There were times when computers were big as a building and it required a degree to program them too, until the computer revolution came along.
Can't see why the same thing wouldn't happen with biotech.
I would move away from text-based programming and try a visual metaphor approach, especially on the ipad when touch/gesture are fundamentally easier for kids to learn, i.e. replace "grow" with growing animation of the dinosaur
Take a look at what http://launchpadtoys.com/toontastic/ is doing for animation/story-telling.