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Sex from Molecules to Elephants
  • Level Foundation
  • Duration 23 hours
  • Course by Hebrew University of Jerusalem
  • Offered by

About

About this course Skip About this course Sexual reproduction can be defined as the sort of reproduction by which each organism arises from the fusion of two cells. This generally implies, with some exceptions, that each organism has two parents. This description might sound trivial it is however not at all. Before the appearance of sex, organisms reproduced solely by division. One cell divided into two cells, no partners, no fusion, just simple cell division. This simple cell division is still here. In fact, the trillions of cells that make up your body are all the descendants of a single cell that underwent several dozens of cell divisions. Surprisingly, most multicellular, as well as, many unicellular organisms reproduce by sex. We might take it thus for granted but this course will show you that it is a rather peculiar and enigmatic process. This course will provide you with the necessary tools to understand how sex works and to marvel at its mysteries. We will start by meeting the actors of this greatest drama in their native habitats, from ancient bacteria that live in thermal geysers in Yellowstone national park to the great mammals that roam the African savanna. We will also briefly discuss the history of life on earth and its contemporary state. The second unit defines the rules of the game explaining the mechanisms of heredity and evolution. The third unit focuses on meiosis, the fundamental and conserved molecular event that forms the basis of sex. And that might have led to the appearance of sex in the first place. We will also explain the fertility cycle and male and female germ cell development. The fourth unit describes the striking variability of sex determination throughout the animal kingdom. We will discuss the requirement for two genders and their considerable cost. Finally, we will dive in the gulf of Aqaba to meet organisms that are both male and female either at the same, or at different times. Sex requires cooperation between two individuals – a male and a female – that are in a basic conflict of interest. Furthermore, males and females compete among themselves. This complex network of cooperation and conflict forms the fascinating plot we will tell in the fifth unit that will discuss the patterns of reproduction and social behavior of different animals – corals, insects, spiders, fish, birds, and mammals. We will be intrigued to discover that the same basic conflict is resolved by a huge range of approaches, from altruistic behavior all the way to open warfare and infanticide. The sixth unit takes us to fertilization and beyond. Starting at an IVF clinic we follow embryonic development throughout the animal kingdom from insects to tadpoles and humans. The seventh unit is dedicated to flowering plants that made our world colorful, sweet-smelling and tasty and that produce almost all animal food.

Modules

Introduction to the Course

    • 2 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Plugin
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1 Discussions

  • Introduce Yourself

2 Readings

  • Welcome to the Course
  • Meet the Course Staff

Introduction to Chapter 1

    • 1 Plugin
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Yellowstone

    • 1 Plugin
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Exercise 1 - Yellowstone

On Safari in Africa

    • 2 Readings
    • 1 Plugin
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Exercise 2 - Safari

2 Readings

  • On Safari in Africa
  • Sighting reports

The Animal Kingdom

    • 1 Plugin
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Exercise 3 - The Animal Kingdom

Taxonomy

    • 1 Plugin
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The Biological Species

    • 1 Plugin
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The Biological History

    • 1 Plugin
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Exercise 4 - Our biological history

The Anthropocene

    • 1 Plugin
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The Coral Reef of Eilat

    • 1 Plugin
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Exercise 5 - The Anthropocene

Chapter 1 - final practice

    • 2 Assignment
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2 Assignment

  • Assignment 1 - The Animal Kingdom
  • Chapter 1 - final exercise

Introduction to Chapter 2

    • 1 Plugin
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Natural Selection

    • 1 Plugin
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Exercise 1 - Natural Selection

DNA

    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Plugin
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Exercise 2 - DNA

1 Readings

  • DNA - Summary

Heredity

    • 2 Readings
    • 1 Plugin
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Exercise 3 - Heredity

2 Readings

  • Mendelian Heredity - Summary
  • Mendelian Genetics - Practice

Speciation

    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Plugin
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Exercise 4 - Speciation

1 Readings

  • Summary - Speciation

Sexual Selection

    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Plugin
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Assignment 2 - Sexual Selection

1 Readings

  • Exercise 5 - Assignment 2 - Sexual Selection

Giraffes

    • 1 Plugin
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Chapter 2 - final exercise

    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Chapter 2 - final exercise

1 Readings

  • The Peppered moth

Introduction to Chapter 3

    • 1 Plugin
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Mitosis

    • 1 Plugin
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Exercise 1 - The Cell Cycle

Meiosis

    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Plugin
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Exercise 2 - Meiosis

1 Readings

  • Meiosis - Summary

Iso-gamy and An-iso-gamy

    • 1 Plugin
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Exercise 3 - Anisogamy

The Menstrual Cycle

    • 2 Readings
    • 1 Plugin
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Exercise 4 - The Menstrual Cycle

2 Readings

  • The Menstrual Cycle - Summary
  • The Menstrual Cycle and Contraception

Spermatogenesis

    • 1 Plugin
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Exercise 5 - Spermatogenesis

Malaria

    • 1 Plugin
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Chapter 3 - final exercise

    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Chapter 3 - final exercise

Introduction to Chapter 4

    • 1 Plugin
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Sex Determination

    • 1 Plugin
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Exercise 1 - Sex Determination

Sex linked Inheritance

    • 2 Readings
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Exercise 2 - Sex linked Inheritance

2 Readings

  • Sex linked Heredity
  • Chromosome X inactivation

Hermaphrodites

    • 1 Plugin
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Exercise 3 - Hermaphrodites

Sex Change in Fish

    • 1 Plugin
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Exercise 4 - Sex Change in Fish

Sexual Dimorphism

    • 1 Plugin
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Exercise 5 - Sexual Dimorphism

Chapter 4 - final exercise

    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Assignment 3 - The Female Male Conflict

Introduction to Chapter 5

    • 1 Plugin
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External and Internal Fertilization

    • 1 Plugin
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Exercise 1 - External and Internal Fertilization

Monogamy in Birds

    • 1 Plugin
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Exercise 2 - Bird Sociality

Sociality in Mammals

    • 1 Plugin
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Assignment 4 - Parental Care

Monkeys

    • 1 Plugin
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Exercise 3 - Monkeys

Cooperative Breeding

    • 2 Readings
    • 1 Plugin
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Exercise 4 - Cooperative Breeding

2 Readings

  • The Painted Dog Center
  • The Handicap Principle - A critical view

Elephants

    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Plugin
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Exercise 5 - Elephants

1 Readings

  • Elephant communication

What is Love - An Interview with Yoram Yovell

    • 1 Plugin
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Chapter 5 - final exercise

    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Chapter 5 - final exercise

Introduction to Chapter 6

    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Plugin
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1 Readings

  • Evo Devo - texts in chapter 6

A visit to the In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) Clinic

    • 1 Plugin
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Exercise 1 - IVF

Early Embryonic Development

    • 3 Readings
    • 1 Plugin
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Exercise 2 - Early Embryonic Development

3 Readings

  • Early embryonic development
  • The three Germ Layers
  • The germ line and the somatic line

Basic Rules of Development

    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Plugin
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Exercise 3 - Repeating Modules

1 Readings

  • Regulation of Development

Arthropod Metamorphosis

    • 1 Plugin
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Late Embryonic Development

    • 1 Plugin
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Human Fetal Development

    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Exercise 4 - Down Syndrome

1 Readings

  • Human fetal development

Parental Care

    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Plugin
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Exercise 5 - Parental Care

1 Readings

  • The Central Dogma of Molecular Biology

Chapter 6 - final exercise

    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Chapter 6 - final exercise

Introduction to Chapter 7

    • 1 Plugin
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Plant Evolution

    • 1 Plugin
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Exercise 1 - Plant Evolution

Reproduction with Spores - Mosses and Ferns

    • 1 Plugin
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Wind Pollination

    • 1 Plugin
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Exercise 2 - Wind Pollination

Flowers Structure and Function

    • 1 Plugin
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Exercise 3 - Flowers

Pollination

    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Plugin
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Exercise 4 - Pollination

1 Readings

  • Recommendation

Pollinators

    • 1 Plugin
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Assignment 5

Double Fertilization

    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Plugin
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1 Readings

  • Self Pollination

Chapter 7 - final exercise

    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Chapter 7 - final exercise

Auto Summary

Explore the fascinating world of sexual reproduction in "Sex from Molecules to Elephants," taught by Coursera. Delve into the complexities of heredity, evolution, and meiosis across various species, from bacteria to mammals. This foundational Science & Engineering course spans 1380 minutes and offers Starter and Professional subscription options. Ideal for those intrigued by biological mysteries and reproductive behaviors, this course provides a comprehensive understanding of sex's role in life's diversity.

Michael Brandeis
Instructor

Michael Brandeis