SR1640 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1640 LRB100 21701 MST 39184 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The Illinois Senate recognizes that the sequencing of the human genome is one of the most significant scientific accomplishments of the past hundred years and expresses support for the goals and ideals of Human Genome Month and DNA Day; and

WHEREAS, April 25, 2018 will be the 65th anniversary of the publication of the description of the double-helix structure of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) in Nature magazine by James D. Watson and Francis H.C. Crick, which is considered by many scientists to be one of the most significant scientific discoveries of the twentieth century; and

WHEREAS, Their discovery launched a field of inquiry that explained how DNA carries biological information in the genetic code and how this information is duplicated and passed from generation to generation, forming the stream of life that connects us all to our ancestors and to our descendants; and

WHEREAS, This field of inquiry in turn was crucial to the founding and continued growth of the field of biotechnology, which has led to historic scientific and economic advances for the world, advances in which the people of the United States have played a leading role and from which they have realized significant benefits; and

WHEREAS, April of 2018 marks the 15th anniversary of completion of the international Human Genome Project, a research effort led in the United States by the National Human Genome Research Institute to sequence the DNA base pairs of the human genome for the first time and make this information freely available to the public; and

WHEREAS, The Human Genome Project has provided an exemplary model for social responsibility in scientific research, by devoting significant resources to studying the ethical, legal, and social implications of the project; and

WHEREAS, The National Human Genome Research Institute has designated April of 2018 as "Human Genome Month" in celebration of the completion of the sequencing of the human genome and April 25, 2018 as "DNA Day" in celebration of the 65th anniversary of the publication of the description of the structure of DNA on April 25, 1953; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we declare April 25, 2018 as "DNA Day" in the State of Illinois; and be it further

RESOLVED, That schools, museums, cultural organizations, and other educational institutions are encouraged to recognize Human Genome Month and DNA Day with appropriate programs and activities centered on human genomics.