Gut Check: Exploring Your Microbiome
University of Colorado Boulder
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.
Syllabus - What you will learn from this course
1
Section
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 fashion; our team will introduce topics by way of pre-recorded video lectures interspersed with guest interviews by subject matter experts. Module 1 will provide a broad overview about microbes and their diversity on earth and in the human body.
10 videos (Total 60 min), 3 readings, 2 quizzes
10 videos
Welcome to the Course3m
What are Microbes?8m
Interview: Jack Gilbert7m
Interview: Valerie McKenzie5m
The Human Microbiome14m
Where Do You Get Your Microbes?5m
Web interview: Maria Gloria Dominguez-Bello5m
Web interview: Elizabeth Costello4m
Rob's Module 1 wrap-up1m
3 readings
About This Course10m
Assignments10m
Part 1: You and Your Gut10m
1 practice exercises
Introduction to Microbes and the Human Microbiome12m
2
Section
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 glimpse into our world of data generation and analysis. Modules 4, 5, and 6 will be less technical and provide a broad overview of fascinating research on the human microbiome. Stick with us!
9 videos (Total 50 min), 2 readings, 1 quiz
9 videos
The history of studying microbes with Norm Pace6m
Basics of high-throughput DNA sequencing11m
Demo: Tour of the Knight Lab8m
'Omics' and other useful technologies6m
Interview: Luke Thompson3m
Web interview: Janet Jansson4m
Web interview: Pieter Dorrestein7m
Rob's Module 2 wrap-up0m
2 readings
Assignments10m
Part 1: You and Your Gut (continued)10m
1 practice exercises
Studying the Microbiome14m
3
Section
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 that we visualize data! This module will help you understand data plots in later modules, but do not get discouraged if the material here is too technical, a full understanding is not required to complete the course!
7 videos (Total 52 min), 2 readings, 1 quiz
7 videos
Web interview: Philip Hugenholtz11m
Basics of alpha-diversity with fuzzy microbe demo8m
Beta-diversity, and visualizing differences13m
Demo: EMPeror, a QIIME visualization tool2m
Web interview: Gregory Caporaso9m
Rob's Week 3 wrap-up1m
2 readings
Assignments10m
Part 1: You and Your Gut (continued)10m
1 practice exercises
Making Sense Out of Microbial Data12m
4
Section
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 influence of the gut microbiota on nutrition and gut health. This is the fun part, so get excited!
8 videos (Total 51 min), 1 reading, 2 quizzes
8 videos
Obesity and the gut microbiota8m
Human microbiome and gut disease6m
Interview: On location in Tanzania with Martin Blaser6m
Interview: On location in Tanzania with Jeff Leach6m
Interview: On location in Tanzania with Maria Gloria Dominguez-Bello2m
Manipulating the microbiome through fecal transplants5m
Rob's Module 4 wrap-up1m
1 readings
Assignments10m
1 practice exercises
The Human Gut Microbiome and Your Health16m
5
Section
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 your immune system interact? What about your nervous system? Does the gut microbiota play a role in allergies and stress?
11 videos (Total 82 min), 1 reading, 1 quiz
11 videos
Gut microbiota, autoimmune diseases, and allergies8m
Web interview: Sarkis Mazmanian11m
Interview: Cathy Lozupone10m
The gut-brain axis10m
Post-mortem human microbiome6m
Zech on machine learning5m
Web interview: Sibyl Bucheli9m
Web interview: David Carter4m
Web interview: Charlotte Carter4m
Rob's Module 5 wrap-up0m
1 readings
Assignments10m
1 practice exercises
Gut Microbe-Host Interactions: Beyond Nutrition16m
6
Section
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 of microbiome research and how it has changed the way he thinks about his health and what he eats.
8 videos (Total 60 min), 4 readings, 2 quizzes
8 videos
Interview: Tom Cech6m
Collecting samples12m
Interview: Daniel McDonald9m
Michael Pollan vs. Jeff Leach: American Gut results explained9m
Web interview: Michael Pollan9m
Comparing the American Gut to other populations4m
Rob's Module 6 wrap-up and thank you's2m
4 readings
Assignments10m
Closing Remarks10m
Acknowledgements10m
Post-Course Survey10m
1 practice exercises
What's in the American Gut16m
4.7
67%
83%
17%
Top Reviews
By AF•Feb 11th 2017
Very informative! Everybody should take this course, to know more about their own microbiome...\n\nThe first lessons are not so exciting, but hang in there! The most interesting parts come later ;)
By BF•Aug 26th 2016
Both enjoyable and challenging. Hear an interesting range of lectures, backed up with a wide range of articles. Shook up my idea of what it takes to be a healthy human - a healthy microbiome.
Instructors
Rob Knight
Professor
Dr. Jessica L. Metcalf
Senior Research Associate
Dr. Katherine R. Amato
Postdoctoral Research AssociateAbout 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.
About 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.
About 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Once you enroll for a Certificate, you’ll have access to all videos, quizzes, and programming assignments (if applicable). Peer review assignments can only be submitted and reviewed once your session has begun. If you choose to explore the course without purchasing, you may not be able to access certain assignments.
What will I get if I pay for this course?
If you pay for this course, you will have access to all of the features and content you need to earn a Course Certificate. If you complete the course successfully, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. Note that the Course Certificate does not represent official academic credit from the partner institution offering the course.
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