Genomics: Decoding the Universal Language of Life from Coursera

What is a genome? A genome contains all of the information that a cell needs to develop, function, and reproduce itself, and all the information needed for those cells to come together to form a person, plant, or animal. Genomes contain an organism’s complete set of genes, and also the even tinier genetic structures that help regulate when and how those genes are used.

The ability to regrow a torn ligament, the clues that might predict the onset of mental illness, the nutritional potential of crops, and even the history of life itself, are all encoded in genomes. By taking this course, you will discover how scientists are deciphering the language of genomes to learn how to develop sustainable food and fuel supplies, improve disease treatment and prevention, and protect our environment.

Professor Robinson is the main instructor for this course. In addition, each module features several guest instructors. These guest instructors come from diverse fields of study—biology, physics, computer science, and many others—and pursue diverse research goals, yet they share a common interest in genomic approaches and technologies. The guest instructors include:

- Elizabeth (Lisa) Ainsworth, Associate Professor of Plant Biology

- Mark Band, Director of the Functional Genomics Facility

- Alison Bell, Associate Professor of Animal Biology

- Jenny Drnevich, Functional Genomics Bioinformatics Specialist with High-Performance Biological Computing

- Christopher Fields, Associate Director of High-Performance Biological Computing

- Bruce Fouke, Director of the Roy J. Carver Biotechnology Center

- Glenn Fried, Director of the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology Core Facilities

- Nigel Goldenfeld, Professor of Physics

- Brendan Harley, Assistant Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

- Alvaro Hernandez, Director of the High-Throughput Sequencing and Genotyping Facility

- Victor Jongeneel, former NCSA Director of Bioinformatics and former Director of High-Performance Biological Computing

- Kingsley Boateng, Senior Research Specialist with the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology Core Facilities

- Stephen Long, Professor of Plant Biology and Crop Sciences

- Ruby Mendenhall, Associate Professor of African American Studies

- William Metcalf, Professor of Microbiology

- Karen Sears, Assistant Professor of Animal Biology

- Saurabh Sinha, Associate Professor of Computer Science

- Lisa Stubbs, Professor of Cell and Developmental Biology

- Rachel Whitaker, Associate Professor of Microbiology

- Derek Wildman, Professor of Molecular and Integrative Physiology

- Peter Yau, Director of the Protein Sciences Facility

What's inside

Syllabus

Course Orientation

You will become familiar with the course, your classmates, and our learning environment. The orientation will also help you obtain the technical skills required for the course.

What Is a Genome and Why Do We Care?

Genes, genomes, DNA: these words have slipped into our daily news cycles and our awareness, but what they actually mean often remains unclear. In these lessons, we aim to give you, not just the Biology 101 explanation of what a genome is, but a real-life perspective on why you already care about genomics – perhaps in ways you didn’t even realize. Are you interested in where your food comes from, what health conditions you are most likely to develop, what fish will share your aquarium most successfully? Genomes are a key to finding a better answer to these and other everyday questions.

What Were the First Genomes Like and How Do They Work Now?

You may have seen DNA visually represented in different ways: a twisted ladder, a tangle of string, an array of sloppy X shapes, a row of letters. But what is DNA actually doing, and how does it relate to genes and the genome? How are scientists able to move from studying the physical structure of the genome to understanding its functionality? This module will help you become more comfortable with these ideas.

How Can We Use Genomes to Understand the Healthy Body and Fight Diseases?

Often, we hear about genes only when something goes wrong – when mutations, mistakes made in the DNA sequence, cause a disease like cancer cystic fibrosis. But what happens inside our cells that leads from a mutation in DNA to the physical symptoms of a disease? Why do some mutations cause positive outcomes, or no change at all? To answer these questions, we take a closer look at how information flows from genes, to RNA, to proteins, to all the physical structures and processes that make up living things.

What Can Genomes Tell Us About How to Grow New Organs or New Crops?

If all the cells in all the tissues and organs of our bodies have the same genome, how is it that they can look so different? How does a hair cell, a white blood cell, or a brain cell know what to do or where to go? The answer can be found by looking beyond the structure of the genome, into the timing of its activities. Recognizing how the information stored in the genome can be used in flexible ways shows us how living things can develop and change over time.

How Might Genomes Allow Us to Predict Health Problems Before They Occur?

You may have heard of "nature vs. nurture" or the modern day response, "nature AND nurture!" But how does "nurture," the environment, act through the genome? Can the biological effects of experience be passed from one generation to the next? And what does all of this have to do with everyday issues, like our physical and mental health? A closer look at two mechanisms that help regulate the activity for genes, epigenetic modifications and transcription factors, provides some answers.

How Do the Genomes of Ecosystem Members Cooperate or Conflict?

The world is a big and sometimes incomprehensibly complex place. Just as no gene in the genome acts in isolation, no living thing on this planet exists in isolation. In this final module of the course, we explore some of the rich, complicated interactions between living things, their genomes, and the world that surrounds them.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Introduces principles and applications of genomics, a field that explores the structure, function, and evolution of genomes

Taught by Dr. Gene E. Robinson, a leading expert in genomics with over 35 years of experience

Features guest instructors from diverse fields, providing a comprehensive perspective on genomics applications

Covers a wide range of topics, including genome structure, function, and its role in health, agriculture, and environmental science

Provides real-life examples and case studies to demonstrate the practical applications of genomics

Emphasizes the ethical and social implications of genomics, ensuring learners understand the responsible use of genomic information

Reviews summary

Genomics: introduction for everyone

According to students, Genomics: Decoding the Universal Language of Life is a well-received course that offers informative lectures and discussions on genomics. The course is highly rated for its clear explanations and the enthusiasm of the experienced instructors. The assignments and readings are varied and engaging, providing learners with opportunities to apply their genomics knowledge to real-world issues. While the course is generally recommended, some learners experienced technical issues with the website and the course management. Despite this, the majority of learners positively evaluated the course content and the knowledge gained.

Engaging and thought-provoking assignments

"Interesting quizzes and discussion forums."

"A very interesting course which provided me with a lot of information regarding genomics."

"Activities are according to the lessons."

" assignments are also very interesting and gives participants an opportunity to discuss and explore topics."

Knowledgeable and engaging instructors

"Great, funny, instructors, really thought provoking."

"Very experienced lecturers."

"Amazing course with highly experienced and trained faculty."

Excellent insights into genomics fundamentals

"Learned many things and changed my perspective."

"Amazing!!"

"Easy to understand, with a good variety of topics."

"Provides a platform to explore this vast field."

Occasional technical issues with the website and course management

"Numerous technical issues with the website."

"No one to help or respond to queries."

"Resetting deadlines when not required."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Genomics: Decoding the Universal Language of Life with these activities:

Read 'Introduction to Genomics' by Arthur Lesk

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Gain a comprehensive overview of the field of genomics, including its history, techniques, and applications.

View Protein Science on Amazon

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Read the book thoroughly, taking notes on key concepts and examples.
Summarize the main ideas presented in each chapter.

Practice identifying different types of genetic variations

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Develop proficiency in recognizing and understanding the significance of various genetic variations.

Browse courses on Genetic Variation

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Analyze simulated genetic data to identify different types of variations.
Interpret the potential impact of these variations on gene function.

Explore online tutorials on genomic analysis tools

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Familiarize yourself with essential bioinformatics tools and techniques used in genomic analysis.

Browse courses on Bioinformatics

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Identify relevant online tutorials and resources for genomic analysis.
Follow tutorials to learn how to use specific tools and interpret results.
Apply these tools to analyze sample genomic datasets.

Four other activities

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Create a visual representation of a gene regulatory network

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Enhance understanding of complex gene regulatory mechanisms by visually depicting their interactions.

Browse courses on Gene Regulation

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Research and gather information on a specific gene regulatory network.
Design a visual representation that clearly illustrates the relationships between genes and regulators.
Use appropriate software or tools to create the visual representation.

Participate in study groups or discussion forums related to genomics

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Engage with fellow learners to discuss concepts, clarify doubts, and exchange perspectives on genomics.

Browse courses on Genomics

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Join or create a study group or discussion forum focused on genomics.
Actively participate in discussions, ask questions, and share insights.

Develop a computational model to simulate genome evolution

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Gain practical experience in modeling and simulating evolutionary processes that shape genomes.

Browse courses on Population Genetics

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Learn the principles of population genetics and genome evolution.
Select a specific evolutionary scenario to model.
Design and implement a computational model to simulate the scenario.
Analyze the simulation results to draw conclusions about genome evolution.

Volunteer at a research lab or organization related to genomics

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Gain hands-on experience in a genomics-related setting, applying knowledge and contributing to the field.

Browse courses on Genomics

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Identify research labs or organizations that offer volunteer opportunities in genomics.
Apply for a volunteer position and undergo any necessary training.
Actively participate in research projects or other genomics-related activities.

Career center

Learners who complete Genomics: Decoding the Universal Language of Life will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Genomics Researcher

As a Genomics Researcher, your role is to study the structure and function of genomes, which may include research into applying this knowledge to health or agriculture. This course may be useful as it will provide you with a foundation in genomics, including the basics of genome structure, function, analysis, and manipulation. This course in particular will introduce you to guest instructors who are pursuing diverse research goals, yet they share a common interest in genomic approaches and technologies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Genomics Researcher

Computational Biologist

As a Computational Biologist, you will be concerned with developing and applying computational tools and techniques to the management and analysis of biological data, such as DNA and amino acid sequences. This course may be useful as it will introduce you to the basics of genomics, including the structure and function of genomes, and how to analyze and manipulate them. This course in particular will provide you with opportunities to learn from guest instructors who work with physics, computer science, and more, to advance genomics approaches and technologies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Computational Biologist

Bioinformatician

As a Bioinformatician, you will be involved in the development and application of computational tools and techniques to the management and analysis of biological data, such as DNA and amino acid sequences. This course may be useful as it will provide you with a foundation in genomics, including the structure and function of genomes, and how to analyze and manipulate them. In particular, you will learn about the tools and techniques used in functional genomics, which is the study of how genes function.

See salaries and explore the career path for Bioinformatician

Medical Geneticist

As a Medical Geneticist, you will be involved in the diagnosis and management of genetic disorders. This course may be useful as it will provide you with a foundation in genomics, including the structure and function of genomes, and how to analyze and manipulate them. In particular, you will learn about how genomics can be used to understand the healthy body and fight diseases, and predict health problems before they occur.

See salaries and explore the career path for Medical Geneticist

Genetic Counselor

As a Genetic Counselor, you will be involved in providing information and support to individuals and families affected by genetic disorders. This course may be useful as it will provide you with a foundation in genomics, including the structure and function of genomes, and how to analyze and manipulate them. In particular, you will learn about how genomics can be used to understand the healthy body and fight diseases, and predict health problems before they occur.

See salaries and explore the career path for Genetic Counselor

Forensic Scientist

As a Forensic Scientist, your role is to apply scientific methods and procedures to the analysis and interpretation of evidence in criminal investigations. This course may be useful as it will provide you with a basic understanding of genomics, including the structure and function of genomes. You will also learn about how genomics can be used to identify individuals, which may be helpful in criminal investigations.

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Animal Scientist

As an Animal Scientist, your role is to study the biology and behavior of animals. This course may be useful as it will provide you with a basic understanding of genomics, including the structure and function of genomes. In particular, you will learn how genomics can be used to improve animal breeding and production.

See salaries and explore the career path for Animal Scientist

Microbiologist

As a Microbiologist, your role is to study microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi. This course may be useful as it will provide you with a foundation in genomics, including the structure and function of genomes, and how to analyze and manipulate them. In particular, you will learn about the role of genomics in the development of new antibiotics and vaccines.

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Epidemiologist

As an Epidemiologist, your role is to study the distribution and patterns of health events and diseases in a population. This course may be useful as it will provide you with a basic understanding of genomics, including the structure and function of genomes. In particular, you will learn about how genomics can be used to understand the causes of diseases and develop prevention strategies.

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Agronomist

As an Agronomist, your role is to study the science of soil management and crop production. This course may be useful as it will provide you with a basic understanding of genomics, including the structure and function of genomes. In particular, you will learn about how genomics can be used to improve crop yields and resistance to pests and diseases.

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Pharmacologist

As a Pharmacologist, your role is to study the effects of drugs on the body. This course may be useful as it will provide you with a foundation in genomics, including the structure and function of genomes, and how to analyze and manipulate them. In particular, you will learn about the role of genomics in the development of new drugs and therapies.

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Toxicologist

As a Toxicologist, your role is to study the effects of toxic substances on the body. This course may be useful as it will provide you with a foundation in genomics, including the structure and function of genomes, and how to analyze and manipulate them. In particular, you will learn about the role of genomics in the development of new methods for detecting and mitigating the effects of toxic substances.

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Pathologist

As a Pathologist, your role is to study the causes and effects of diseases. This course may be useful as it will provide you with a foundation in genomics, including the structure and function of genomes, and how to analyze and manipulate them. In particular, you will learn about the role of genomics in the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic tools.

See salaries and explore the career path for Pathologist