Monday, April 11, 2022

DNA Day

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4/11/22

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Coming Soon

Last month — nearly two decades after scientists unveiled their first draft of the human genome — researchers announced that they had finally, truly finished reading the human genetic instruction book . The new, complete sequence of human DNA fills in the last 8 percent that was missing from earlier drafts of the genome. And it’s all the more reason to celebrate National DNA Day on April 25. This annual event invites students and the public to learn more about the molecular blueprint for life.

The National Human Genome Research Institute provides a starter kit of materials to plan classroom and community events on DNA Day, as well as lesson plans and hands-on activities related to genetics. Here at Science News for Students, the best place to start learning about DNA is probably “ Let’s Learn About DNA.” This primer in our Let’s Learn About series is a package of explainers and other stories, along with a video and hands-on activity about DNA.

Some of our recent news stories also highlight surprising findings about DNA, including the fact that just 1.5 to 7 percent of our genome is uniquely human, and that some identical twins don’t share the exact same DNA. Find out how DNA can be used to identify what animals were recently nearby, to explain what meat-eating bees have in common with vultures and to potentially help revive extinct species a la Jurassic Park.

With stories on the subject dating back to our founding in 2003, you could say that covering genetics is in Science News for Students’ DNA. So join us this April in celebrating and investigating the molecule that makes each of us who we are.

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Opportunity

The STEMulator, created by the National Science and Technology Forum in South Africa, is an interactive visualization of science and technology. In this virtual setting, students can explore different areas and click on items of interest to see illustrations, animations and information on those topics. Explore the wilderness to learn about clouds, rain and lakes. Tour a hospital’s ICU, surgery and ultrasound unit. The goal is to help students identify and get excited about a variety of possible careers in STEM.

Find out more about the resources available for using Science News for Students stories for learning. And if you like this newsletter, please share it with a friend or colleague. Did someone share this with you? Subscribe to this newsletter here. If you’ve got questions, suggestions or comments, email us at sns@sciencenews.org. Thank you for reading!