Are you a living creature? Then, congratulations! You’ve got DNA. But how much do you really know about the microscopic molecules that make you unique? Why is DNA called the “blueprint of life”? What is a “DNA fingerprint”? How do scientists clone DNA? What can DNA teach you about your family history? Are Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) safe? Is it possible to revive dinosaurs by cloning their DNA? DNA Decoded answers these questions and more. If you’re curious about DNA, join Felicia Vulcu and Caitlin Mullarkey, two biochemists from McMaster University, as they explore the structure of DNA, how scientists cracked the genetic code, and what our DNA can tell us about ourselves. Along the way, you’ll learn about the practical techniques that scientists use to analyze our genetic risks, to manipulate DNA, and to develop new treatments for a range of different diseases. Then, step into our virtual lab to perform your own forensic DNA analysis of samples from a crime scene and solve a murder.
I have taken several courses on coursera but I never forget this one. This is the only course my six years old boy enjoy the videos more than me. Thanks for a very educative and interactive videos.
Dr. Felicia and Dr. Caitlin were really engaging and they have sense of humor which I am really looking forward in a course. All in all, it was brief yet informative. Thank you!
this course was awesome. Everything in this course was minutely described. All my doubts were cleared. I want to know DNA in more detail now. So looking forward for some advance courses from here.
Learning was never so much fun. The two teachers were a class apart. I would wake up early in the morning to listen to their lectures. It was all so simplified and fun.
I have learnt a lot from this amiable course. The educators were so jolly and amusing. They smoothly gave the ride of the course that one almost will forget the track of time. Thanks teachers ❤️
It's an amazing course, easy, fun and I learned a lot from it all thanks to the Best instructors ever! Thank you Felecia and Caitlin, I wish to see you in more courses.
I very much enjoyed this course, it has reinstated in me a love for science that I thought was gone. I feel like I have learned a lot from this and want to continue to learn more in the future.
This really an exclusive course to learn biological hacks. Mentors are really so comprehensive. Teaching system is really so practical. I enojyed a lot during my learning session.
Unique way to teach about DNA and the techniques related to decipher DNA. It is very informative though some techniques are not done thoroughly such as Sanger's method.
I have gained lot of information form this course. And the instructors and the method of their teaching is really awesome. I would like to say thank you to the instructors and thank you to coursera.
Dr. Felicia and Dr. Caitlin are really amazing scientists! Their efforts for this course were truly appreciated. I love their energy, and the knowledge they tried to put up was wonderful.
the course was amazing , moreover it was easy to understand such complicated topics , this course helped me in making my basics musch stronger . both the professors were amzing at their work.
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I have taken several courses on coursera but I never forget this one. This is the only course my six years old boy enjoy the videos more than me. Thanks for a very educative and interactive videos.
this course was awesome. Everything in this course was minutely described. All my doubts were cleared. I want to know DNA in more detail now. So looking forward for some advance courses from here.
The most fun I have ever had with a course! Both professors have an amazing talent for conveying information. I hope that they will teach another class!
I took this course, with medical and graduate school-level understanding of the topics covered, primarily to get ideas on how such complex material can be taught to teenagers and/or early-in-major/non-major college students. The presentation of the material is creative, and the emphasis on “broad strokes” or key points, that are required at minimum to grasp more intricate concepts down the line (and beyond the scope of this course), is delivered clearly. I highly appreciate the energy of the presenters throughout the course, but I have to admit that there are few moments that I cringed with the humor (this is understandable, since I believe that I do not belong to the target audience of this offering, anyway). Furthermore, this course has also allowed me to re-acknowledge the basics that are often taken for granted or minded fleetingly as you work on/study more complex molecular biology concepts. The added/optional references are also generally topnotch. With regard to relevant history of the field, I have learned new details on the people, circumstances and processes that led to some key discoveries. Unfortunately, some reference links no longer lead to useful content and are due for editing/updating by the course creators. Also, I encountered fatal issues in attempting to use the virtual laboratory simulator, which I thought is an added layer to ensure driving home important points particularly in the step-by-step conduct of techniques. I wish that I have taken a material like this 15 years ago. All in all, I highly recommend this course to anyone of all ages who wish to have an overview of molecular biology that demands no prerequisite knowledge. In particular, I hope kids and teens can take this course so they can be properly introduced to the potential this field can offer them should they embark on this path.
It was really a fantastic course. It was so easy completing each week's lessons. And I gained more knowledge from the supplementary materials. And huge thanks to Dr.Caitlin Mullarkey and Dr.Felicia Vulcu. They made this course so interesting and fun to attend. They are really great at teaching... Looking for more works from you
It is an extremely interesting course for a beginner to understand the concept of DNA and genetic engineering . The concepts start from the basics but build up to complex concepts . Engaging and interesting and informative for someone who might want to pursue a career in research in cell biology
STUDY BUT FUN!! Make me now more curious about DNA and the amazing information that i can get about my ancestors by testing and analyzing my DNA. I never get bored since the week 1 till the end week!
I have gained lot of information form this course. And the instructors and the method of their teaching is really awesome. I would like to say thank you to the instructors and thank you to coursera.
Increíble curso, me enseñó más de lo que espereba. Parte de lo básico hasta llegar a cosas más complejas. Las explicaciones de la Dra. Felicia Vulcu y la Dra. Caitlin Mullarkey son sencillas y divertidas. Los pequeños cuestionarios después de ver un video reforzaban la explicación y los conceptos, las actividades opcionales como los laboratorios fueron muy buenas y el contenido adicional ayudaba a ahondar más en el tema. Un curso 100% recomendable.
The course structure is well organized and not too difficult to learn. It starts from high school biology and continues on upper level. At the end, I gain lots of knowledge from the course. I really like several medias used in the journey including VDO from both fantastic instructors, VDO from TED talk and others, articles, and most fascinating virtual lab that anyone can have a glimpse of what's like in the real genetic lab. Much appreciated.
Felicia and Caitlin were awesome in the way the course contents were presented. I have a background in computers and I know nothing about human biology, let alone decoding the DNA. Both professors have perked up my interest in this subject. Thank You for sharing your knowledge with us and Thank You Coursera for making it happen.
I absolutely adored this course. Perhaps one of the best interactive, intuitive and ingenious courses I've ever taken. The professors were simply brilliant and their mode of subject delivery was fun, crisp and precise! A great place to start if you want to understand fundamentals of genetics!
One of the best courses I've taken. It's true is a pretty basic course but it has wonderful teachers that are really passionate and charismatic. If you want a brief and basic introduction to the DNA world, this is a perfect option.
Highly recommended!
Awesome method of presenting a classic, boring , course.
It was fun and so addictive that I completed it within a day
Great course! I found the contents very basic but I do understand that the course scope was limited. The two teachers were splendid, getting to the point and showing very accurate explanations. The videos are also awesome; neither very long nor very short and very clear descriptions and definitions.
Many thanks!!
Congrats!
The course was actually very helpful to give me a brief overview of the main key elements of DNA. It IS a bit cheesy (which took its fifth star), but it explains all information in a very personal way.
It is an interesting and easy course for begginers
The instructors were energetic, knowledgeable, and engaging. They made the subject matter very interesting. I highly recommend this as a good introductory into the DNA subject and its history. The supplementary/supporting resources were quite good as well. Some minor improvements: 1) a couple of the links to videos are no longer active so they should be removed or updated; and 2) I found the Labster app (simulations) frustrating at times and did not see the value-add. However, the accompanying "Theory" material was first rate. Overall, high marks for this course. THANKS!
I audit many online courses for personal development since 2009, and this course is the best so far. I have a very limited science background, but I have an interest in genealogy and try to learn as much as I can about DNA. This course presented the subject matter in an informative, concise, and engaging method that motivated me to learn more about other scientific topics related to DNA. Thank you Caitlin and Felicia. You and your team provided the greatest gift a teacher could give to their students - explaining the course content in a matter that bridges the practical with theory.