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Introduction to Genetics and Evolution
  • Level Foundation
  • Duration 25 hours
  • Course by Duke University
  • Offered by

About

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.

Modules

Introduction

    • 2 Readings
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2 Readings

  • Welcome to the Course
  • Course App and Readings

Starting Point

    • 2 Videos
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2 Videos

  • What is Evolution? (G)
  • Basic Principles and Evidence for Evolution (G)

Debate and Misconceptions

    • 2 Videos
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2 Videos

  • Acceptance of Evolution (G)
  • Responding to Criticisms of Evolutionary Theory (G)

Guest Interview

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Readings
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1 Videos

  • Interview with Jerry Coyne (G)

1 Readings

  • Supplemental Materials, Evidence for Evolution

Introduction

    • 1 Videos
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1 Videos

  • Introduction to Genetics (G)

Inheritance, Genetic Scales, and Cell Division

    • 3 Videos
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3 Videos

  • Inheritance (G)
  • Genetic Scales (S)
  • Mitosis, Meiosis, and Ploidy (S)

Inheritance II

    • 2 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 2 Assignment
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2 Assignment

  • Genetics Problem Set 1
  • Genetics I Quiz

2 Videos

  • Basic Single-Gene Inheritance (G)
  • X-Linked Inheritance and Independent Assortment (S)

1 Readings

  • Supplemental Materials, Genetics I

Recombination

    • 2 Videos
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2 Videos

  • Recombination (G)
  • Calculation of Recombination Distance (S)

Genetic Mapping

    • 3 Videos
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3 Videos

  • Generating a Gene Map (S)
  • Bonus Video: A More Challenging Problem (S)
  • Genetic Mapping (S)

Genetic Markers

    • 2 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 2 Assignment
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2 Assignment

  • Genetics Problem Set 2
  • Genetics II Quiz

2 Videos

  • Mapping Traits Relative to Markers in a Cross (S)
  • Mapping Traits Relative to Markers in a Population (S)

1 Readings

  • Supplemental Materials, Genetics II

Single Gene Variation

    • 2 Videos
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2 Videos

  • Origin of Genetic Variation (G)
  • Shortcomings of the Single Gene Model (G)

Mutation and Complex Traits

    • 3 Videos
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3 Videos

  • Mutation Rates (S)
  • Mapping Complex Traits (S)
  • Complex Traits in Crosses (S)

Association Studies

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 2 Assignment
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2 Assignment

  • Genetics Problem Set 3
  • Genetics III Quiz

1 Videos

  • Genome-wide Association Studies (S)

1 Readings

  • Supplemental Materials, Genetics III

Genes vs. Environment

    • 3 Videos
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3 Videos

  • Contribution of Genes vs. Environment I (G, S)
  • Contribution of Genes vs. Environment II (S)
  • Contribution of Genes vs. Environment III (S)

Population Growth and Capacity

    • 3 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 2 Assignment
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2 Assignment

  • Heritability Problem Set
  • Heritability Quiz

3 Videos

  • Breeder's Equation (S)
  • Population Growth (S)
  • Carrying Capacity (S)

1 Readings

  • Supplemental Materials, Heritability and Population Growth

Allele Frequency and Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium

    • 3 Videos
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3 Videos

  • Allele and Genotype Frequencies (S)
  • Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium (S)
  • Deviation from Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium (S)

Gene Flow

    • 3 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 2 Assignment
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2 Assignment

  • Population Genetics Problem Set 1
  • Population Genetics Quiz

3 Videos

  • Differences Between Populations: Origins and Quantification (S)
  • Differences Between Populations: Effects of Gene Flow (S)
  • Inbreeding (S)

1 Readings

  • Supplemental Materials, Population Genetics I

Fundamentals

    • 1 Videos
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1 Videos

  • Natural Selection Fundamentals (S)

Types

    • 2 Videos
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2 Videos

  • Types at Single Loci (S)
  • Types Acting on Traits (S)

Sampling Error

    • 2 Videos
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2 Videos

  • Genetic Drift and Sampling Error (S)
  • Sampling Error over Many Generations (S)

Neutral Molecular Evolution and Examples

    • 2 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 2 Assignment
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2 Assignment

  • Population Genetics Problem Set 2
  • Population Genetics II Quiz

2 Videos

  • Case Studies and Examples (G)
  • Rate of Neutral Molecular Evolution (S)

1 Readings

  • Supplemental Materials, Population Genetics II

Introduction

    • 2 Videos
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2 Videos

  • Evolutionary Advantages of Sex (G)
  • Recombination, Selective Sweeps, and Hitchhiking (S)

Signatures of Natural Selection

    • 3 Videos
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3 Videos

  • Signatures of Natural Selection (S)
  • Background Selection (S)
  • Signatures of Natural Selection in Individual Genes (G,S)

Searching for Natural Selection

    • 2 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 2 Assignment
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2 Assignment

  • Molecular Evolution Problem Set
  • Molecular Evolution Quiz

2 Videos

  • Searching for Natural Selection: dN/dS (S)
  • Searching for Natural Selection: McDonald-Kreitman Test (S)

1 Readings

  • Supplemental Materials, Molecular Evolution

Behavior

    • 2 Videos
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2 Videos

  • Optimality and Adaptive Feeding (G)
  • Communication and Parental Care (G)

Sexual Selection

    • 3 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 2 Assignment
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2 Assignment

  • Behavior and Sexual Selection Problem Set
  • Adaptive Behaviors and Sexual Selection Quiz

3 Videos

  • Intro to Sexual Selection (G)
  • Sexual Selection: Male Competition and Female Choice (G)
  • Sexual Selection: Evolutionary Causes (S)

1 Readings

  • Supplemental Materials, Adaptive Behaviors and Sexual Selection

Geography

    • 3 Videos
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3 Videos

  • Keeping Species Separated (G)
  • Speciation: Effects of Geography (S)
  • Speciation: Genetic Control (S)

Evolutionary Trees

    • 3 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 2 Assignment
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2 Assignment

  • Speciation and Phylogenetics Problem Set
  • Speciation and Phylogenetics Quiz

3 Videos

  • Reading Evolutionary Trees (G)
  • Generating Evolutionary Trees (S)
  • Phylogenetic Comparative Method (S)

1 Readings

  • Supplemental Materials, Speciation and Phylogenetics

Evolutionary Insights

    • 2 Videos
    • 1 Readings
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2 Videos

  • Applications of Evolutionary Insights (G)
  • MISapplications of Evolutionary Insights (G)

1 Readings

  • Supplemental Materials, Applied Evolution

Auto Summary

"Introduction to Genetics and Evolution" is a foundational course in Science & Engineering, offered by Duke University on Coursera. Taught by expert instructors, it covers basic principles of biology, genome sequences, ancestry kits, evolution debates, and genetic evidence. Ideal for beginners, the course spans 1500 minutes and is available through Starter, Professional, and Paid subscriptions, providing a comprehensive introduction to evolutionary genetics without requiring prior knowledge.

Dr. Mohamed Noor
Instructor

Dr. Mohamed Noor