For some students, virtual labs replace hands-on science experiments - Carla Rivera, LA Times

Cal State L.A. biology students are breeding fruit flies to learn how mutations, such as white eyes or curved wings, are passed to future generations. On other campuses, subjects on treadmills are monitored for changes in blood pressure and heart rate. These are fairly common lab experiments, except for one thing: They are being conducted via computer. At colleges and universities across the country, students increasingly are using online simulations, animation and other technologies to replicate — and, some say, improve upon — the hands-on experience of a typical lab. http://www.latimes.com/local/education/la-me-college-labs-20141115-story.html