2. Execute - Bio-Inspired Solutions to Genetic Diseases
In the Execute phase, students move from understanding genetic diseases to actively exploring how nature itself inspires solutions to genetic challenges. Living organisms have evolved powerful mechanisms to protect, repair, and regulate their genetic information. By studying these natural processes, students can better understand how modern biotechnology and medicine attempt to mimic, enhance, or adapt them to treat genetic diseases.
2.3 Suggested AR-based exercises and activities
Exercise 1: DNA Repair – Learning from Nature
Students explore an AR model of DNA damage caused by a mutation. They activate natural DNA repair pathways and observe how cells detect and fix errors. Students then compare natural repair mechanisms with human-designed gene therapies, identifying similarities and differences
Students explore an AR model of DNA damage caused by a mutation. They activate natural DNA repair pathways and observe how cells detect and fix errors. Students then compare natural repair mechanisms with human-designed gene therapies, identifying similarities and differences
Exercise 2: Protein Structure and Function
Using AR, students manipulate 3D protein models to compare healthy and mutated proteins. By rotating and zooming in on molecular structures, learners observe how small genetic changes can lead to large functional consequences, such as protein misfolding.
Using AR, students manipulate 3D protein models to compare healthy and mutated proteins. By rotating and zooming in on molecular structures, learners observe how small genetic changes can lead to large functional consequences, such as protein misfolding.
Exercise 3: Gene Editing Simulation
Students simulate a gene-editing process inspired by natural DNA repair. They select a faulty gene, apply a virtual “repair tool,” and observe the before-and-after effects on gene expression and cell behavior. This exercise emphasizes precision, limits, and ethical considerations.
Students simulate a gene-editing process inspired by natural DNA repair. They select a faulty gene, apply a virtual “repair tool,” and observe the before-and-after effects on gene expression and cell behavior. This exercise emphasizes precision, limits, and ethical considerations.
Exercise 4: From Cell to Organism
Students follow the effects of a corrected gene from a single cell to tissue and organ level. AR visualization shows how restoring a gene can improve organ function, helping students connect molecular events with real-world health outcomes.
Students follow the effects of a corrected gene from a single cell to tissue and organ level. AR visualization shows how restoring a gene can improve organ function, helping students connect molecular events with real-world health outcomes.
Exercise 5: Designing an AR Quiz: Genetic Diseases – Challenges and Solutions
In this exercise, students design and build an interactive AR-based quiz focused on genetic diseases, their causes, challenges, and possible solutions. Using Delightex, learners create a test that combines scientific questions with 3D visualizations of DNA, genes, proteins, and cells.
Students develop quiz scenarios, write multiple-choice or decision-based questions, and connect each question to AR models that demonstrate genetic mutations, protein misfolding, and gene-editing outcomes. The quiz includes a points and lives system, where correct answers earn points and incorrect choices reduce lives, providing immediate feedback and encouraging careful reasoning.
Students develop quiz scenarios, write multiple-choice or decision-based questions, and connect each question to AR models that demonstrate genetic mutations, protein misfolding, and gene-editing outcomes. The quiz includes a points and lives system, where correct answers earn points and incorrect choices reduce lives, providing immediate feedback and encouraging careful reasoning.
In this exercise, students design and build an interactive AR-based quiz focused on genetic diseases, their causes, challenges, and possible solutions. Using Delightex, learners create a test that combines scientific questions with 3D visualizations of DNA, genes, proteins, and cells.
Students develop quiz scenarios, write multiple-choice or decision-based questions, and connect each question to AR models that demonstrate genetic mutations, protein misfolding, and gene-editing outcomes. The quiz includes a points and lives system, where correct answers earn points and incorrect choices reduce lives, providing immediate feedback and encouraging careful reasoning.
Students develop quiz scenarios, write multiple-choice or decision-based questions, and connect each question to AR models that demonstrate genetic mutations, protein misfolding, and gene-editing outcomes. The quiz includes a points and lives system, where correct answers earn points and incorrect choices reduce lives, providing immediate feedback and encouraging careful reasoning.