Senate Resolution No. 4949

BY: Senator PARKER

MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim
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.