Free Course
Tales from the Genome
by
Introduction to Genetics for Beginners
Nanodegree Program
Introduction to Programming
Learn to Code
Advance your career by learning the basics of programming.
About this Course
This course is a journey into the biology of the human genome and will highlight the scientific, social, and personal perspectives of people living with a variety of traits.
Course Cost
Free
Timeline
Approx. 3 months
Skill Level
beginner
Included in Product
Rich Learning Content
Interactive Quizzes
Taught by Industry Pros
Self-Paced Learning
Student Support Community
Join the Path to Greatness
This course is your first step towards a new career with the Introduction to Programming Program.
Free Course
Tales from the Genome
Enhance your skill set and boost your hirability through innovative, independent learning.
Course Leads
Joanna Mountain
Instructor
Uta Francke
Instructor
23andMe Team
Instructor
Matthew Cook
Instructor
Lauren Castellano
Instructor
What You Will Learn
lesson 1
Introduction to traits and heredity
- Trait variation and categorization.
- Basic models of inheritance.
- The connection via DNA.
lesson 2
Defining the genome
- DNA structure and chromosomes.
- The genome organization.
lesson 3
How a genome works
- Protein coding genes, transcription, translation.
- Discerning the genetic code and alleles.
lesson 4
Gene regulation
- Non-coding DNA and regulatory regions of genes.
- Transcription factors.
lesson 5
Transmission of genes and traits
- Family relationships and pedigrees.
- Inheritance patterns, allele dominance.
- Chromosome dynamics.
lesson 6
Origin of mutation/variation
- Types of mutations and various causes of mutation.
- Allelic frequency, and the spread of alleles in a population.
lesson 7
How to obtain and interpret personal genetic information
- Personalized genetics: sample acquisition, DNA extraction and processing.
- Interpretation of results.
lesson 8
Simple genetic traits
- Molecular causes of monogenic traits.
- Loss-of-function vs. gain-of-function alleles, and dominance.
lesson 9
Multifactorial traits
- Polygenic traits, qualitative and quantitative measures.
- Twin studies, relative risk, and genome-wide association studies (GWAS).
lesson 10
Pharmacogenetics: genes and drugs
- Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics.
- Alleles affecting drug metabolism.
- Personalized medicine.
Prerequisites and Requirements
No previous experience in genetics is necessary. However, familiarity with basic biological concepts, like the cell, is beneficial.
See the Technology Requirements for using Udacity.
Why Take This Course
You will learn about fundamental principles of inheritance, gene expression, mutation and variation, development of simple and complex biological traits, human ancestry and evolution, and the acquisition of personal genetic information. By the end of this course, you will be able to read and understand genetic information available from personal genetics services such as 23andMe.