School's Center for Environmental Health and Susceptibility to co-sponsor DNA Day events

DNA ‘ambassadors’ reach out to North Carolina high school students

Young scientists from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and nine other institutions are preparing to fan out to more than 100 high schools across the state this Friday (April 24) for the latest annual DNA Day commemorations.

DNA Day marks two key scientific breakthroughs – the discovery of DNA’s double helix in 1953 and the completion of the Human Genome Project in 2003. The event aims to engage and excite students about genomics and to inform them about career options available in the numerous scientific fields that deal with DNA, such as forensics, biotechnology, and the study of genes and disease.

This year, 160 graduate students and postdoctoral fellows will visit more than 200 classes in 101 different schools. DNA Day is usually observed on April 25, which this year falls on a Saturday. As a result, most activities are being held a day early to accommodate classroom schedules.

The student volunteers, known as ambassadors, use one of six different presentations depending on their field of expertise. The six modules are: farming and biotech; immunology; forensics; cystic fibrosis; genes and disease; and pharmacogenomics.

As well as helping communicate the science of DNA, ambassadors will talk about their day-to-day lives working as researchers, and prompt discussions about topics such as the ethical considerations involved in genetic testing and health care decisions.

Along with UNC-Chapel Hill researchers, graduate students and postdoctoral fellows from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, North Carolina State, Appalachian State, North Carolina A&T State, Wake Forest and Duke universities – as well as scientists from GlaxoSmithKline, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and BioNetwork – will take part.

Sponsors include the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center; the Carolina Center of Cancer Nanotechnology Excellence; the UNC Superfund Basic Research Program; the UNC Graduate School; the Carolina Center for Genome Sciences; the UNC Cystic Fibrosis Pulmonary Research and Treatment Center; the Center for Environmental Health and Susceptibility in the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health; the UNC Office of Postdoctoral Affairs; the Burroughs Wellcome Fund; Chesson Labs; and Sigma Xi.

Students and teachers can also participate in national recognition of DNA Day on Friday through a live, moderated online chat at www.genome.gov/DNADay, staffed by experts from the National Human Genome Research Institute from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. EDT. Experts will be available to answer questions on a wide range of topics, including basic science, clinical research, genomics careers and the ethical, legal and social implications of genome research.

The institute has also created a Facebook page for National DNA Day, which includes interactive features, a photo contest of DNA models, details about upcoming events, articles from the media about genetic discoveries and links to educational resources. There is also a Twitter feed at www.twitter.com/dnaday and the institute’s website – www.genome.gov/DNAday – has free, educational tools on genetics and genomics, including webcasts, podcasts and an online multimedia education kit called “Understanding the Human Genome Project.”

For more information, visit www.ncdnaday.org/index.html.

UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health contact: Ramona DuBose, director of communications, (919) 966-7467 or ramona_dubose@unc.edu.