Evolution

To acquire an understanding of the fundamental concepts of genomics and biotechnology, and their implications for human biology, evolution, medicine, social policy and individual life path choices in the 21st century.

Philosophy, Science and Religion mark three of the most fundamental modes of thinking about the world and our place in it. Are these modes incompatible? Put another way: is the intellectually responsible thing to do to ‘pick sides’ and identify with one of these approaches at the exclusion of [...]

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 [...]

The Origins course tracks the origin of all things – from the Big Bang to the origin of the Solar System and the Earth. The course follows the evolution of life on our planet through deep geological time to present life forms.

本课程以达尔文的“自然选择”和“生命之树”为主线，将重点介绍达尔文演化理论的要点，以及后人对达尔文理论的修订、补充和完善；介绍一些推动生物演化的主要力量，如遗传变异、自然选择、中性选择、遗传漂变等。同时还将介绍生物演化研究领域的各种方法和技术，并在此基础上通过很多实例对从远古的化石到现今多姿多彩的生物世界、从生物的形态改变到遗传物质的变化、从生物分子的起源到人类的起源等现象和问题进行解释。本课程将以大量的事实告诉大家：生物演化不仅仅是理论，而且是事实，它就发生在我们的身边。

Paleontology: Ancient Marine Reptiles is a four-lesson course teaching a comprehensive overview of the evolutionary changes that occur when air-breathing terrestrial animals return to water. This course examines the diversity, adaptations, convergence, and phylogenetic relationships of extinct marine reptiles. Students will explore three major groups of marine reptiles: ichthyosaurs, [...]

Paleontology: Theropod Dinosaurs and the Origin of Birds is a five-lesson course teaching a comprehensive overview of the origins of birds. This course examines the anatomy, diversity, and evolution of theropod dinosaurs in relation to the origin of birds. Students explore various hypotheses for the origin of flight. [...]

Paleontology: Early Vertebrate Evolution is a four-lesson course teaching a comprehensive overview of the origin of vertebrates. Students will explore the diversity of Palaeozoic lineages within a phylogenetic and evolutionary framework .This course examines the evolution of major vertebrate novelties including the origin of fins, jaws, and tetrapod limbs. [...]

Throughout history, the vast majority of people around the globe have believed they have, however defined, a “soul.” While the question of whether the soul exists cannot be answered by science, what we can study are the causes and consequences of various beliefs about the soul and its prospects [...]