📖 Diffy Books · free · read or listen
The Code of Life
Chapter 2, The Recipe Inside, shows how A pairs with T and C with G, and how DNA copies itself.
A gentler start for ages 8+.
Read the chapter →Chapter 2: The Recipe Inside · about 5 min
Biology & DNAAges 11–16
GeneLab: the free DNA and molecular-biology game for teens
Start here: Atoms of Life · Which six elements build you? Eight quick questions. · About 3 minutes
Play Atoms of Life →No account needed · Nothing to download.
GeneLab builds molecular biology from the ground up, one level at a time. Learners go from the atoms of life through nucleotides, base pairing, transcription, and translation, all the way to protein structure and a single-letter mutation that causes sickle-cell. Start with Level 1, Atoms of Life: eight quick questions, about three minutes. Aimed at middle and high school, it's free and has no ads. Diffy measures product use to improve the service.
No ads, ever
Product use measured
Free to play
Plays in any browser
What kids learn
- The elements of life (CHNOPS) and how a nucleotide is assembled
- Base-pairing rules (A-T, G-C, and A-U in RNA) and hydrogen bonding
- Transcription and reading mRNA in codon triplets using the genetic code
- Translation and how peptide bonds link amino acids into proteins
- The four levels of protein structure and how enzymes work
- How point mutations are classified and how one base change causes sickle-cell
How it works
Each level is a sequence of multiple-choice steps: an instruction appears, kids tap the right answer, and a teaching note explains it. Answering in order animates a stage visual — a nucleotide assembling, a strand filling in, a peptide chain growing — so the quiz feels like building the molecule. Stars reflect the share of first-try correct answers.
Kids can play without signing in; guest stars stay until you reload or close the page. A grown-up signs in once and adds a player for each kid, so GeneLab's stars and progress save to your account and follow you to any device.
Read the comic that goes with it
Also try
- AtomForgeAges 11–16
Explore atoms, ions and molecules in 14 quick chemistry levels.
Play AtomForge → - KinetixAges 9–14
Launch, balance, roll and crash — real physics you can play with.
Play Kinetix →
Ready to play GeneLab?
It's free and has no ads. Diffy measures product use to improve the service. Ages 11–16.