Click here to run GenExplorer applet

GenExplorer is a simulation that provides an opportunity for beginning students to understand the “central dogma” of molecular biology. The process by which information is extracted from the nucleotide sequence of a gene and used to make a protein is essentially the same for all living things on Earth and is described by the grandly named central dogma of molecular biology. The goal of this application is to help students visualize this very important concept. GenExplorer provides a graphically interactive environment for the students to interpret the information encoded in a DNA sequence. 

In order to interpret the information in a DNA sequence, the students input the sequence into GenExplorer. The program then starts scanning the sequence for promoter and terminator and graphically displays every step of gene expression (transcription, splicing and translation) from a nucleotide sequence into protein. GenExplorer provides students with the freedom to mutate a nucleotide sequence and track the effect of mutation down to the protein sequence. Students would also be able to visually interpret the involvement of a nucleotide base or a protein in each step of the entire process of gene expression.  

GenExplorer can be run in either strict mode (where single sequence exactly match - for easier interpretation) or relaxed mode (where mismatches are allowed – a closer simulation of real life). 

GenExplorer is designed such that even a naïve computer user can smoothly navigate and use all the features of the application. Other important software features include:

• Extreme robustness and reliability since it will be used by beginning students.
• Platform independence and ability to run on any browser application.
• Easy-to-use and colorful/animated GUI

GenExplorer when completed will be used by over 350 biology students a year in UMass itself.  GenExplorer is being designed and developed by a team of final year graduate students of Computer Science Department at UMass Boston.

Download Java Development Kit : http://java.sun.com/downloads/index.html