About this course: Introduction to Genetics and Evolution is a college-level class being offered simultaneously to new students at Duke University. The course gives interested people a very basic overview of some principles behind these very fundamental areas of biology. We often hear about new "genome sequences," commercial kits that can tell you about your ancestry (including pre-human) from your DNA or disease predispositions, debates about the truth of evolution, why animals behave the way they do, and how people found "genetic evidence for natural selection." This course provides the basic biology you need to understand all of these issues better, tries to clarify some misconceptions, and tries to prepare students for future, more advanced coursework in Biology (and especially evolutionary genetics). No prior coursework is assumed.
Created by: Duke University
Taught by: Mohamed Noor, Earl D. McLean Professor and Chair,
Biology
| Language | English, Subtitles: Romanian |
| How To Pass | Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. |
| User Ratings |
Syllabus
WEEK 1
Welcome to Genetics and Evolution
General introduction to this MOOC, including coverage and expectations.
2 readings
Evidence for Evolution
This module discusses the definition of the word "evolution" in a biological context, evidence for the truth of evolution and common ancestry of species, and public thoughts and misconceptions about biological evolution. This module is optional and will not be...
5 videos, 1 reading
WEEK 2
Genetics I
An introduction to basic transmission genetics and inheritance. This module reflects what is often covered in high school biology courses in the USA.
6 videos, 1 reading, 1 reading
Graded: Genetics I Quiz
WEEK 3
Genetics II
This module delves somewhat more deeply into genetics and specifically the concept of "recombination." It begins to discuss how recombination is leveraged in classic genetic works as well as mapping simple genetic traits using crosses or data from natural popu...
7 videos, 1 reading, 1 reading
Graded: Genetics II Quiz
WEEK 4
Genetics III
This module delves even more deeply into the complexities of the genetics underlying traits,the origin of genetic variation, and how "complex" traits (ones controlled by multiple genes) are studied genetically.
6 videos, 1 reading, 1 reading
Graded: Genetics III Quiz
WEEK 5
Heritability and Population Growth
This module begins the transition to evolutionary genetics by looking at the relative contributions of genetics and environment to traits, and also introduces how population growth is studied.
6 videos, 1 reading, 1 reading
Graded: Heritability Quiz
WEEK 6
Population Genetics I
Rather than looking at individuals, this module discusses how multiple individuals from natural populations can be studied genetically to begin to understand the evolutionary forces acting upon the populations.
6 videos, 1 reading, 1 reading
Graded: Population Genetics Quiz
WEEK 7
Population Genetics II
This module extends the previous one to specifically examine the effects of natural selection and genetic drift on genetic variation in natural populations.
7 videos, 1 reading, 1 reading
Graded: Population Genetics II Quiz
WEEK 8
Molecular Evolution
This advanced module explains why sexual reproduction (involving recombination) is evolutionarily advantageous, and discusses how the analysis of DNA sequences can be used to understand the evolutionary forces acting on populations or species, either in genera...
7 videos, 1 reading, 1 reading
Graded: Molecular Evolution Quiz
WEEK 9
Adaptive Behaviors and Sexual Selection
This module changes gears a bit to look at the exciting field of animal behavior-- specifically, how particular behaviors are or may be adaptive, and why individuals choose particular others as mates.
5 videos, 1 reading, 1 reading
Graded: Adaptive Behaviors and Sexual Selection Quiz
WEEK 10
Speciation and Phylogenetics
This module gets into the nitty gritty of what causes the formation of new species, and how evolutionary relationships between species are inferred.
6 videos, 1 reading, 1 reading
Graded: Speciation and Phylogenetics Quiz
WEEK 11
Applied Evolution
This final module talks about applications and misapplications of many of the concepts discussed in the course to human health, understanding, and well-being. This module is optional and not included in the assessments.
2 videos, 1 reading
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