With this engaging online interactive game, participants work together to ensure the health and safety of a deep space crew while learning about the genetics of common disease. Touching Triton teaches the complexity of common disease risk from family history, environment and individual genomic profiles. Players begin to understand how genetics and lifestyle choices affect their health. Visit triton.hudsonalpha.org to play.
Touching Triton supports distance education by providing a platform in which students work together discontinuously to analyze family history, genetic risk factors and medical records for 6 crew members. Students gain an understanding that risk for many common diseases, such as colon cancer, age-related macular degeneration and heart disease include both genetic and environmental factors. During collaborative packing, students work together to pack within a limited space the items needed for the voyage. Items include medical equipment and treatments to keep crew members healthy during the 20 year mission. Teachers can monitor student progress in real time with a free educator account.
Touching Triton was made possible through funding from NIH Grant Number 8R25 0D018981-02, Lockheed Martin and HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology.
Teacher Tip:
Supports AL Biology COS Standard 11.c. Analyze and interpret data (e.g., pedigree charts, family and population studies) regarding Mendelian and complex genetic disorders (e.g., sickle-cell anemia, cystic fibrosis, type 2 diabetes) to determine patterns of genetic inheritance and disease risks from both genetic and environmental factors.