State Health Department Celebrates National DNA Day

HARTFORD — Recognizing the increasing role that genomes have and will play in disease detection, prevention, and treatment, the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) celebrated National DNA day Tuesday, April 25.

“Advances in genetics hold the promise of great benefits to Connecticut residents,” said DPH Commissioner J. Robert Galvin. “The explosion of genetics knowledge, made possible by the Human Genome Project, will help patients and their doctors make better choices about treatment and reducing health risks.”

Demonstrating DPH’s commitment to exploring areas in which genomic developments could benefit the public’s health, the Connecticut Genomics Action Plan was developed in 2005. The plan provides an overview of the history and current direction of genomic science and services in Connecticut.

As part of the plan’s implementation, the Virtual Office of Genomics was developed to address statewide genetic needs and to help integrate developing genomic technologies into public health policy and practice.

National DNA Day is celebrated annually to mark the completion of the Human Genome Project in April 2003, and to promote and inspire future scientists to use the human genome sequence to benefit human health. Genes play a major role in human health and disease. It is now known that people are predisposed to various conditions, respond to the environment in different ways, and may react differently to medications based upon their genetic makeup.

For example, genetic testing makes possible the identification of women at risk for breast cancer, infants at risk for inborn metabolic disorders, and even what medications will work best for certain individuals. Using genetics medical practice can now expand its focus to disease prediction and prevention in addition to using such time-honored practices diagnosis and treatment.

For more information, visit dph.state.ct.us and genome.gov.