2008 National DNA Day Online Chatroom Transcript

This is just one question from an archive of the National DNA Day Moderated Chat held in April 2008. The NHGRI Director and many genomics experts from across NHGRI took questions from students, teachers and the general public on topics ranging from basic genomic research, to the genetic basis of disease, to ethical questions about genetic privacy.

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Why is DNA important?      Belen Hurle, Ph.D.: Generating data for use in developing and refining computational tools for comparing genomic sequence from multiple vertebrate species. It is the manual of instructions that spells how are you build, how does your body works, and who are your parents. It also holds information on your risk factors for disease that can be used to keep you healthy. I would say that is pretty important (and cool). Kannapolis Middle School in NC (7th grade student)

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