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Learner Reviews & Feedback for Finding Hidden Messages in DNA (Bioinformatics I) by University of California San Diego

4.3
stars
1,015 ratings

About the Course

Named a top 50 MOOC of all time by Class Central! This course begins a series of classes illustrating the power of computing in modern biology. Please join us on the frontier of bioinformatics to look for hidden messages in DNA without ever needing to put on a lab coat. In the first half of the course, we investigate DNA replication, and ask the question, where in the genome does DNA replication begin? We will see that we can answer this question for many bacteria using only some straightforward algorithms to look for hidden messages in the genome. In the second half of the course, we examine a different biological question, when we ask which DNA patterns play the role of molecular clocks. The cells in your body manage to maintain a circadian rhythm, but how is this achieved on the level of DNA? Once again, we will see that by knowing which hidden messages to look for, we can start to understand the amazingly complex language of DNA. Perhaps surprisingly, we will apply randomized algorithms, which roll dice and flip coins in order to solve problems. Finally, you will get your hands dirty and apply existing software tools to find recurring biological motifs within genes that are responsible for helping Mycobacterium tuberculosis go "dormant" within a host for many years before causing an active infection....

Top reviews

JL

Jul 29, 2018

This course is very very good. Challenging at times. It does not hold your hand at all times and sometimes requires research to solve some of the problems, but I like the community and the approach.

SH

Apr 6, 2020

Excellent introduction to bioinformatics. They put a lot of heart and thought into the design of the course. I will continue to use the concepts I've learned in and out of bioinformatics.

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251 - 257 of 257 Reviews for Finding Hidden Messages in DNA (Bioinformatics I)

By Flavien H

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Sep 2, 2020

Just buy their book and go to Rosalind, this course is totally useless and the book is already enough expensive ! Especially that if you are not already good at programming or in maths you will need it for a lot of "details" they will not explain because "not relevant" while it's "just" relevant to understand what you do.

By Haniye A

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Aug 20, 2023

there are a lot of programming problems but no explanations on how to solve them! i am a biology major and it is very difficult for me to understand. if this course is aimed at computer scientists, it should have been clearly stated at the beginning.

By Engel L V

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Jan 25, 2024

I am not interested in this. Why do you keep forcing me to enroll here? I've been unenrolling in this course numerous times! This is a shitty course and I hate that it keeps enrolling me by force and I have to unenrol every time I open Coursera.

By Muhammad A M

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Dec 7, 2023

do not show the method of solving a problem that make idea to students to solve a problem

By Yvonne E

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Jul 14, 2024

If you are not proficient in Python, do not take this course. It is not for beginners.

By Ian M

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Jan 14, 2024

This class is completely broken right now.

By kimia r

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Sep 9, 2022

quite confusing