Happy DNA Day! (Celebrate with FTDNA's sale or 23andMe's multi-kit discount!)

Happy DNA Day to all of my friends!

WHAT IS DNA DAY?
Today is DNA Day! First observed ten years ago, DNA Day now celebrates all things genetic. It commemorates the day sixty years ago when the journal Nature published the papers by Watson, Crick, Wilkins, Gosling and Franklin describing the double helix structure of DNA and, according to the National Human Genome Research Institute, DNA Day also "commemorates the completion of the Human Genome Project in April 2003".

THERE'S LOTS OF INTEREST IN GENETICS OUT THERE!
This year, in honor of DNA Day, 23andMe commissioned a survey of 1,067 Americans to find out just how much people in the United States know about genetics. Not surprisingly, it revealed the need for increased education, with only 21% of those surveyed correctly understanding that humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes. One of the most significant things that they found is that, while only 2% of the people surveyed had taken a genetics test, 73% of those who haven't would like to get tested in the future. Further, according to 23andMe, 71% of those said that the health results are what most interests them. (I guess we shouldn't be surprised by 23andMe's primary focus.) Even if they aren't all genetic genealogy enthusiasts, this is very good news for those of us who are. It appears that we can look forward to the databases growing exponentially in the coming months and years.

SALES
Although 23andMe is not offering a special discount for today, I did want to point out to anyone who hadn't yet noticed that 23andMe is now offering a multi-kit discount. The first kit is the regular price of $99, but any additional kits ordered at the same time are 20% off (that's only $79.20!). The discount is automatically applied when you add the kits to your cart.

Don't forget that Family Tree DNA's extensive DNA Day sale was extended through tonight April 30th.

It's a very good day to order a kit and add to what you know about (your) DNA!