Course Summary
This course explores the role of genetics in behavior, including how genes and environmental factors interact to influence our actions and decisions.Key Learning Points
- Learn about the latest research on the genetic basis of behavior
- Understand how genes and environment interact to shape behavior
- Explore the ethical implications of genetic research in behavior
Related Topics for further study
Learning Outcomes
- Understand the basic principles of behavioral genetics
- Analyze the complex interplay between genes and environment in shaping behavior
- Evaluate the ethical implications of genetic research in behavior
Prerequisites or good to have knowledge before taking this course
- Basic knowledge of genetics and psychology
- Access to a computer and internet connection
Course Difficulty Level
IntermediateCourse Format
- Online
- Self-paced
- Video lectures
- Quizzes and assignments
Similar Courses
- Introduction to Psychology
- Social Psychology
- Evolutionary Psychology
Related Education Paths
- Genetic Counseling Certificate
- Master's in Behavioral Genetics
- PhD in Psychology with emphasis on Behavioral Genetics
Notable People in This Field
- Professor of Psychology, Harvard University
- Professor of Biology and Neurology, Stanford University
- Neuroscientist and Author
Related Books
Description
Behavioral genetic methodologies from twin and adoption studies through DNA analysis will be described and applied to address longstanding questions about the origins of individual differences in behavioral traits.
Outline
- 1
- 1A: The Nature-Nurture Debate and Founding of Behavioral Genetics
- 1B: The Eugenics Movement
- 1C: What is Behavioral Genetics?
- 1D: The John/Joan Case
- 1E: Phenylketonuria (PKU)
- 1F: Huntington Disease - Supplementary
- Unit 1 Office Hours Video
- Required Reading #1: Genetics and Human Behaviour: the Ethical Context
- Required Reading #2: Taboo Genetics
- Additional resources for Topic #1
- Unit 1 Quiz
- 2
- 2A: Twins: A Natural Experiment
- 2B: How to Assess Twin Similarity
- 2C: Findings from Twin Studies
- 2D: Are Twin Studies Valid?
- 2E: Adoption Studies: Not by Twins Alone
- 2F: Minnesota Study of Twins Reared Apart (MISTRA)
- 2G: Conversation with Tom Bouchard - Supplementary
- Unit 2 Office Hours Video
- Required reading: Minnesota Study of Twins Reared Apart
- Additional resources for Topic #2
- Unit 2 Quiz
- 3
- 3A: Mendelian Inheritance (and Terminology)
- 3B: Galtonian Inheritance (aka Quantitative Genetics)
- 3C: How is Heritability Estimated?
- 3D: What Heritability Is and What It Is Not
- 3E: Gene-Environment Interaction
- 3F: Multivariate Approaches - Supplementary
- Unit 3 Office Hours Video
- Required reading: The Human Genome
- Additional resources Topic #3
- Unit 3 Quiz
- 4
- 4A: DNA
- 4B: What Is a Gene?
- 4C: Three Surprising Findings From the Human Genome Project
- 4D: Genetic Variation
- 4E: Williams Syndrome
- 4F: The X Chromosome
- 4G: Prader-Willi & Angelman Syndromes
- 4H: Genetic Regulation and Epigenetics
- 4I: Epigenetic Inheritance - Supplementary
- Unit 4 Office Hours Video
- Required reading #1: Genomic Medicine
- Required reading #2: Epigenetics
- Additional resources Topic #4
- Unit 4 Quiz
- 5
- 5A: What Is Schizophrenia?
- 5B: The Epidemiology of Schizophrenia
- 5C: Twin and Adoption Studies of Schizophrenia
- 5D: What We Have Learned About Environmental Risk From Twin and Adoption Studies
- 5E: Identifying Schizophrenia Risk Alleles - The Positional Cloning Strategy
- 5F: Identifying schizophrenia risk alleles - The GWAS strategy
- 5G: Identifying schizophrenia risk alleles – rare variants
- 5H: Genetics, Race & Ancestry - Supplementary
- Unit 5 Office Hours Video
- Required reading: A candidate-gene study of schizophrenia
- Additional resources for Topic #5
- Unit 5 Quiz
- 6
- 6A: What Is intelligence?
- 6B: Twin, Adoption Studies, and The Heritability of General Cognitive Ability
- 6C: Heritability and The Malleability of General Cognitive Ability
- 6D: Gene-Environment Interplay In Studies of General Cognitive Ability
- 6E: Why is general cognitive ability heritable?
- 6F: Genetics of intellectual disability
- 6G: The replication crisis - Supplementary
- Unit 6 Office Hours Video
- Required reading: Genetic association study of intelligence
- Additional Resources for Topic #6
- Unit 6 Quiz
- 7
- 7A: Shared versus Non-shared Environment Distinction
- 7B: The Moderating Effect of Development
- 7C: Gene-Environment Correlation
- 7D: Family Socialization: A Behavioral Genetic Perspective
- 7E: Gene-Environment Interaction II
- 7F: Genetics and Aging
- 7G: Epigenetics and twins - Supplementary
- Unit 7 Office Hours Video
- Required reading: Age differences in heritability of general cognitive ability
- Additional resources Topic #7
- Unit 7 Quiz
- 8
- 8A: Four Laws of Behavioral Genetics
- 8B: Behavior and Genomic Medicine
- 8C: Behavioral Genetics, the Law and Personal Responsibility, Part I
- 8D: Behavioral Genetics, the Law and Personal Responsibility, Part II
- 8E: Gottesman Interview
- 8F: Acknowledgements, Thank You, and Goodbye
- 8G: Genetic prediction - Supplementary
- Unit 8 Office Hours Video
- Required reading: The (first) three laws of behavioral genetics
- Additional resources for Topic #8
- Unit 8 Quiz
Summary of User Reviews
Discover the fascinating world of Behavioral Genetics with this course on Coursera. Students found the course to be informative and engaging, with a strong emphasis on real-world applications.Key Aspect Users Liked About This Course
Real-world applicationsPros from User Reviews
- Informative and engaging
- Great for beginners
- Well-structured content
- Accessible and easy to understand
Cons from User Reviews
- Lack of in-depth analysis
- Limited scope of topics
- Some technical issues with the platform
Matt McGue
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