Bioinformatics concepts needed to become more approachable for high school students.
HudsonAlpha saw a gap in educational resources for teaching bioinformatics to high school students.
Bioinformatics plays a critical role in modern clinical research and patient care, but the concepts can be difficult to teach through traditional classroom materials alone. Students need to understand how computational tools are used to store, manage, query, compare, and interpret biological data.
The business problem was not simply, “Can we explain bioinformatics?”
It was: How do we turn complex genomics and computational biology concepts into an engaging learning experience students can understand, explore, and remember?
HudsonAlpha did not need a simple educational website. They needed a serious game that could make complex science accessible, interactive, and memorable for high school biology students.
Students needed to experience bioinformatics as a real problem-solving discipline.
Bioinformatics is central to modern science. It helps researchers analyze DNA sequences, identify genetic variants, compare organisms across evolutionary history, and understand how sequence changes affect biological outcomes.
For students, those ideas can feel abstract until they are placed inside a scenario where the tools matter.
FILTERED gives students a mission. They become entry-level data scientists working in a laboratory to uncover genomic insights into a deadly virus and a group of humans resistant to infection.
That structure helps connect classroom concepts to real-world scientific thinking.
“Trusting Keysys with programming our latest high quality, scientifically-based learning game, Filtered, was the right decision. Keysys is a willing and engaged collaborator that brings the creativity, style, and the talent we need.”
FILTERED, a cross-platform serious game for bioinformatics education
KEYSYS partnered with HudsonAlpha to design and develop FILTERED, an educational game that teaches bioinformatics through interactive gameplay.
The game teaches computational tools used for storing, managing, and querying biological data. It integrates ideas from engineering, biology, computer science, statistics, and mathematics to help students retain concepts through applied problem-solving.
KEYSYS’ team, led by Guy Archibald and Zac Bragg, used the Unity framework to craft FILTERED into an interactive, engaging, bioinformatics-centered game.
The development took place over a five-year partnership between HudsonAlpha and KEYSYS.
Instead of presenting bioinformatics as a lecture, FILTERED turns the student into a participant in the scientific process.
- → Serious game for high school bioinformatics education
- → Cross-platform access through tablets, mobile devices, and web browsers
- → Unity-based game development
- → Interactive levels and puzzle-based learning
- → DNA sequence alignment concepts
- → Genetic variant identification
- → Evolutionary sequence comparison
- → Sequence change impact assessment
- → Interdisciplinary learning across biology, computer science, engineering, statistics, and mathematics
- → Real-world mission built around virus classification, resistance, and treatment strategy
From abstract science concepts to interactive genomic problem-solving
Students take on the role of entry-level data scientists working to investigate a deadly virus.
Gameplay introduces tools that align DNA sequences, identify variants, compare sequences, and assess biological impact.
Students encounter puzzles that help them understand each tool’s purpose, strengths, and limitations.
Once students master the concepts, they can classify the virus, identify human variants associated with resistance, and propose a treatment strategy.
What could have been a difficult classroom concept becomes an interactive learning mission where students apply real scientific reasoning.
FILTERED helps students connect biology lessons to real-world science
FILTERED gives thousands of high school biology students a way to use 21st-century skills to explore real scientific problems.
Through gameplay, students synthesize evidence from molecular biology, human genetics, population biology, and evolution. That helps them connect classroom lessons with personal interests and real-world applications.
In 2023, FILTERED received the Educators Pick Best of STEM award. Teachers responded positively to the way the platform combined fun and education while sparking interest in STEM subjects.
- Students learn bioinformatics through an interactive game instead of a static lesson
- The mission format helps make complex science feel relevant and memorable
- Puzzles reinforce the purpose, strengths, and limits of bioinformatics tools
- Students apply concepts from multiple scientific and technical disciplines
- Thousands of high school biology students can benefit each year
- FILTERED gives teachers a practical tool for introducing modern genomics and data science
- HudsonAlpha saw a gap in high school bioinformatics resources
- Complex biological data concepts were difficult to teach through traditional materials alone
- Students needed to understand computational tools used in modern genomics
- The learning experience needed to connect biology, data, and real-world problem solving
- HudsonAlpha needed a development partner to bring the game vision to life
- KEYSYS helped design and develop FILTERED using Unity
- Students can access the game through tablets, mobile devices, and web browsers
- Gameplay teaches DNA alignment, variant identification, sequence comparison, and biological impact
- Students solve puzzles as entry-level data scientists investigating a deadly virus
- FILTERED is used in high school biology classrooms nationwide and won a 2023 Educators Pick Best of STEM award