CRISPR & Sickle Cell Experience
Explore how scientists can treat sickle cell disease using CRISPR technology. Zoom into the human body and see cells and molecules.
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Topics covered:
✓ Gene expression
✓ Transcription
✓ Translation
✓ CRISPR gene editing
✓ Sickle cell disease
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Systems of specialized cells within organisms help them perform the essential functions of life.
All cells contain genetic information in the form of DNA molecules. Genes are regions in the DNA that contain the instructions that code for the formation of proteins, which carry out most of the work of cells.
Multicellular organisms have a hierarchical structural organization, in which any one system is made up of numerous parts and is itself a component of the next level.
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Each chromosome consists of a single very long DNA molecule, and each gene on the chromosome is a particular segment of that DNA. The instructions for forming species’ characteristics are carried in DNA. All cells in an organism have the same genetic content, but the genes used (expressed) by the cell may be regulated in different ways. Not all DNA codes for a protein; some segments of DNA are involved in regulatory or structural functions, and some have no as-yet known function.
NGSS Standards
Based on research from
10 Immersive Environments
Our 3D worlds comprise of multiple linked environments for students to zoom into and explore, connecting the macro with micro contexts for understanding.
Human Body
Our simulation begins with a theoretical sickle cell patient. On the left is our patient and on the right is the patient's chart.
Bone Surface
From the surface of the bone, we can zoom into a blood vessel or the bone marrow to find blood cells, sickle cells, and stems cells.
Capillary
The blood vessel splits and you see good blood flow on the left side, but on the right side cells are stuck and piling up. What is causing the blockage?
Bone Marrow
In the bone marrow, you'll see a lot of red blood cells and blood stem cells. There are also sickle cells here to zoom further into.
Sickle Cell
Inside the sickle cell, you are surrounded by sickle hemoglobin, but they are in thick rigid fibers rather than floating freely.
Red Blood Cell
Inside the red blood cells, you can see unhealthy sickle hemoglobin that are floating around and starting to stick together.
Stem Cell
In the stem cell, you will see many organelles such as mitochondria and kinesins transporting cargos along the microtubules, golgi apparatus, and the nucleus.
Nucleus
In the nucleus, you see the mutated hemoglobin gene in the DNA that causes sickle cell anemai, as well as RNA, and the CRISPR protein.
ER
Enter the endoplasmic reticulum to see ribosome moving along strands of mRNA, surrounded by floating hemoglobin, sickle hemoglobin and tRNA.
Treat with CRISPR CAS-9
Launch the CRISPR treatment and watch as the CRISPR protein finds its target and cuts the DNA, is displaced and replaced with healthy DNA to fix the mutated DNA.
AI Voice Guide
Students are guided through every experience by our AI Guide which audibly informs, instructs and prompts them with questions throughout.
Real-time Feedback & Reporting
Students answer the prompts verbally. AI gives them real-time feedback, and surfaces their understanding in the Educator Dashboard.
Immersive & Interactive
Every object is interactable in each environment. As students explore, they can select elements to learn about them in context.
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