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There are 8 modules in this course
In this course we will examine the incredible variety of life that inhabits this planet including microorganisms, plants, and animals. For each of the major groups we’ll learn about their characteristics, functions, and how they came into existence as well as some of the roles they play in the natural world, and how they’re relevant to people. We’ll also take a close look at us humans and consider what we know about our origins and what might become of us in the future.
What's included
2 videos3 readings1 discussion prompt
Show info about module content
2 videos•Total 5 minutes
Welcome to Biodiversity•1 minute
Meet Your Professor•3 minutes
3 readings•Total 25 minutes
Discussion Forum Guidelines•10 minutes
Disability Accommodation Statement•5 minutes
Read Before You Proceed•10 minutes
1 discussion prompt•Total 10 minutes
What interests you the most in biodiversity?•10 minutes
How many species are currently alive on Earth?•4 minutes
What is a species?•5 minutes
Origin of Life•3 minutes
Classic Experiment: Simulating the Origin of Life•4 minutes
How did life begin?•4 minutes
7 readings•Total 50 minutes
Incomplete Notes on "How Many Species Are Alive?"•1 minute
More on Biodiversity•30 minutes
Incomplete Notes on "What Is a Species?"•1 minute
Incomplete Notes on "Origin of Life"•1 minute
Incomplete Notes on "Simulating the Origin of Life"•1 minute
Incomplete Notes on "How Did Life Begin?"•1 minute
📖 Openstax textbook references for Module 1•15 minutes
3 assignments•Total 50 minutes
Module 1 Quiz•30 minutes
Species Unknown?•5 minutes
First Life on Earth•15 minutes
1 discussion prompt•Total 20 minutes
Origin of Life•20 minutes
Module 2: Prokaryotic Life
Module 3•2 hours to complete
Module details
In this module, we will learn about the major groups of prokaryotes, the role of the human microbiome, the discovery of antibiotics, and how bacteria develop antibiotic resistance.
What's included
4 videos5 readings3 assignments
Show info about module content
4 videos•Total 24 minutes
Bacteria•5 minutes
Archaea•5 minutes
The Microbiome•6 minutes
Antibiotics•8 minutes
5 readings•Total 64 minutes
Incomplete Notes on "Bacteria"•1 minute
Incomplete Notes on "Archaea"•1 minute
Incomplete Notes on "The Microbiome"•1 minute
Incomplete Notes on "Antibiotics"•1 minute
📖 Openstax textbook references for Module 2•60 minutes
3 assignments•Total 50 minutes
Module 2 Quiz•30 minutes
Are All Bacteria Bad?•5 minutes
🦠What About Viruses?•15 minutes
Module 3: Eukaryotic Life
Module 4•6 hours to complete
Module details
In this module, we will learn about the differences between prokaryotes and eukaryotes, the major groups of protists, plants, and fungi and how they affect people and other organisms.
Incomplete Notes on "The Eukaryotic Cell"•1 minute
Incomplete Notes on "Protists"•1 minute
Incomplete Notes on "How Plants Help People"•1 minute
Medicinal Plants at Risk•30 minutes
Incomplete Notes on "Key Innovations of Plants"•1 minute
Incomplete Notes on "Fungi"•1 minute
📖 Openstax textbook references for Module 3•180 minutes
2 assignments•Total 35 minutes
Module 3 Quiz•30 minutes
What Are Fungi More Closely Related to?•5 minutes
1 discussion prompt•Total 45 minutes
Plant Inventory 🌳•45 minutes
1 plugin•Total 15 minutes
Plant Adaptations & Their Purposes•15 minutes
Module 4: Invertebrate Animals
Module 5•4 hours to complete
Module details
In this module, we will learn about the evolutionary origins of animals, as well as some of the characteristics and importance of invertebrate animals such as Cnidarians, Rotifers, Mollusks, and Arthropods.
Rice University is consistently ranked among the top 20 universities in the U.S. and the top 100 in the world. Rice has highly respected schools of Architecture, Business, Continuing Studies, Engineering, Humanities, Music, Natural Sciences and Social Sciences and is home to the Baker Institute for Public Policy.
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When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
To access the course materials, assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience when you enroll in a course. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid. The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
What will I get if I subscribe to this Specialization?
When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.
Is financial aid available?
Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.