How to integrate CS when learning about DNA/RNA/protein I'm looking for activities that can integrate computer science into lessons about DNA, RNA, and proteins in a middle school (ages 12 to 14) science class. Our school is using the NGSS and CSTA standards. The students understand a few basic concepts about these topics, but they're generally beginners.

The activities should


Reinforce or teach computer science age-appropriate knowledge, skills, concepts, and practices
Reinforce or teach about DNA, RNA, or protein molecules and the processes that relate to them
Demonstrate the interdisciplinary nature of computer science 
Engage students with active learning
Create a DNA-like representation for the alphabet

This activity establishes a background experience that can later be used when teaching that DNA and computer data are sequences of discrete values. Each student picks three colors and creates a 27-character table showing all permutations of "codons" of the colors, akin to the 4^3 DNA codons representing amino acids. This activity was implemented in a U.S. grade 7 science classroom. An example of the student work is shown below, although the printed worksheet was revised after the pilot to make more explicit connections to both computer science and genetics. 

Sample student work: