I know this is long, but please take a few minutes to read this file.  I think you'll be pleased.

Ok, here's the basics:

	This is a program that took over two months of off and on writing for over the course of a year.  What you'll find in this program is a four-part genetics tutor that can be used by Biology students of any level to master the basics and not-so-basics of genetics.  The four parts are as follows:

1)	DNA match - you are given a 15 base segment of DNA and are required to enter in the matching (complimentary) sequence.

2)	RNA Synth - you are given a 15 base segment of DNA and are required to enter in the mRNA that would be synthesized by this segment.

3)	Amino Acid - you are given a codon (subset of 3 RNA bases) and are required to enter in the name of the corresponding amino acid.  SPELLING COUNTS!  (Also, if you can get more than say 3 out of 20 right, you are a GOD!)

4)	Gene Sequence - You are given a DNA sequencing gel and are required to enter in the DNA segment that generated this gel.  Instruction are included in detail within the program.

	Ok, now for the neat part.  Every section of this program operates on a random-seed generated set of data.  What that means is that every time you run this program you will get a DIFFERENT set of DNA/RNA/Codon set/DNA gel.  Thus this program can be used over and over again to learn these subjects.  It also keeps track of your work and scores you each time you go through a segment.  It also gives you the correct answers so you can see what it is you need to work on.

	To teachers:  This program is wonderful for the Biology teacher and AP Biology teacher alike.  At my High School, when I wrote this program, GENETUTR is used in both levels as labs for grades.  The students have NO way to cheat and alter the scores they receive on ANY section of the lab.  (Well, unless given A LOT of time to go through the 15 pages of code.  That's 15 pages PRINTED OUT!)

	To Students:  This program can help you get the basics down really strongly and I highly recommend it.

	To all:  This program is written in TI-Basic and no plans are in the work to translate this to any other Calculator language.  I may consider the TI-85 and TI-86, but the TI-82 is simply out of the question.  I don't have the patience to go through the rewriting that this would entail.

	If anyone has any questions feel free to email me (my email address is on the bottom of this file.)  Also, if any other fellow programmers out there take a look at this program and have any ideas on ways that I can speed it up or work any better (although I think it's pretty maxed out as-is) please let me know.  Happy studying!

Joe Hofman
Indiana University

jmhofman@indiana.edu