In the previous course in the Specialization, we learned how to compare genes, proteins, and genomes. One way we can use these methods is in order to construct a "Tree of Life" showing how a large collection of related organisms have evolved over time.
This course is part of the Bioinformatics Specialization
Molecular Evolution (Bioinformatics IV)
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About this Course
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Beginner Level
Approx. 20 hours to complete
English
Subtitles: English, Spanish
Offered by
University of California San Diego
UC San Diego is an academic powerhouse and economic engine, recognized as one of the top 10 public universities by U.S. News and World Report. Innovation is central to who we are and what we do. Here, students learn that knowledge isn't just acquired in the classroom—life is their laboratory.
Syllabus - What you will learn from this course
3 hours to complete
Week 1: Introduction to Evolutionary Tree Construction
<p>Welcome to our class!</p><p>In this class, we will consider the following two central biological questions (the computational approaches needed to solve them are shown in parentheses):</p><ol><li>Weeks 1-3: Which Animal Gave Us SARS? (<i>Evolutionary tree construction</i>)</li><li>Weeks 4-5: Was <em>T. rex</em> Just a Big Chicken? (<em>Combinatorial Algorithms</em>)</li></ol><p>In Week 6, you will complete a Bioinformatics Application Challenge to apply evolutionary tree construction algorithms in order to determine the origin of the recent ebola outbreak in Africa.</p><p>As in previous courses, each of these two chapters is accompanied by a Bioinformatics Cartoon created by talented artist Randall Christopher and serving as a chapter header in the Specialization's bestselling <a href="http://bioinformaticsalgorithms.com" target="_blank">print companion</a>. You can find the first chapter's cartoon at the bottom of this message. What do stick bugs and bats have to do with deadly viruses? And how can bioinformatics be used to stop these viruses in their tracks? Start learning today and find out!</p><p><img src="http://bioinformaticsalgorithms.com/images/cover/evolution_cropped.jpg" title="Image: http://bioinformaticsalgorithms.com/images/cover/evolution_cropped.jpg" width="528"></p>
3 hours to complete
5 videos (Total 34 min), 2 readings, 3 quizzes
5 videos
The Fastest Outbreak 5m
Transforming Distance Matrices into Evolutionary Trees 6m
Toward an Algorithm for Distance-Based Phylogeny Construction 8m
Additive Phylogeny 9m
2 readings
Course Details10m
Week 1 FAQs (Optional)
1 practice exercise
Week 1 Quiz15m
3 hours to complete
Week 2: More Algorithms for Constructing Trees from Distance Matrices
<p>Welcome to Week 2 of class!</p>
3 hours to complete
3 videos (Total 17 min), 1 reading, 3 quizzes
3 videos
Ultrametric Trees 6m
The Neighbor-Joining Algorithm 7m
1 reading
Week 2 FAQs (Optional)
1 practice exercise
Week 2 Quiz15m
4 hours to complete
Week 3: Constructing Evolutionary Trees from Characters
<p>Welcome to week 3 of class!</p>
4 hours to complete
4 videos (Total 20 min), 1 reading, 3 quizzes
4 videos
The Small Parsimony Algorithm 8m
The Large Parsimony Algorithm 3m
Evolutionary Tree Reconstruction in the Modern Era 5m
1 reading
Week 3 FAQs (Optional)
1 practice exercise
Week 3 Quiz15m
1 hour to complete
Week 4
<p>Welcome to week 4 of the class!</p>
1 hour to complete
4 videos (Total 26 min), 1 reading, 2 quizzes
4 videos
Decoding an Ideal Spectrum 5m
From Ideal to Real Spectra 5m
Peptide Sequencing 7m
1 reading
Note on This Week's Assignments10m
1 practice exercise
Week 4 Quiz15m
Reviews
4.6
TOP REVIEWS FROM MOLECULAR EVOLUTION (BIOINFORMATICS IV)
by ABDec 4, 2016
At some point several instructors lost necessary passion to keep us focused. Otherwise it was a very informed and enjoyable presentation. Historical references are extremely important.
by DDOct 23, 2019
Yet another course in this series with really high quality content. If you want to learn something about bioinformatics, you're in the right place.
by RGJul 19, 2017
Covers the most important algorithms for phylogenetic trees. Fascinating exam
by POFeb 29, 2020
Good course for improving algorithmic skills and keep learning something new
by ZXJul 20, 2019
In depth and comprehensive coverage of the topics in genetic data analysis.
About the Bioinformatics Specialization
Join Us in a Top 50 MOOC of All Time!
How do we sequence and compare genomes? How do we identify the genetic basis for disease? How do we construct an evolutionary Tree of Life for all species on Earth?
When you complete this Specialization, you will learn how to answer many questions in modern biology that have become inseparable from the computational approaches used to solve them. You will also obtain a toolkit of existing software resources built on these computational approaches and that are used by thousands of biologists every day in one of the fastest growing fields in science.
Although this Specialization centers on computational topics, you do not need to know how to program in order to complete it. If you are interested in programming, we feature an "Honors Track" (called "hacker track" in previous runs of the course). The Honors Track allows you to implement the bioinformatics algorithms that you will encounter along the way in dozens of automatically graded coding challenges. By completing the Honors Track, you will be a bioinformatics software professional!
Learn more about the Bioinformatics Specialization (including why we are wearing these crazy outfits) by watching our introductory video.
You can purchase the Specialization's print companion, Bioinformatics Algorithms: An Active Learning Approach, from the textbook website.
Our first course, "Finding Hidden Messages in DNA", was named a top-50 MOOC of all time by Class Central!
Frequently Asked Questions
When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Once you enroll for a Certificate, you’ll have access to all videos, quizzes, and programming assignments (if applicable). Peer review assignments can only be submitted and reviewed once your session has begun. If you choose to explore the course without purchasing, you may not be able to access certain assignments.
What will I get if I subscribe to this Specialization?
When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
What is the refund policy?
Is financial aid available?
More questions? Visit the Learner Help Center.