Genetic oscillator
Model the repressilator with differential equations and explore its oscillations.
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Biology & health · 28Intermediate
Systems Biologist
Quantitative learners drawn to synthetic biology.
Calculus and linear algebra, biology basics, networks and dynamical models of living systems, then genetic circuit design.
244hours of coursework
25weeks at 10 h
5steps
20courses
3universities
Target skills
Mathematical ModelingMolecular BiologyApplied MathematicsAlgebraMarkov ModelCell BiologyLife SciencesBiologyBiochemistryDifferential EquationsSimulationsBiotechnology
Skill labels as listed on Coursera.
Target jobs
- Systems biologist
- Synthetic biology engineer
- Researcher
Progression
- 1Johns Hopkins UniversityIntermediateData Analysis Software
Stated prerequisites: Some familiarity with precalculus, specifically exponential and logarithm functions
Show the 4 courses
Course Level Length Rating (reviews) Calculus through Data & Modeling: Precalculus Review Beginner 8 h 4.8 (124) Calculus through Data & Modeling: Limits & Derivatives Beginner 10 h 4.7 (212) Calculus through Data & Modeling: Differentiation Rules Intermediate 8 h 4.8 (124) Calculus through Data & Modeling: Applying Differentiation Intermediate 7 h 4.7 (63) - 2Johns Hopkins UniversityBeginner
Stated prerequisites: Basic algebra (no calculus)
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Course Level Length Rating (reviews) Linear Algebra: Linear Systems and Matrix Equations Beginner 10 h 4.7 (183) Linear Algebra: Matrix Algebra, Determinants, & Eigenvectors — 15 h 4.8 (79) Linear Algebra: Orthogonality and Diagonalization Intermediate 9 h 4.8 (56) - 3University of Colorado BoulderBeginner
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Course Level Length Rating (reviews) Biology Everywhere Foundations Beginner 5 h 4.5 (249) The Little Stuff: Energy, Cells, and Genetics Beginner 6 h 4.7 (127) The Big Stuff: Evolution and Ecology Beginner 4 h 4.6 (48) Specialty Topics: Biology Across Disciplines Beginner 7 h 4.4 (43) - 4Icahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiIntermediateR, MATLAB
Stated prerequisites: College-level cell and molecular biology, basic statistics and calculus
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Course Level Length Rating (reviews) Introduction to Systems Biology — 19 h 4.3 (577) Experimental Methods in Systems Biology — 18 h 4.5 (317) Network Analysis in Systems Biology Intermediate 30 h 4.5 (204) Dynamical Modeling Methods for Systems Biology — 19 h 4.7 (223) Integrated Analysis in Systems Biology — 4 h 4.6 (87) Systems Biology and Biotechnology Capstone — 2 h 4.5 (13) - 5University of Colorado BoulderIntermediateMathematical Softwareacademic credit
Stated prerequisites: Basic understanding of biology and/or engineering principles (recommended)
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Course Level Length Rating (reviews) Engineering Genetic Circuits: Design Beginner 20 h 4.4 (38) Engineering Genetic Circuits: Modeling and Analysis Intermediate 25 h — Engineering Genetic Circuits: Abstraction Methods Intermediate 18 h —
With Coursera Plus
This path takes 244 hours, about 6 months at 10 hours a week. A Coursera Plus subscription gives access to most of its courses during that time.
Projects to build
Protein network
Analyse a public protein interaction network and find the hub nodes.
Genetic logic gate
Design and simulate a genetic circuit that behaves like an AND gate.
Free textbooks
Calculus, Volumes 1 to 3OpenStaxFree, CC BY 4.0
Linear AlgebraJim HefferonFree
Biology 2eOpenStaxFree, CC BY 4.0
Notes on Diffy QsJiří LeblFree, CC BY-SA 4.0