FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OnScreen DNA Turns Pro—New Release of Macintosh Visualization Software Now Available in Three Editions
SOMERVILLE, MA—January 25, 2007—OnScreen Science, Inc.® today announced that OnScreen DNA™, its interactive 3D visualization software designed to place understanding of the structure and workings of DNA within easy reach of Macintosh users, is now available in three editions. OnScreen DNA Lite™ deals with the structural details of DNA, including its double helix geometry and chemical components and bonds. OnScreen DNA adds 3D simulations of the critical DNA processes of replication and gene transcription. OnScreen DNA Pro™ empowers users to take control of those simulations by activating the proper enzymes and selecting and dragging into position the building blocks needed to construct a double helix. This release of version 1.0.2 (Universal) also includes minor bug fixes.
OnScreen DNA stands out as the only software available that combines a 3D on-screen model and a linear representation of the DNA strands within a tutorial framework, complete with on-screen tests whose results can be saved to disk. A review in the September 2006 issue of American Biology Teacher magazine called OnScreen DNA a "solid contribution to the repertoire of high quality classroom technology," noting that "the animation quality makes the software extremely engaging." While aimed primarily at high school and college biology teachers for use in classes or computer labs, OnScreen DNA can benefit anyone with an interest in this fundamental topic of modern biology. The division into three editions gives customers greater ability to choose the software that best suits their needs. The Pro edition allows users to test and develop their understanding by virtual hands-on activities, but a teacher mainly interested in a classroom demonstration, for example, might not feel the need for that feature.
Tutorial on-screen guides provide both background and step-by-step explanations of the simulated DNA processes. In all three editions, identification of any component of the DNA is simply obtained by clicking on it. Users can rotate the DNA model and zoom in or out to see it from different perspectives even while simulations with moving components are taking place. OnScreen DNA can serve as a supplement to other activities or as a self-contained guided tutorial on DNA's double helix structure, its chemical components, and its biological function. It can also be used for projecting lecture hall demonstrations of DNA processes to be paused and resumed at the teacher's command.
OnScreen DNA is a Universal Binary, getting maximum performance out of both PowerPC and Intel Macintoshes. It requires Mac OS 10.3.9 or greater, and a G4 processor or greater is recommended. OnScreen DNA Lite is also available for Windows XP, and the release of OnScreen DNA for the Windows platform will be made in February 2007, with the Pro version coming later in the year.
All three editions of OnScreen DNA are available from OnScreen Science, Inc., 46 Wallace St. Somerville, MA 02144 or online at www.onscreen-dna.com. The price for the Lite edition is $49, for the standard edition $149, and for the Pro edition $199. Ten-computer site licenses are available for about 3.5 times the cost of a single license. The original purchase price of any edition may be applied to the price of an upgrade, whether to an enhancement or to a site license.
OnScreen Science, Inc.® publishes Ph.D.-scientist-designed software for science education tasks particularly benefiting from computer simulations. In addition to OnScreen DNA™, the company also offers OnScreen Particle Physics™, a highly regarded simulation of a particle detection chamber for both the Windows and Macintosh platforms.