About this course: Imagine if there were an organ in your body that weighed as much as your brain, that affected your health, your weight, and even your behavior. Wouldn’t you want to know more about it? There is such an organ — the collection of microbes in and on your body, your human microbiome.
Created by: University of Colorado Boulder, University of Colorado System, University of California, San Diego
Taught by: Rob Knight, Professor
Pediatrics and Computer Science & Engineering. Director, Center for Microbiome Innovation, University of California, San Diego
Taught by: Dr. Jessica L. Metcalf, Senior Research Associate
BioFrontiers Institute
Taught by: Dr. Katherine R. Amato, Postdoctoral Research Associate
Department of Anthropology, BioFrontiers Institute
| Language | English, Subtitles: Catalan |
| How To Pass | Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. |
| User Ratings |
Syllabus
WEEK 1
Introduction to Microbes and the Human Microbiome
Welcome Citizen Scientists! We're very pleased to have you join us on an exploration of the human microbiome. This is a fascinating area of study, and we hope you will find this six-module course worthwhile. Each module's content will be presented in similar f...
10 videos, 3 readings
Graded: Introduction to Microbes and the Human Microbiome
Graded: Personal Microbiome Project Part I: Brainstorming
WEEK 2
Studying the Microbiome
In this module, we will dive into the fundamentals of how we study the human microbiome. We highlight recent advances in microbiome research methods and take you on a tour of the Knight lab. Please keep in mind, that Modules 2 and 3 are meant to provide a glim...
9 videos, 2 readings
Graded: Studying the Microbiome
WEEK 3
Making Sense Out of Microbial Data
This module highlights the basics of generating and analyzing microbiome data. We will also discuss how computational scientists are revolutionizing the development of tools for analyzing large, complex biological data sets and show you some of the cool ways t...
7 videos, 2 readings
Graded: Making Sense Out of Microbial Data
WEEK 4
The Human Gut Microbiome and Your Health
Now that we've given you some background about the methods we use to analyze microbial data, it's time for us to talk more about recent discoveries in microbiome research. This module will focus on the main factors impacting the gut microbiota as well as the i...
8 videos, 1 reading
Graded: The Human Gut Microbiome and Your Health
Graded: Personal Microbiome Project Part I: Reflection Questions
WEEK 5
Gut Microbe-Host Interactions: Beyond Nutrition
You're more than halfway through the course! We hope you've been learning lots of new, exciting things about the human gut microbiota! In this module, we'll shift the focus from nutrition and gut health to the rest of your body. How do your gut microbes and yo...
11 videos, 1 reading
Graded: Gut Microbe-Host Interactions: Beyond Nutrition
WEEK 6
What's in the American Gut
We will wrap up the course in this module by discussing what's in the American Gut. Rob will walk us through results from the American Gut Project and compare results from Jeff Leach and Michael Pollan. We will also hear from Michael Pollan on the importance o...
8 videos, 4 readings
Graded: What's in the American Gut
Graded: Personal Microbiome Project Part II
FAQs
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Creators
University of Colorado Boulder
CU-Boulder is a dynamic community of scholars and learners on one of the most spectacular college campuses in the country. As one of 34 U.S. public institutions in the prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU), we have a proud tradition of academic excellence, with five Nobel laureates and more than 50 members of prestigious academic academies.
University of Colorado System
The University of Colorado is a recognized leader in higher education on the national and global stage. We collaborate to meet the diverse needs of our students and communities. We promote innovation, encourage discovery and support the extension of knowledge in ways unique to the state of Colorado and beyond.
University of California, San Diego
UC San Diego is an academic powerhouse and economic engine, recognized as one of the top 10 public universities by U.S. News and World Report. Innovation is central to who we are and what we do. Here, students learn that knowledge isn't just acquired in the classroom—life is their laboratory.
Ratings and Reviews
Great course!
Very helpful in understanding the concepts and helping me get started with my year of microbiome research.
The course is very clear and touches important aspects of Human Microbiota. It just needs more updates, because the field is rapidly growing. Thanks.
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I truly enjoyed this course. It wasnt to heavy, but i did manage to learn a lot more of the technical aspects of sequencing and so forth that i was completely naive to. As a Nutritionist i am passionate about the GUT and our individual Microbiota and this was just awesome. Thank you team!