PO
Reviewed Mar 30, 2021
Good course for improving algorithmic skills and keep learning something new
Covers the most important algorithms for phylogenetic trees. Fascinating exam
Molecular Evolution (Bioinformatics IV)
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. In the first half of the course, we will discuss approaches for evolutionary tree construction that have been the subject of some of the most cited scientific papers of all time, and show how they can resolve quandaries from finding the origin of a deadly virus to locating the birthplace of modern humans. In the second half of the course, we will shift gears and examine the old claim that birds evolved from dinosaurs. How can we prove this? In particular, we will examine a result that claimed that peptides harvested from a T. rex fossil closely matched peptides found in chickens. In particular, we will use methods from computational proteomics to ask how we could assess whether this result is valid or due to some form of contamination. Finally, you will learn how to apply popular bioinformatics software tools to reconstruct an evolutionary tree of ebolaviruses and identify the source of the recent Ebola epidemic that caused global headlines.
Status: Taxonomy
Status: Bioinformatics
IntermediateCourse18 hours
Featured reviews
DD
Reviewed Oct 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.
RG
Reviewed Jul 19, 2017
Covers the most important algorithms for phylogenetic trees. Fascinating exam
AB
Reviewed Dec 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 Historical references are extremely important.
ZX
Reviewed Jul 20, 2019
In depth and comprehensive coverage of the topics in genetic data analysis.
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Robert
5.0
Reviewed Jul 20, 2017Pavel
5.0
Reviewed Mar 31, 2021Good course for improving algorithmic skills and keep learning something new
Zack
5.0
Reviewed Jul 21, 2019In depth and comprehensive coverage of the topics in genetic data analysis.
龔峰榆
5.0
Reviewed Oct 20, 2019The two professors are really excellent teachers. It's a pity that I have to quit the course for some reason, so I only finish 88%. But I'll be back someday. Good luck to you all !
Daniel
5.0
Reviewed Oct 24, 2019Yet another course in this series with really high quality content. If you want to learn something about bioinformatics, you're in the right place.
Samuel
5.0
Reviewed Aug 17, 2018Fascinating material, and excellently presented!
Arun
5.0
Reviewed May 9, 2017It was an excellent & informative course !
Edgardo
5.0
Reviewed Sep 16, 2021Challenging but fun course!
Yulan
5.0
Reviewed Oct 2, 2016very useful!
Yasmine
5.0
Reviewed Jul 27, 2020Interesting
Saif
5.0
Reviewed May 27, 2022👌🏻👌🏻
Weidong
5.0
Reviewed Oct 30, 2016good.
박준형
5.0
Reviewed Sep 15, 2018.
Christiane
4.0
Reviewed Nov 6, 2017Good course material and challenging code problems!
Onde remark : the peer review was almost impossible to correct because the diagrams (trees) where of such lpoor quality that the numvers where almost completely unreadable!
Ari
4.0
Reviewed Dec 5, 2016At 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.
Hercules
3.0
Reviewed Aug 15, 2017Although certain aspects of it were positive and in line with the quality of previous modules, this course had its problems. The biggest was the lack of alignment between weeks 4 and 5 (which would be better placed in Module 2) and the rest of it. It got worse due to the lack of Stepik support and material in the textbooks that would in theory accompany the course. This misalignment is also evident when we look at the quizzes and the final challenge, which hardly tackled the material of those two dreadful weeks.
Bryan
3.0
Reviewed Aug 15, 2016I would have enjoyed it more if I had had enough knowledge to do the Honors quiz!
I downloaded all the videos so I could play them over without chewing up my data, but the quality is so poor you can't always make out the writing - i's and j's all look similar. It would be better if the presentation material was bigger and the facilitator images smaller - you need only see a face, not the whole upper body in the foreground.
Nevertheless, I have been enlightened !
ZIHAN
3.0
Reviewed May 4, 2019The contents of last two weeks are very obscure. Without interactive text, it's very difficult to comprehend by watching short videos.
Ho
3.0
Reviewed Jul 28, 2019The programming assignments are difficult
Ashwin
1.0
Reviewed Sep 14, 2023Stuck with this course for more than two months, and needed one peer grading to finish my final assignment, so that I could complete the bioinformatics specialization.