VCell is a free iPad published by a team of scientists and developers at North Dakota State University. The purpose of the app is to provide a place where students can learn about cellular respiration, protein expression, and RNA expression. Within each heading there are subtopics for students to choose. For example, if a student selects RNA Expression he or she then has to select from the menu of mRNA splicing, mRNA processing, transcription, and regulation of transcription. Once a selection is made students can watch a video, browse a slideshow, and read about the topic. To test their understanding of the topics students can take a short quiz at the end of each topic.
VCell probably isn’t going to win any awards for its aesthetics. Aside from that it’s a good free iPad app that high school students can use as reference and review app.
