here. 

Follow the links in the CDC's National Office of Public Health Genomics's Public Health Perspective to find out about how the completion of the Human Genome has affected public health practice and how our growing understanding of genetics and genomics may change the future of the field as well. Click here.