Course Summary
This course on Genetics and Evolution covers the basic principles of genetics, the process of evolution, and how these two fields are interconnected. You'll learn about genetic variation, natural selection, genetic drift, and the mechanisms of evolution.Key Learning Points
- Understand the basic principles of genetics and evolution
- Learn about genetic variation and the mechanisms of evolution
- Discover how genetics and evolution are interconnected
Job Positions & Salaries of people who have taken this course might have
- USA: $72,090
- India: ₹ 5,00,000
- Spain: € 25.000
- USA: $72,090
- India: ₹ 5,00,000
- Spain: € 25.000
- USA: $85,000
- India: ₹ 6,00,000
- Spain: € 30.000
- USA: $72,090
- India: ₹ 5,00,000
- Spain: € 25.000
- USA: $85,000
- India: ₹ 6,00,000
- Spain: € 30.000
- USA: $78,000
- India: ₹ 5,50,000
- Spain: € 28.000
Related Topics for further study
Learning Outcomes
- Understand the role of genetics in evolution
- Identify the mechanisms of evolution
- Analyze genetic data and interpret the results
Prerequisites or good to have knowledge before taking this course
- Basic knowledge of biology and chemistry
- Familiarity with basic statistical analysis
Course Difficulty Level
IntermediateCourse Format
- Online Course
- Self-paced
- Video Lectures
Similar Courses
- Introduction to Biology
- Biochemistry: Molecules of Life
Related Education Paths
Related Books
Description
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.
Outline
- Welcome to Genetics and Evolution
- Welcome to the Course
- Course App and Readings
- Evidence for Evolution
- What is Evolution? (G)
- Basic Principles and Evidence for Evolution (G)
- Acceptance of Evolution (G)
- Responding to Criticisms of Evolutionary Theory (G)
- Interview with Jerry Coyne (G)
- Supplemental Materials, Evidence for Evolution
- Genetics I
- Introduction to Genetics (G)
- Inheritance (G)
- Genetic Scales (S)
- Mitosis, Meiosis, and Ploidy (S)
- Basic Single-Gene Inheritance (G)
- X-Linked Inheritance and Independent Assortment (S)
- Supplemental Materials, Genetics I
- Genetics Problem Set 1
- Genetics I Quiz
- Genetics II
- Recombination (G)
- Calculation of Recombination Distance (S)
- Generating a Gene Map (S)
- Bonus Video: A More Challenging Problem (S)
- Genetic Mapping (S)
- Mapping Traits Relative to Markers in a Cross (S)
- Mapping Traits Relative to Markers in a Population (S)
- Supplemental Materials, Genetics II
- Genetics Problem Set 2
- Genetics II Quiz
- Genetics III
- Origin of Genetic Variation (G)
- Shortcomings of the Single Gene Model (G)
- Mutation Rates (S)
- Mapping Complex Traits (S)
- Complex Traits in Crosses (S)
- Genome-wide Association Studies (S)
- Supplemental Materials, Genetics III
- Genetics Problem Set 3
- Genetics III Quiz
- Heritability and Population Growth
- Contribution of Genes vs. Environment I (G, S)
- Contribution of Genes vs. Environment II (S)
- Contribution of Genes vs. Environment III (S)
- Breeder's Equation (S)
- Population Growth (S)
- Carrying Capacity (S)
- Supplemental Materials, Heritability and Population Growth
- Heritability Problem Set
- Heritability Quiz
- Population Genetics I
- Allele and Genotype Frequencies (S)
- Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium (S)
- Deviation from Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium (S)
- Differences Between Populations: Origins and Quantification (S)
- Differences Between Populations: Effects of Gene Flow (S)
- Inbreeding (S)
- Supplemental Materials, Population Genetics I
- Population Genetics Problem Set 1
- Population Genetics Quiz
- Population Genetics II
- Natural Selection Fundamentals (S)
- Types at Single Loci (S)
- Types Acting on Traits (S)
- Genetic Drift and Sampling Error (S)
- Sampling Error over Many Generations (S)
- Case Studies and Examples (G)
- Rate of Neutral Molecular Evolution (S)
- Supplemental Materials, Population Genetics II
- Population Genetics Problem Set 2
- Population Genetics II Quiz
- Molecular Evolution
- Evolutionary Advantages of Sex (G)
- Recombination, Selective Sweeps, and Hitchhiking (S)
- Signatures of Natural Selection (S)
- Background Selection (S)
- Signatures of Natural Selection in Individual Genes (G,S)
- Searching for Natural Selection: dN/dS (S)
- Searching for Natural Selection: McDonald-Kreitman Test (S)
- Supplemental Materials, Molecular Evolution
- Molecular Evolution Problem Set
- Molecular Evolution Quiz
- Adaptive Behaviors and Sexual Selection
- Optimality and Adaptive Feeding (G)
- Communication and Parental Care (G)
- Intro to Sexual Selection (G)
- Sexual Selection: Male Competition and Female Choice (G)
- Sexual Selection: Evolutionary Causes (S)
- Supplemental Materials, Adaptive Behaviors and Sexual Selection
- Behavior and Sexual Selection Problem Set
- Adaptive Behaviors and Sexual Selection Quiz
- Speciation and Phylogenetics
- Keeping Species Separated (G)
- Speciation: Effects of Geography (S)
- Speciation: Genetic Control (S)
- Reading Evolutionary Trees (G)
- Generating Evolutionary Trees (S)
- Phylogenetic Comparative Method (S)
- Supplemental Materials, Speciation and Phylogenetics
- Speciation and Phylogenetics Problem Set
- Speciation and Phylogenetics Quiz
- Applied Evolution
- Applications of Evolutionary Insights (G)
- MISapplications of Evolutionary Insights (G)
- Supplemental Materials, Applied Evolution
Summary of User Reviews
The Genetics and Evolution course on Coursera is highly rated by users. Students praise the engaging and informative lectures, as well as the diverse range of topics covered. One key aspect that many users found particularly good was the in-depth coverage of evolutionary processes and mechanisms.Pros from User Reviews
- Engaging and informative lectures
- Diverse range of topics covered
- In-depth coverage of evolutionary processes and mechanisms
- Clear and concise explanations
- Interactive quizzes and assignments
Cons from User Reviews
- Some users found the course content challenging
- Course may move too quickly for beginners
- Limited interaction with the instructor
- Some technical issues reported
- Course may not be suitable for those without a background in biology
Dr. Mohamed Noor
4.8 Raiting
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