Evolution Today from Coursera

In this course you will learn how evolution works. You will develop an understanding of evolutionary processes and their formative power. You will see how evolution has shaped biodiversity, and continuously influences our daily life. Evolution impacts human endeavors as varied as medicine, agriculture, psychology, economy, and culture. It is the major unifying principle for biology and a fundamental natural law. In five weeks we will make evolution accessible for you and help you to recognize evolutionary processes around you, in nature as well as in society. We make use of the unique collection of Naturalis, the natural history museum in Leiden, but also take you to the field. Using classical and up-to-date examples, we will show you how scientists address evolutionary questions. In the last module, we will have a look at the future. How will humans evolve? And how do we influence our own evolution and that of other organisms?

This course is aimed at anybody with a drive to obtain a deeper, broader, and pragmatic understanding of evolution, including high-school students, BSc (undergraduate) biology students, MSc (graduate) students from other disciplines, medical professionals, conservation officers and educators in museums, libraries, national parks, and schools.

What's inside

Syllabus

Welcome to the course Evolution Today

Great that you are joining us! In this course you will learn about Evolution. Before you start with this course we invite you to first take a look around and meet your fellow learners. We would like to know what brings you here and what you would like to get out of the course. If you encounter any difficulties while studying, please let us know in the forum. For technical difficulties or questions regarding the course certificate, you can always contact the Coursera Learner Helpdesk. Good luck & we hope you will enjoy studying in this course!

Do we change?

In this module, you are going to learn that a very powerful mechanism, natural selection, leads to evolutionary change. We are going to have a detailed look at what is required for this natural selection. And, knowing these conditions, we can judge whether traits in humans are evolving at the moment. This is a surprisingly simple module. I am looking forward to discuss human evolution with you at the end!

How do we change?

This is a real puzzle-module. We are going to decipher the language of DNA, and see that mutations in this DNA lead to new variation. As we saw, variation is the raw material for natural selection. Thus, take your pen and pencil and unravel with me the code of your own DNA!

Who is this "we" anyway?

In the first two modules, we have asked ourselves whether we experience evolutionary change, and if so, how this change comes about. In this module, we will explore who this "we" is anyway: is it us, the individual? Is it our species? Our genes? Who is in charge here?

How have we (and haven't we) changed?

In this module, we will take a look at the limitations to evolution. Despite the strength of the process of natural selection, some things simply are not possible. Evolution has to play by the rules, and this module will explore what those rules are.

How will we change?

In this module, we will have a look at the future. How will humans evolve, and, as our impact on the world increases, how will we affect the evolution of other organisms?

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Suitable for high-school students seeking a deeper understanding of evolution

Beginners can build a solid foundation in evolutionary processes

Covers application of evolutionary principles in diverse fields, providing relevance for learners with various interests

Led by experienced instructors recognized for their work in evolutionary biology

May require prerequisite knowledge in biology for graduate students from other disciplines

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 Evolution Today with these activities:

Review High School Biology

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Ensure a strong foundation in the basics of biology before starting the course.

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Review your high school biology notes.
Take practice quizzes on key concepts.
Read articles or watch videos on recent advances in biology.

Follow the Evolution Course Preview

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Gain a preview of the course material and get a sense of the instructors' teaching style.

Browse courses on Evolution

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Watch the Course Preview video.
Read the Course Description.
Complete the Course Quiz.

Review Modern Evolutionary Biology

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Familiarize yourself with the terminology and concepts that will be used throughout the course.

View Evolution on Amazon

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Read the first three chapters of the book.
Take notes on the key terms and concepts.
Summarize the main points of each chapter.

Five other activities

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Create a Course Notebook

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Organize and consolidate your course materials for easy reference and review.

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Purchase a notebook or create a digital document.
Divide the notebook into sections for each module.
Take notes during lectures and readings, and organize them in the notebook.

Natural Selection Simulation

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Develop a deeper understanding of the process of natural selection through hands-on simulations.

Browse courses on Natural Selection

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Play the Natural Selection Simulation game.
Observe how different traits affect the survival and reproduction of organisms.
Analyze the results of the simulation.

Join an Online Discussion Forum

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Engage with fellow students to discuss course material, ask questions, and share insights.

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Join the course discussion forum.
Post a question or comment on a topic of interest.
Respond to other students' posts.

Create a Phylogenetic Tree

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Reinforce your understanding of evolutionary relationships and classification by creating a phylogenetic tree.

Browse courses on Evolution

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Gather data on different species.
Construct a matrix of shared characteristics.
Use a phylogenetic software program to create a tree.

Volunteer at a Natural History Museum

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Explore real-world examples of evolution and gain hands-on experience in a museum setting.

Browse courses on Evolution

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Find a natural history museum in your area.
Inquire about volunteer opportunities.
Volunteer for a specific project or activity.

Career center

Learners who complete Evolution Today will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Environmental Scientist

Environmental Scientists use scientific research to protect the environment and human health. The knowledge gained from this course would be a significant benefit to an aspiring researcher. You will learn about the impact of human activities on the environment and how we can mitigate those impacts. Taking this course shows a strong commitment to sustainability and environmental protection.

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Conservation Officer

Conservation Officers enforce environmental regulations and protect wildlife. The curriculum will be a major asset. You will study the principles of ecology, genetics, and evolution. This will help you understand the complex interactions between species and their environments, which is vital knowledge for an aspiring officer.

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Wildlife Biologist

Wildlife Biologists study the behavior, ecology, and conservation of wildlife. This course will greatly assist you in this field by teaching you the principles of evolution and how they apply to wildlife populations. This course features real-world examples of how evolution affects wildlife, and this knowledge will be invaluable in your work.

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Epidemiologist

Epidemiologists investigate the causes and patterns of diseases in human populations. This course can help you build a foundation in evolutionary principles and their application to public health. You will learn about the evolution of infectious diseases and how to develop strategies to prevent and control them.

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Geneticist

Geneticists study genes and their role in heredity and disease. The principles of genetics covered in this course are essential for success in this field. You will learn about the structure and function of genes, as well as how mutations can lead to genetic disorders.

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Biologist

Biologists study living organisms and their interactions with each other and their environments. Given that this course covers the history of life on Earth and the processes that drive evolution, it is likely that you will encounter evolutionary concepts in your work as a biologist. A course like this will help you better understand the research you will be doing.

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Evolutionary Biologist

Evolutionary Biologists study the history of life on Earth and the processes that drive evolution. This course covers the same subject matter, so it may be redundant. Regardless, it serves as an excellent review course if you aspire to be an evolutionary biologist.

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Science Teacher

Science Teachers help students learn about the natural world. This course will help you better understand the topic of evolution so that you can teach it more effectively.

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Physician

Physicians diagnose and treat diseases and injuries. The principles of evolution can help you understand the causes of diseases and develop more effective treatments.

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Forensic Scientist

Forensic Scientists collect and analyze evidence to help solve crimes. This course may be useful to you in your work, as it will teach you about the principles of evolution and how they can be applied to forensic science.

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Veterinarian

Veterinarians diagnose and treat diseases and injuries in animals. The principles of evolution can help you understand the causes of diseases in animals and develop more effective treatments.

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Medical Researcher

Medical Researchers investigate the causes and treatments of diseases. The principles of evolution can help you understand the causes of diseases and develop more effective treatments.

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Editor

Editors review, revise, and prepare written material for publication. While not directly related to your profession, this course may be helpful if you plan to edit scientific or nature writing.

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Educator

Educators help people learn. While not directly related to your profession, this course may be helpful if you plan to teach science or nature.

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Writer

Writers communicate ideas and information through written words. While not directly related to your profession, this course may be helpful if you plan to write about science or nature.

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