Chronic wasting disease was first detected in the state’s wild deer populations about 15 years ago. Since then, the disease remains an enigma for many Minnesotans, and most are still unfamiliar with the basics of how the disease works or what role they can play in stopping its spread. A new video game soon to be piloted in high schools across the state aims to answer those questions.

CWD is a neurological disease in deer, elk and moose that slowly destroys their nervous system. It’s not caused by a virus or bacteria but a misfolded protein that’s gone awry called a prion. Moose, elk and deer can get it by coming in contact with an infected animal’s body fluids physically or environmentally.

Once CWD enters its host, it binds to proteins already inside its body. Since those proteins occur

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