Virtual Bioengineer

About

Experience what it is do genetic engineering from the comfort of your chair or desk, in less than 30 minutes. You’ll get to see how microorganisms are genetically engineered to become micro-factories to produce products. You can choose one of two adventures: produce red ink, or banana scent. After you've completed the simulation, you can get a free Virtual Bioengineer certificate to show off!

Video Tutorial: https://youtu.be/cZnxsHL0QWg

After downloading the app you will interact with objects through drag and drop and clicking. Bottles, petri dishes, bacteria, DNA, and more. You will complete the duties a genetic engineer would while doing a basic task - engineering E. coli bacteria with a plasmid:

-Making LB agar plates
-Streak & grow bacteria
-Transform bacteria 
-Recover, plate, and incubate those cells
-See the bacteria grow!

Scientist and Nobel Laureate Richard Feynman famously said, "What I cannot create, I do not understand". Science is not just about researching the unknown, it is also about creating, and building with biology to create new and useful things.

Biology and living systems are amazing. One of the best ways to understand how they work is to engineer with them. Genetic engineering is just that! What is genetic engineering? How does one do genetic engineering? Virtual Bioengineer takes you through a genetic engineering journey. Learn how to grow bacteria and engineer them with DNA! In the end, you'll a glimpse of where modern medicine, food, and many materials come from.

Virtual Bioengineer can be used in middle school and high school classrooms, in the Do-It-Yourself Biology or Maker community, or in the home. Virtual bioengineer is being developed with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) in mind.

What this app is not:

Virtual Bioengineer does not teach you how to make GMO Food. Engineering plants requires additional steps after you have engineered bacteria. Virtual Bioengineer does however get you started on this and further applications are being considered. If you have any ideas, content, or app suggestions, email [email protected].

Key Features:

-quick and concise exercise - (20-30 minutes or less)
-very inexpensive (free) introduction to lab exercises through interacting with objects
-when you make a mistake you get feedback
-there is extra hidden information throughout Virtual Bioengineer
-learn vocabulary, methods, and products/consumables that are used in lab environments
-Virtual Bioengineer is a simulation of a real life exercise that can be done.
-if this seems a bit advanced, start with “What is DNA?” Chrome app

By Justin Pahara & Julie Legault