Three kinds of microbe, three simulators
The Virtual Bacteria Simulator grows sixteen real species through the growth curve and lets you Gram stain them, test antibiotics and watch genes move between cells. The Virus Virtual Lab cuts open seventeen viruses, from phage T4 to SARS-CoV-2, and follows the lytic and lysogenic cycles. The Virtual Amoeba Simulator is a single living cell that crawls, feeds, balances its water and splits in two.
Which simulation for which topic
| Topic | Open |
|---|---|
| Bacterial cells, growth curves, Gram staining, antibiotics | Virtual Bacteria Simulator |
| Virus structure, replication, plaque assays | Virus Virtual Lab |
| Soil bacteria: nitrogen fixation, nitrification, denitrification | Nitrogen Cycle Simulator |
| Protists, pseudopods, contractile vacuoles | Virtual Amoeba Simulator |
| Pond water and slides under the microscope | Virtual Microscope |
Safe practicals with no culture
Real microbiology needs aseptic technique, an incubator and days of waiting. Here a Kirby–Bauer plate, a serial dilution or a plaque assay runs in minutes, with the same numbers a real one gives, so students can plan the method, predict the result and check it before they meet the real thing.
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