National DNA Day is just around the corner, and it’s the perfect day to learn about and celebrate the wondrous molecule that helps us develop, reproduce and survive.
Celebrated annually on April 25th, National DNA Day commemorates both the Human Genome Project’s completion in 2003 and the ground-breaking discovery of the double helix back in 1953.
This year, you can celebrate the day, enjoying these fun ideas our DNA consultants have put together for you.
Learn About The Importance Of DNA
Very few people really understand the importance of DNA. Our DNA contains all the information and instructions crucial for our cells to create proteins being used in various processes in our bodies. It is essentially what’s helping us grow, produce and stay healthy.
So, on National DNA Day this year, it might be a good idea to learn more about DNA yourself and maybe even also explain it to your kids. There are countless educational videos like the ones produced by the National Human Genome Research Institute—you can watch these to gain a greater understanding of genomics and DNA.
Take A DNA Test
Taking a DNA test can be a fun activity for the entire family. Nowadays, it’s easy to access director-to-consumer DNA testing kits. Watch for a sale, , and have your entire family take the tests.
Ideally, it’s best to take the autosomal DNA test. It examines the majority of your chromosomes—22 of the 23 pairs, in fact. As a result, it’ll give you a very comprehensive and holistic look into your ancestry. This makes the test incredibly useful for family research.
You can also share your test results with an online DNA analyst to help make sense of it all.
Start Building Your Family Tree
If you’re taking the DNA test, it makes sense to start building your family tree as well. It’s the perfect tribute to the ancestors with whom you share the DNA.
It’s also easy to keep children involved in a family tree-building activity. They can assist you in sorting through old documents, records, and photographs. It’s a very engaging way to introduce them to the importance of family research.
Also, as you start building your family tree, you can start documenting your family health history. Knowing the diseases that run in your family will help you identify potential health risks for yourself.
Enjoy DNA Origami With Kids
It can be hard to keep children engaged if you’re only giving them verbal or visual information constantly. To switch things up a bit, you can teach them about the unique DNA structure while creating origami DNA.
The National Human Genome Research Institute offers a printable paper pattern for the double helix and a set of folding instructions, and an instructional video. You can download these and enjoy making DNA origami with kids!
Check Out Our Family Activity Planning Package
If you’re looking for more activities to enjoy on National DNA Day or at any other time in the year, you can check out our family activity planning package.
The activity we help you plan will be fun, educational, and engaging.
At DavisDNA And Family Research, we can also help you with expert DNA research assistance and other traditional genealogy services.
Call us to learn more.
