HR0317LRB101 12163 ALS 59764 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The Illinois House of Representatives recognizes
3that the sequencing of the human genome is one of the most
4significant scientific accomplishments of the past hundred
5years and expresses support for the goals and ideals of Human
6Genome Month and DNA Day; and
 
7    WHEREAS, April 25, 2019 will be the 66th anniversary of the
8publication of the description of the double-helix structure of
9deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) in Nature magazine by James D.
10Watson and Francis H.C. Crick, which is considered by many
11scientists to be one of the most significant scientific
12discoveries of the 20th century; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Their discovery launched a field of inquiry that
14explained how DNA carries biological information in the genetic
15code and how this information is duplicated and passed from
16generation to generation, forming the stream of life that
17connects us all to our ancestors and to our descendants; and
 
18    WHEREAS, In turn, this field of inquiry was crucial to the
19founding and continued growth of the field of biotechnology,
20which has led to historic scientific and economic advances for
21the world, advances in which the people of the United States
22have played a leading role and from which they have realized

 

 

HR0317- 2 -LRB101 12163 ALS 59764 r

1significant benefits; and
 
2    WHEREAS, April of 2019 marks the 16th anniversary of the
3completion of the international Human Genome Project, a
4research effort led in the United States by the National Human
5Genome Research Institute to sequence the DNA base pairs of the
6human genome for the first time and make this information
7freely available to the public; and
 
8    WHEREAS, The Human Genome Project has provided an exemplary
9model for social responsibility in scientific research by
10devoting significant resources to studying the ethical, legal,
11and social implications of the project; therefore, be it
 
12    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
13HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
14we declare April 25, 2019 as DNA Day in the State of Illinois;
15and be it further
 
16    RESOLVED, That schools, museums, cultural organizations,
17and other educational institutions are encouraged to recognize
18Human Genome Month and DNA Day with appropriate programs and
19activities centered on human genomics.