Learning Objectives
Students can describe how natural selection works and what is required for it to take place.
Students can define mutations, genetic variation, and fitness.
Students can avoid the common misconceptions of essentialism and teleology.
About Perfect Strain
In Perfect Strain, players take the role of a microbiologist in the far future, cleaning up a toxic Earth by breeding pollution-consuming bacteria. Students discover strategies to breed certain bacterial strains in a virtual world.
The bacteria are constantly reproducing and mutating in real time. These mutations are based on real traits exhibited by this kind of organism in nature. Each mission in the game presents new tools and strategies for the player to use. By applying these tools to the bacteria, students can encourage the development of certain traits and then use those traits to achieve their goal.
Use this game in your classroom with our free lesson: https://learn.k20center.ou.edu/lesson/325.
Media
Game Resources
In addition to full implementation support, the K20 Center provides the following documents to help instructors effectively integrate Perfect Strain into their classrooms:
Download AllK20 Game Based Learning
To use K20 Games in your classroom free of charge, please click the button below and create an account on the K20 Game Portal.
Get GamesAwards and Publications
Lookadoo, K. L., Bostwick, E. N., Ralston, R., Elizondo Cecena, F. J., Wilson, S., Shaw, T. J., Jensen, M. L. (2017). “I Forgot I Wasn’t Saving the World”: The Use of Formative and Summative Assessment in Instructional Video Games for Undergraduate Biology. Journal of Science Education and Technology, 26(6), 597-612. DOI: 10.1007/s10956-017-9701-5.
Game Support
If you have an issue with any GBL product, click the button below to visit our support page. From there, you can view frequently ask questions, access useful guides, or contact support.
Request Support