Pikeville, N.C. — Two Wayne County Public Schools teachers have been selected to have UNC-Chapel Hill "DNA Day Ambassadors" visit their classrooms on April 25.

Charles B Aycock High School biology teachers Julie West and Christy Collins were among 65 teachers statewide selected to have a UNC scientist talk to their students about DNA.

The "DNA Day Ambassadors" include one to two graduate students or postdoctoral fellows conducting research in the biomedical sciences. They will share information about themselves and their research area, as well as have a hands-on DNA Day activity in the classroom.

Their visit is in celebration of National DNA Day. The day was created to commemorate the completion of the Human Genome Project in April 2003, and the discovery of DNA's double helix. 

The National Human Genome Research Institute participates in National DNA Day by sending researchers out to high schools across the country. Each year, the NHGRI selects a region of the country to send ambassadors, with the goal to establish new relationships with teachers and schools.

This year, ambassadors will travel to North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida and Georgia.

"We are very excited that a program of this caliber would choose one of our schools to visit," said Ralph Smith, WCPS lead science teacher.