Progenitor X

Progenitor X is a narrative-driven, turn-based, puzzle-solving game where the player will learn about the relationships between cells, tissues, and organs. This scientific concept is a core biology science standard taught from middle school to college. By employing turn-based puzzle mechanics, Progenitor X seeks to attract broad audiences from middle school through college, and teachers might use Progenitor X to teach everything from basic biology to advanced stem cell concepts.

Progenitor X also takes a leap into the future and explores potential advances in Regenerative Medicine and Medical Device Engineering that will surely be of interest to the broad public. Using abstract, conceptual principles derived from Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell research, the player will develop a basic understanding of the process by which adult human skin cells are taken and reprogrammed to become one of over 200 different human cell types. The scientific content of Progenitor X is based on research being conducted at the Morgridge Institute for Research and the Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.

Topics covered by the game:

• Cells - the basic structural and functional unit of all known living organisms. It is the smallest unit of life that is classified as a living thing, and is often called the building block of life.

• Stem Cells - cells with the ability to divide for indefinite periods in culture and to give rise to specialized cells.

• Tissues - a cellular organizational level between cells and a complete organism. A tissue is an ensemble of cells, not necessarily identical, but from the same origin, which together carry out a specific function.

• Organs - a structure that contains at least two different types of tissue functioning together for a common purpose. The heart, liver, and skin are examples of the different types of organs in the human body.

• Regenerative Medicine - is a treatment in which stem cells are induced to differentiate into the specific cell type required to repair damaged or destroyed cell populations or tissues.

This description was provided by the developer.