DNA Replication Game
Drag the matching bases onto the unzipped DNA strand to build the copy, or type your own sequence.
Press Unzip, then drag the matching bases from the tray onto the empty slots of the new strand.
About the DNA Replication Game
Free interactive DNA replication activity. Unzip the double helix, drag matching nucleotide bases onto the template strand, type your own DNA sequence, and learn base pairing. Built for biology, the dna replication game runs instantly in your browser: change a setting or drag an object and the result updates at once, so you learn by trying things out rather than only reading about them.
Drag the matching bases onto the unzipped DNA strand to build the copy, or type your own sequence. Use it to explore biology ideas at your own pace, then check what you found against the key ideas further down this page.
How to use the DNA Replication Game
- Use the controls to change Template sequence (A, T, G, C). The simulation reacts instantly.
- Press "Unzip (helicase)", "Random", "Auto-replicate", "Start again" to start, reset or change what is happening.
- Where you see a glowing handle, object, weight or atom, drag it with your mouse or finger. Everything responds in real time.
- Watch the readouts and graphs update as you experiment, and compare what you see with the key ideas below.
Things to try
- Press Unzip, then drag bases onto the template.
- Type your own sequence and copy it.
- Try a wrong base and read the feedback.
- Use Auto-replicate to watch the polymerase.
Key ideas you can learn
- Adenine pairs with thymine (A-T) and guanine pairs with cytosine (G-C).
- Helicase unzips the double helix and DNA polymerase adds matching bases to each strand.
- Replication is semi-conservative: each new DNA molecule keeps one old strand and one new strand.
Where this is used in the real world
DNA copying is the basis of growth, healing and inheritance. Lab techniques like PCR, used in COVID tests and forensics, copy DNA using the same rules.
Who is this simulation for?
Biology students and teachers who want to explore living systems, populations and genetics interactively and safely.
For teachers: project it on the board, let students predict what will happen, then run it together. For students: change one thing at a time and write down what changes.
Frequently asked questions
Why does replication use base pairing?
Each base can only pair with one partner, so each old strand is a template that fixes the sequence of the new strand exactly.
What does semi-conservative mean?
Each new DNA molecule contains one original strand and one newly made strand.
Is the DNA Replication Game free to use?
Yes. It is completely free, with no signup, no download and no ads inside the simulation. It runs in your web browser.
Does the DNA Replication Game work on a phone or tablet?
Yes. It uses touch as well as the mouse, so you can drag objects with your finger. A larger screen makes the controls easier to see.