.
Five days to go:
I'm enrolled in a 10-week Coursera on-line Duke University course
Introduction to Genetics and Evolution
with Professor Mohamed Noor starting 4th of January 2013.
From Coursera website (http://www.coursera.org/course/geneticsevolution):
"Introduction to Genetics and Evolution
Mohamed Noor
A whirlwind introduction to evolution and genetics, from basic principles to current applications,
including how disease genes are mapped and how we leverage evolutionary concepts to aid
humanity.
Workload: 5-6 hours/week
About the Course
Introduction to Genetics and Evolution gives interested people a very basic overview of the
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, and why animals
behave the way they do. This course provides the basic biology you need to understand all of
these issues better and tries to clarify some misconceptions. No prior coursework is assumed.
About the Instructor
Dr. Mohamed Noor is the Earl D. McLean Professor and Associate Chair of Biology at Duke
University. His expertise is in molecular evolution, and a large part of his research has been
devoted to trying to understand the genetic changes that ultimately lead to the formation of new
species. More recently, his research team has used fruit fly species to understand the causes
and evolutionary consequences of variation in rates of genetic recombination/ exchange.
Dr. Noor has received several awards for research, teaching, and mentoring, and has been
active in the scientific community, including serving as president of the American Genetic
Association, chair of the NIH study section in Genetic Variation and Evolution, and editor of the
journal Evolution.
Course Syllabus
Evidence for evolution
Introduction to basic genetics
Recombination and genetic mapping simple traits
Complications to genetic mapping
Genes vs. environment
Basic population genetics and Hardy-Weinberg
Gene flow, differentiation, inbreeding
Natural selection and genetic drift
Molecular evolution
Evolutionary applications and misapplications
Adaptive behaviors and species formation
Recommended Background
No prior coursework in the subject is assumed. It would be helpful for the application of some
concepts to have a working knowledge of High School level math, including basic algebra. While
useful for solving the assigned problems, this is not essential to understand and follow the
general concepts and otherwise enjoy the class.
Suggested Readings
Although the class is largely self-contained, students wanting reinforcement on some of the
lecture topics and/ or to expand their knowledge beyond what we cover in class can find a
compelling treatment of the evidence for evolution (as well as related topics) in this short book:
Coyne, Jerry. 2009. Why Evolution Is True
For assistance with the genetics and more in-depth evolutionary concepts, these textbooks may
be helpful as a supplements to the lectures:
Griffiths, Anthony, et al. 2010. Introduction to Genetic Analysis
Freeman, Scott, and John Herron. Evolutionary Analysis
Course Format
The class will consist of watching multiple lecture mini-videos which are roughly 10-15 minutes
in length. These contain 1-3 integrated quiz questions per video. There will also be 3 test
assessments, including a non-cumulative final exam.
FAQ
Will I get a certificate after completing this class?
Yes. Students who successfully complete the class will receive a certificate signed by the
instructor.
What background in biology is needed for this course?
The course does not assume any college-level background in biology. A few introductory
genetics topics are covered somewhat quickly, such that those who did not learn basic heredity
in grade-school may struggle with the pace, but students who had literally no biology have
succeeded in understanding the material from just this treatment and a little bit of internet
searching.
What if I don't believe in evolution? What if it conflicts with my faith?
The course presents evidence for evolution in the first lecture, and delves into extensive detail
on evolutionary processes later. Enrolled parties need not in any way modify or abandon their
belief system, but test questions will be based on the material as it is covered in the lectures.
Will the lectures cover macroevolution, or talk about the diversity of past (e.g., dinosaurs) or
present life?
The present version does not cover macroevolution or the diversity of life. There will not be
anything about dinosaurs. The evolution topics covered in the present course are largely
confined to "microevolution," though we hope to add some new topics spanning macroevolution
to future course iterations.
Will the lectures cover any molecular biology, or applications like PCR or next-generation DNA
sequencing?
No. The genetics lectures are limited to transmission genetics, recombination, genetic mapping,
and basic quantitative genetics. We refer interested parties to the course "Introduction to
Genome Science," also offered in Coursera, for coverage of some of the other topics.
Will the lectures discuss human cloning or the use of embryonic or pluripotent stem cells?
No.
Does Prof. Mohamed Noor ALWAYS talk that fast?
Yes.
Categories:
Biology & Life Sciences"
Sounds fascinating. I can't wait to hear more about it.
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