International DNA Day: an interview with geneticist Michaela Šišková

25 April is a significant milestone date in the understanding of the DNA molecule. On this day in 1953, scientists published a study describing DNA as a double helix. It was a very important discovery that led to the development of modern molecular biology, and International DNA Day is celebrated in its honour every year on 25 April. To mark the occasion, we spoke to geneticist Michaela Šišková, founder of the biotechnology company DNA ERA. In what aspects of life do we use DNA? And how can knowledge of our own DNA help us take better care of our health?

Johann Gregor Mendel is considered the father of genetics. Did the scientists who described DNA in 1953 also build on his research?

The concept of heredity was described by Gregor Mendel concerning pea plants as early as 1865. At that time, however, he had no idea about the existence of DNA. It was not until four years later that the DNA molecule was first discovered (by Friedrich Miescher), but it was not linked to heredity as such. Finally in 1944, three scientists (Avery, McLeod, McCarty) were able to demonstrate unequivocally that the DNA molecule, not proteins, was responsible for heredity. 

However, exactly what this DNA molecule looked like was unknown. The concept of the structure of DNA was not introduced until less than 10 years later, when on April 25, 1953, two scientists, James Watson and Francis Crick, published a study describing DNA as a double helix. This was a very important discovery that led to the development of modern molecular biology, a field largely concerned with how genes control chemical processes in cells.

In what aspects of life is DNA used?

Today, the DNA molecule has applications in many fields, whether in solving crimes, paternity testing, or identifying human remains. It is also very important in medicine, where it is used to diagnose specific diseases, develop new vaccines, and treat cancer.

Thanks to technological developments, and in particular to the significant drop in the cost of simply "reading" DNA, everyone now has the opportunity to use DNA to learn about themselves. What makes us unique is written in our DNA molecules. But it's not just visible differences such as eye colour or height. It is mainly about predispositions to diseases, differences in drug metabolism, differences in response to different types of physical stress, or specifics in the body's response to the intake of important nutrients.