Declare DNA Day Statewide

April 25, 2018, as DNA Day in the State of New York WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize official days that are set aside to increase awareness of significant events which commemorate milestones of medical importance; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim April 25, 2018, as DNA Day in the State of New York, in conjunction with the observance of National DNA Day; and WHEREAS, The National Human Genome Research Institute began celebrating National DNA Day annually on April 25th after the 108th Congress passed concurrent resolutions designating it as such; and WHEREAS, National DNA Day commemorates when James Watson, Francis Crick, Maurice Wilkins, Rosalind Franklin and colleagues published papers in the Nature journal on the discovery of the structure of DNA, the double helix, on April 25, 1953; and WHEREAS, This special day also recognizes the successful completion of the Human Genome Project in April of 2003; this project gave us the ability, for the first time, to read nature's complete genetic blueprint for building a human being; and WHEREAS, The goal of National DNA Day is to offer students, teachers and the public an opportunity to learn about and celebrate the latest advances in genomic research and explore how those advances might impact their lives; and WHEREAS, National DNA Day celebrates the discovery and understanding of DNA and the scientific advances that understanding has made possible; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim April 25, 2018, as DNA Day in the State of New York; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New York.