PraxiLabs vs StarGenetics

PraxiLabs provides virtual science labs and educational content for learners and education providers. Its simulations cover biology, chemistry, and physics, with more than 220 available in the Semester and Annual plans. Learners interact with experiments in 3D, can repeat them, track progress, and receive immediate feedback. Oxi, described as a virtual science lab partner, provides personalized guidance during simulations. The platform also includes multiple-choice quizzes and assessments, reports, and analytics. Individual subscriptions are limited to one user: the Free Plan gives one month of access to three simulations, while the Monthly Plan provides any 10 simulations. Semester and Annual plans include access to all 220-plus simulations. The School plan lists Moodle, Blackboard, and other LMS integrations, plus a built-in mini-LMS; Teacher and University plans are also offered by quote. PraxiLabs runs online in a modern browser on a computer or laptop, with no installation required. The Free Plan costs nothing, the Monthly Plan $6.99 a month, the Semester Plan $29.99 a month, and the Annual Plan $44.99 a year.

StarGenetics is a free simulator for Mendelian genetics crosses, intended to teach genetics concepts and experimental design. Its stated audience ranges from high school biology to advanced undergraduate biology. Students can use visualizers for cows, fish, flies, peas, a smiley face and yeast. Instructor resources cover genetic crosses, Punnett squares, complementation, epistasis, gene linkage and mapping, and tetrad analysis. Instructors can customize exercises using Excel workbooks in XLS format. The Punnett Square tool summarizes expected genotypic distributions for monohybrid and dihybrid crosses. Fly mating results can be viewed individually, sorted by sex and phenotype, or summarized by phenotype; DNA markers for genetic mapping are available in the Fly and Fish visualizers. Experiments can be saved to a file and reopened later. Excel export is limited to Fly exercises. StarGenetics is accessible through the web and downloadable for Linux, Windows and macOS. MIT recommends Java Web Start and provides operating-system downloads for users with limited internet connectivity. Users can submit bug reports, feature requests, comments or questions through the in-app suggestions form.