The Biology of Bugs, Brains, and Beasts (FutureLearn)

Offered by University of York,
The Biology of Bugs, Brains, and Beasts (FutureLearn)

Improve your understanding of some of the key concepts in A level biology and discover what's involved in higher level study. Prepare for university study with this online biology course. Are you a student in sixth form and thinking of studying at university? On this course, you will use innovative research to enhance your understanding of basic biological concepts taught in A level biology.

Class Deals by MOOC List - Click here and see FutureLearn's Active Discounts, Deals, and Promo Codes.

You will also be introduced to university-level material so you can get a sense of what it’s like to study biosciences at the University of York.
Over three weeks, you will take a fascinating look into bugs, brains and neuroscience, and the interaction of animals with the environment. You will also discover what makes the University of York a unique place to study.

What topics will you cover?

  • Bugs (microorganisms and the biochemistry of life)
  • Brains (neuroscience: learning and memory)
  • Beasts (interaction of animals with the environment - ecology and conservation)

What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you'll be able to...

  • Demonstrate an appreciation of the ubiquity and importance of microbes
  • Explore the biological basis of learning and memory
  • Describe how species interact in biological communities, considering their wider habitat and the influence of humans
Go to Class
MOOC List is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Related Courses

Metabolomics: Understanding Metabolism in the 21st Century (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
University of Birmingham

Metabolomics: Understanding Metabolism in the 21st Century (FutureLearn)

Discover how metabolomics is revolutionising our understanding of metabolism with this free online course. Metabolomics is an emerging field that aims to measure the complement of metabolites (the metabolome) in living organisms. The metabolome represents the downstream effect of an organism’s genome and its interaction with the environment. Metabolomics has a wide application area across the medical and biological sciences.

No sessions available
4 Weeks
What is a Mind? (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
University of Cape Town

What is a Mind? (FutureLearn)

Explore the most pertinent scientific and philosophical concepts for understanding our own minds with this free online course. This free online course will bring together learners and practitioners interested in how the mind works. It aims to build bridges between traditionally antagonistic approaches to understanding the mind.

Jul 25th 2022
5-12 Weeks
Medical Neuroscience (Coursera) Coursera
Duke University

Medical Neuroscience (Coursera)

Medical Neuroscience explores the functional organization and neurophysiology of the human central nervous system, while providing a neurobiological framework for understanding human behavior. In this course, you will discover the organization of the neural systems in the brain and spinal cord that mediate sensation, motivate bodily action, and integrate sensorimotor signals with memory, emotion and related faculties of cognition. The overall goal of this course is to provide the foundation for understanding the impairments of sensation, action and cognition that accompany injury, disease or dysfunction in the central nervous system. The course will build upon knowledge acquired through prior studies of cell and molecular biology, general physiology and human anatomy, as we focus primarily on the central nervous system.

Oct 12th 2026
13-24 Weeks
Alimentación: la relación entre la comida, el intestino y el cerebro (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
EIT Food,EIT,University of Turin

Alimentación: la relación entre la comida, el intestino y el cerebro (FutureLearn)

El intestino y el cerebro están muy estrechamente vinculados. Averigüe cómo afecta la dieta a su cerebro y cómo afecta el cerebro a su dieta. En los últimos años, la importancia del vínculo entre el intestino y el cerebro ha quedado patente. En este curso explorará esta compleja relación.

Jan 3rd 2022
5-12 Weeks
Small and Mighty: Introduction to Microbiology (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
University of Reading

Small and Mighty: Introduction to Microbiology (FutureLearn)

Understand the basics of microbiology and explore the diversity of microbial life in our world. Discover the fascinating world of microbes. Microbes may be invisible to the eye, but they dominate every environment on Earth – including you. Microbes are often associated with disease yet the majority of species help to keep us alive. How can you distinguish the good from the bad?

Self Paced
3 Weeks
Teaching Students Who Have Suffered Complex Trauma (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
Queensland University of Technology

Teaching Students Who Have Suffered Complex Trauma (FutureLearn)

Find out what complex trauma is, how it affects children and adolescents, and what can be done to help. Learn how to support students who have experienced complex trauma. Complex trauma affects the physical, emotional and social development of children and adolescents. In order to minimise harm, teachers and school leaders need to respond appropriately using trauma-informed practices and policies. In this course, you’ll get an introduction to what complex trauma is and how it affects young people’s development at school.

Self Paced
2 Weeks
Childhood Adversity: The Impact of Childhood Maltreatment on Mental Health (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
University College London

Childhood Adversity: The Impact of Childhood Maltreatment on Mental Health (FutureLearn)

Explore the connection between childhood adversity and mental health, and enhance your knowledge of mental health in young people. Learn how childhood trauma impacts a child’s beliefs, behaviour, and development. We know half of all mental health conditions emerge before age fourteen, but there’s a need for a greater understanding of young people’s mental wellbeing. On this course, you’ll improve your understanding of how early adverse experiences can impact a young person’s mental health.

Self Paced
3 Weeks
Good Brain, Bad Brain: Parkinson's Disease (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
University of Birmingham

Good Brain, Bad Brain: Parkinson's Disease (FutureLearn)

Learn the fundamentals of Parkinson's disease with this online course. What causes it and what we can do to treat it? This online course is aimed at anyone who wants to find out the fundamentals of Parkinson’s disease. We will look at how Parkinson’s disease affects people; what causes it; what we can do to try to ameliorate the symptoms of Parkinson’s; and what we don’t yet know about it.

No sessions available
3 Weeks
Food Technology, Health and Safety (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
Taipei Medical University

Food Technology, Health and Safety (FutureLearn)

Address important food safety concerns including food fraud and allergies, additives, microorganisms, and heavy metals. Learn how to detect food fraud and food allergies. On this four-week course from Taipei Medical University, you’ll discuss global food safety concerns, exploring the effects of different foods, toxins, and additives on the human body.

Self Paced
4 Weeks