Your Diet and Your DNA simulation centres on the food choices of two students and how these choices might be impacting their performance and health.
It uses the inquiry model to investigate in the laboratory how healthy and unhealthy diets can impact DNA health and what that can mean for short and long-term health, well-being and risk of disease, such as cancer and cardiovascular disease.
The simulation can be used across the sciences to develop science inquiry skills and it also covers specific content that links to senior Biological Sciences and Health and Human Development curricular.
The simulation
- provides students with an engaging virtual laboratory experience that helps develop general and specialist science skills, both conceptual and laboratory based including:
- Flow cytometry
- Micro-pipetting
- Histology slide preparation
- Microscopy
- Diet planning
- enables equal access to cutting edge research and laboratory equipment in a simulated laboratory environment for students
- supports familiarisation with a laboratory environment and the development of laboratory health and safety processes (e.g. wearing PPE and using a sharps bin)
- assists with developing data interpretation skills
- raises awareness of CSIRO Health and Biosecurity research
Simulation Features
Taking approximately 30 – 45 minutes to complete the simulation features two different interactive experiments, short videos, digestion animation, molecule visualisations, quizzes and access to theory pages.
Simulation fundamentals
Suggested year level and subject areas include Years 10 – 12 with content focus on senior Biological Science and Health and Human Development curricular.
The simulation is supported by an Australian Curriculum linked teacher guide.
Download the Your Diet and Your DNA Teacher Guide PDF (2 MB)
The Your Diet and Your DNA simulation is the result of a collaboration between CSIRO Education & Outreach, CSIRO Health and Biosecurity, and Danish virtual simulation technology company - Labster™
Our Collaborators
