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Learn moreTales from the Genome
Free Course
Introduction to Genetics for Beginners
Estimated time
Approx. 3 Months
Skill level
Beginner
Prerequisites
See prerequisites in detail
In collaboration with
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.
What you will learn
Origin of mutation/variation
- Types of mutations and various causes of mutation.
- Allelic frequency, and the spread of alleles in a population.
How to obtain and interpret personal genetic information
- Personalized genetics: sample acquisition, DNA extraction and processing.
- Interpretation of results.
Simple genetic traits
- Molecular causes of monogenic traits.
- Loss-of-function vs. gain-of-function alleles, and dominance.
Multifactorial traits
- Polygenic traits, qualitative and quantitative measures.
- Twin studies, relative risk, and genome-wide association studies (GWAS).
Pharmacogenetics: genes and drugs
- Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics.
- Alleles affecting drug metabolism.
- Personalized medicine.
Origin of mutation/variation
- Types of mutations and various causes of mutation.
- Allelic frequency, and the spread of alleles in a population.
How to obtain and interpret personal genetic information
- Personalized genetics: sample acquisition, DNA extraction and processing.
- Interpretation of results.
Simple genetic traits
- Molecular causes of monogenic traits.
- Loss-of-function vs. gain-of-function alleles, and dominance.
Multifactorial traits
- Polygenic traits, qualitative and quantitative measures.
- Twin studies, relative risk, and genome-wide association studies (GWAS).
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.
Learn with the best.
Joanna Mountain
Instructor
Uta Francke
Instructor
23andMe Team
Instructor
Matthew Cook
Instructor
Lauren Castellano
Instructor