- Home
- Biology Learning Software
- StarGenetics
StarGenetics
What it is
StarGenetics is a free Mendelian genetics cross simulator for teaching experimental design and genetics concepts. Its stated audience runs from high school biology through advanced undergraduate biology. Visualizers are available for cow, fish, fly, peas, a smiley face, and yeast. Instructor materials address genetic crosses, Punnett squares, complementation, epistasis, gene linkage and mapping, and tetrad analysis. Teachers can customize exercises with Excel workbooks in XLS format. The Punnett Square tool summarizes expected genotypic distributions for monohybrid and dihybrid crosses. Fly results can be inspected individually, sorted by sex and phenotype, or summarized by phenotype. DNA-marker mapping is available in the Fly and Fish visualizers. Experiments can be saved and reopened, while Excel export is available only for Fly exercises. MIT recommends Java Web Start and provides Linux, Windows, and Mac downloads for users with limited internet connectivity. The software is also accessible through the web. An in-app suggestions form accepts bug reports, feature requests, comments, and questions.
For and against
For
- Free web access and downloadable versions
- Supports multiple organism visualizers
- Custom exercises use XLS workbooks
- Includes Punnett Square summaries
- Experiments can be saved and reopened
Against
- Excel export is limited to Fly exercises
- DNA markers are only in Fly and Fish
- Some downloads use Java Web Start
The verdict
StarGenetics provides classroom-focused simulations for Mendelian crosses, with instructor customization and several analysis views. Its organism coverage and export options vary by visualizer.
Who it suits
It is designed for biology learners from high school through advanced undergraduate study, as well as instructors creating genetics exercises. Teachers who need customizable crosses and saved experiments may find its tools relevant.
Plans and prices
Free
Web access · downloadable Linux, Windows and macOS versions · no paid tiers listed
Read 15 Oct 2026 · web.mit.edu
StarGenetics
Freely accessible via the web; downloadable Linux, Windows, and Mac versions
Read 29 Sep 2026 · web.mit.edu
On the record
- Audience
- The site describes use for high school biology through advanced undergraduate biology.web.mit.edu · read 29 Sep 2026
- Connectivity
- MIT recommends Java Web Start and offers operating-system downloads for users with limited internet connectivity.web.mit.edu · read 29 Sep 2026
- Custom exercises
- Instructors can create exercises by editing Excel 97-2004 workbooks that define organisms, genotypes, phenotypes and gene interactions.web.mit.edu · read 15 Oct 2026
- Data export
- Excel export is available only for fly exercises.web.mit.edu · read 15 Oct 2026
- DNA markers
- DNA-marker functionality is provided for the fly and fish visualizers.web.mit.edu · read 15 Oct 2026
- Documentation depth
- The official manual documents setup, crosses, Punnett squares, yeast workflows, saving, exporting and feedback procedures.web.mit.edu · read 15 Oct 2026
- Experiment analysis
- Fly mating results can be viewed individually, sorted by sex and phenotype, or summarized by phenotype.web.mit.edu · read 29 Sep 2026
- Feedback support
- The application includes a form for bug reports, feature requests, comments and questions.web.mit.edu · read 15 Oct 2026
- Genetics coverage
- Instructor materials list dominance, codominance, incomplete dominance, sex linkage, epistasis, linked genes, mapping, regulatory pathways, chi-square and tetrad analysis.web.mit.edu · read 15 Oct 2026
- Genetics topics
- Instructor resources list concepts including genetic crosses, Punnett squares, complementation, epistasis, gene linkage and mapping, and tetrad analysis.web.mit.edu · read 29 Sep 2026
- Independent classroom use
- A Maryknoll School lab handout says instructors selected StarGenetics for a multi-week fruit-fly exercise sequence.coursehero.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Independent curriculum use
- A Universitat de València assignment uses StarGenetics to analyze autosomal, sex-linked, dominant, recessive, multi-locus and epistatic inheritance and recombination frequencies.studocu.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Independent learning outcomes
- The same handout uses StarGenetics to teach phenotype identification, dominance, genotype assignment, zygosity, Punnett-square ratios and sample-size effects.coursehero.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Independent research use
- A Portuguese master's dissertation describes StarGenetics as a virtual laboratory for teaching heredity with Drosophila.iconline.ipleiria.pt · read 15 Oct 2026
- Independent software description
- MERLOT categorizes StarGenetics as a Java simulation for high-school and college genetics instruction and lists no mobile compatibility.merlot.org · read 15 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- The documented extension point is Excel workbook authoring; no web-service integrations are described.web.mit.edu · read 15 Oct 2026
- Licence status
- MERLOT lists the source code as unavailable and Creative Commons licensing as unavailable, so the application is not presented there as open source.merlot.org · read 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: Chromebook support
- The Maryknoll handout warns that Java programs do not run on Chromebooks.coursehero.com · read 15 Oct 2026
