Top 20+ Best Free Online Courses for Biology Today
Top 20+ Best Free Online Courses for Biology Today

Online learning is the current trend of education, actually it has been around for a long time, but it is not used much. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, it has to be used as it is the safest way to still deliver quality education and schools that don't use it have to start doing it.

Online learning has a host of advantages it offers to learners, and you still get the same kind of education even when you're sitting in a classroom.

Online learning is flexible, fast to complete, cheap - free in some cases - and almost anyone can join no matter where in the world you are. You just need Wi-Fi and a computer/tablet.

With e-learning, individuals with a background in biology can learn completely online and in this case for free.

Without further ado, we recommend taking free online biology courses to kick-start your career in this field.

Content

1. Introduction to Biology – The Secret of Life

Link: https://www.edx.org/course/introduction-to-biology-the-secret-of-life-3

Professor Eric Lander, one of the Human Genome Project's leaders, teaches 7.00x, a basic biology course.

The topics covered in the course are similar to those taught in MIT's introductory biology courses and many other biology courses around the world.

As a student, you will first focus on the structure and function of macromolecules such as DNA, RNA, and proteins.

You'll also learn how structural changes in certain macromolecules affect their functions and how these changes affect human health.

You'll learn how to apply your knowledge of genetics and cell information flow to human health and disease, as well as molecular biological tools and their potential to impact our changing world as you progress through the course.

You will have a solid understanding of biology after completing this course, which will allow you to comprehend the current medical revolution.

MITx 7.00x Introduction to Biology The Secret of Life delves into biochemistry, genetics, molecular biology, recombinant DNA technology and genomics, and rational medicine.

2. Introduction to Genetics and Evolution

Link: https://www.coursera.org/learn/genetics-evolution

This course is offered by Duke University, a university with a world-class faculty dedicated to expanding knowledge frontiers and applying knowledge in service to society.

It provides a basic overview of the principles underlying the fundamentals of biology. It also investigates new "genome sequences," commercial kits that allow you to learn about your ancestry through your DNA or disease predispositions, as well as debates over the truth of evolution.

The course also explains why animals behave the way they do and how genetic evidence for natural selection was discovered.

3. Anatomy: Musculoskeletal and Integumentary Systems

Link: https://www.edx.org/es/course/anatomy-musculoskeletal-and-integumentary-systems-2

The University of Michigan is offering a free online course called "Anatomy: Musculoskeletal and Integumentary Systems" to you. This course will teach you how the components of the integumentary system (epidermis, dermis, hair, nails, and glands) help to protect our bodies. You'll also discover how the musculoskeletal system protects and moves the body. To enroll in this course, you must have a basic understanding of biology.

4. Principles of Biochemistry

Link: https://pll.harvard.edu/course/principles-biochemistry-1

If you're the type of person who is always looking for new ways to get your daily dose of science, Principles of Biochemistry might be the Harvard course for you.

The course is relatively lengthy, lasting 15 weeks. This is plenty of time to learn everything there is to know about the structure of life's chemical building blocks, as well as how to navigate protein structures with PyMOL and much more.

Principles of Biochemistry combines an introduction to macromolecular structure with a biochemical approach to cellular function. Enzyme kinetics, the characterization of major metabolic pathways and their interconnection into tightly regulated networks, and the manipulation of enzymes and pathways with mutations or drugs will be among the protein function topics covered. The progression of metabolic complexity will be discussed using an exploration of simple cells (red blood cells) to more complex tissues (muscle and liver). Learners will also gain problem-solving and analytical skills that are transferable to the life sciences.

5. Cell Biology: Mitochondria

Link: https://pll.harvard.edu/course/cell-biology-mitochondria

If Principles of Biochemistry sounds interesting but you're concerned about the level of complexity or the time commitment, Cell Biology: Mitochondria might be the answer.

This free course covers the fundamentals of all cell biology, with an emphasis on Mitochondria. It also teaches about cell structure and how cells metabolize food, among other things.

This course only requires a four-week commitment and is entirely self-paced, making it suitable for students of any skill or commitment level.

6. Biology Everywhere by University of Colorado

Link: www.coursera.org%2Fspecializations%2Fbiology-everywhere

Have you ever considered how natural sciences, such as biology, apply to your daily life? Coursera's free online biology course will show you how biology can be observed in our world's everyday occurrences and will allow you to learn biology through the lens of everyday life. Coursera is an example of a MOOC, or massive open online course provider. It was founded in 2012 by two computer science professors from Stanford University, and it connects users to free online courses taught by qualified and intelligent professors all over the world.

Melanie Peffer, the course's instructor, is a professor and member of the University of Colorado Boulder's research faculty. Students will be able to apply fundamental biological concepts such as cell biology and genetics to their daily lives by the end of the course, as well as explain modern biological issues in our society.

7. Molecular Biology – Part 1: DNA Replication and Repair

Link: https://www.edx.org/course/molecular-biology-part-1-dna-replication-and-repair

Are you ready to go beyond the "what" of scientific information provided in textbooks to investigate how scientists determine the complexities of these molecular models?

Take a look behind the scenes of modern molecular genetics, from classic experiments that discovered the proteins involved in DNA replication and repair to cutting-edge assays that make use of genome sequencing.

This online biology class will teach you everything you need to know about DNA replication and repair.

This course's problems are intended to help you improve your experimental design and data analysis skills.

8. Contemporary Biology

Link: https://www.coursera.org/learn/contemporary-biology

The University of North Texas offers this course, which explores the fundamentals of biology as they apply to everyday life. It will assist learners in understanding the interaction between science and self through the use of a personalized case study of themselves as well as their surroundings.

Furthermore, the course will assist students in recognizing and comprehending the interactions of natural phenomena, as well as the implications of scientific principles that govern the physical world and their experiences living in it.

Course syllabus:

  • Introduction to cell structures and function
  • Energy transfer and flow
  • Eukaryotic cells and DNA
  • Cell division and heredity

9. Fundamentals of Neuroscience, Part 1: The Electrical Properties of the Neuron

Top 20+ Best Free Online Courses for Biology Today
Best Free Online Courses for Biology Today

Link: https://pll.harvard.edu/course/fundamentals-neuroscience-part-1-electrical-properties-neuron

If you've been drawn to Harvard's longer free courses but are concerned about being unable to complete them due to their length, Fundamentals of Neuroscience may be just what you're looking for.

This five-week course will teach you the fundamentals of bioelectricity and how it interacts with your nervous system.

What's great about this course is that it has two parts: part two and part three, which focus on more advanced concepts and grow steadily longer. This is a great way to continue your studies if you enjoyed the first part, or simply to stop once you've finished it.

10. Essential Human Biology: Cells and Tissues

Link: https://www.edx.org/course/essential-human-biology-cells-and-tissues

The University of Adelaide's online biology course delves into the wonders and complexities of the human body, beginning with our cells. It gives users a solid foundation in human anatomy and physiology, preparing them for a career or degree in the health sciences. edX, like Coursera, is a MOOC platform that allows students to take courses for free. While their certifications are not free, students can opt out of them and take the course for free.

Mario Ricci, Rachel Gibson, Sophie Karanicolas, and Catherine Snelling are among the four lecturers and professors from the University of Adelaide who teach Essential Human Biology. Throughout the cell biology online course, students will learn about the basic function and structure of human tissues and cells, as well as basic human anatomy and physiology and an overview of what to expect if they choose to pursue a health sciences degree.

11. Molecular Biology – Part 2: Transcription and Transposition

Link: https://www.edx.org/course/molecular-biology-part-2-transcription-and-transposition

Are you ready to go beyond the "what" of scientific information provided in textbooks to investigate how scientists determine the complexities of these molecular models?

Part 2 of this Molecular Biology course will teach you about DNA to RNA transcription, which is a fundamental part of biology and the first stage in gene expression.

Let's take a look at the gaps in your current knowledge of transcription machinery and transposition mechanisms.

If you're up for the challenge, enroll in 7.28.2x Molecular Biology: Transcription and Transposition.

Above all, the language of this online biology class, including the video transcripts, is English.

12. Ecology: Ecosystem Dynamics and Conservation

Link: https://www.coursera.org/learn/ecology-conservation

This course is offered in collaboration with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing biomedical research and science education, and is offered by the American Museum of National History, one of the world's preeminent scientific, cultural, and educational institutions.

This course examines ecology and ecosystem dynamics through the lens of system thinking. It also looks at how scientists study ecosystems and how to investigate the complex set of factors that aid in management efforts.

13. Energy and Thermodynamics

Link: https://pll.harvard.edu/course/energy-and-thermodynamics

For those of you who aren't particularly interested in biology, Harvard still has free science courses available. You could, for example, take Energy and Thermodynamics, a course that focuses on chemistry and energy.

This course explains the various types of energy and how they interact with power and chemistry. The course itself lasts 10 weeks and covers a wide range of topics.

14. Biochemistry: The Molecules of Life by Future Learn

Link: https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/biochemistry

If you've always wanted to know what makes up living beings and how life works, this online biology course from the University of East Anglia might be ideal for you. The course is available on Future Learn's free platform, which provides users with free online courses from top universities and instructors.

Richard Bowater and Fraser MacMillan, who work as teachers and biophysical chemists, respectively, teach the online biology course with certification. Students will be able to discuss and describe the chemical and scientific basis of living systems and organisms by the end of the course, describe historically significant scientific events, identify locations where biochemistry will play a key role in future scientific developments, and summarize significant scientific experiments that were important to biochemistry.

15. Molecular Biology – Part 3: RNA Processing and Translation

Link: https://www.edx.org/course/molecular-biology-part-3-rna-processing-and-transl

Part 3 of 7.28x will teach you about mRNA to protein translation, which is an important part of biology's fundamental dogma.

This course is for you if you are confident in your ability to design and understand molecular biology experiments.

This course's evaluations are intended to help you improve your experimental design and data analysis skills.

Consider the limitations of your current understanding of the translation machinery, as well as RNA turnover and splicing mechanisms.

If you're up for the challenge, enroll in 7.28.3x Molecular Biology: RNA Processing and Translation.

16. Genes and the Human Condition (From Behavior to Biotechnology)

Link: https://www.coursera.org/learn/genes

The University of Maryland, College Park, the state's flagship university and one of the nation's preeminent public research universities, offers this course.

The course aims to provide students with an understanding of the fundamental concepts of genomics and biotechnology, as well as their implications for human biology, medicine, evolution, social policy, and individual life choices in the twenty-first century.

Course syllabus:

  • Introduction to genetics
  • Know thy ancestors
  • My genes made me do it
  • Mid-term exams
  • My genes made me do it
  • An introduction to genetic engineering and learning the lingo
  • The future is now
  • Final exam

17. A-Level Biology: An Introduction to Key Concepts

Link: https://www.udemy.com/course/a-level-biology-an-introductory-taster-course/

While this free online course is designed for A-level biology students who want to improve their grades, the materials discussed in the course can be used by anyone who wants to expand their knowledge of basic biology.

This one-hour course by Frankie Barnes is called a "taster" course because it provides a brief introduction to many key biological concepts. Udemy is a platform that provides users with both free and paid courses based on their desired effort level and benefit. Free courses like this one do not provide a certificate of completion and only the video content is available. However, there is still a lot to learn!

18. Quantitative Methods for Biology

Link: https://www.edx.org/course/quantitative-methods-for-biology

As a biologist, health worker, or medical student, do you need to learn how to program?

Are you a programmer who wants to learn more about medicine? Do you want to learn the fundamentals of MATLAB?

Quantitative Methods for Biology is a one-of-a-kind approach for beginners, providing an inside look at a course and its students.

You'll be studying alongside other students learning to code.

This Online biology classes/courses is intended for experienced programmers and will assist you in learning the MATLAB you require without being slowed down by introductory principles you already understand.

They'll show you how to apply your skills to MATLAB whether you're already familiar with Python, Javascript, R, or another language.

19. The Exposome: cracking the science about what makes us sick

Link: https://www.coursera.org/learn/exposome

This course is offered by Utrecht University, a university founded in 1636 in the heart of the Netherlands that also serves as one of Europe's leading research institutions.

Furthermore, the university is well-known for its high-quality teaching and innovative research approach.

This course is taught by seven experts from Utrecht University and the NWO Gravitation program Exposome-NL.

It investigates the Expoome concept:

♦ Why is it significant?

♦ How is the exposome measured?

♦ To establish associations with health outcomes, data sciences steps are required.

Finally, the course reflects what is required to improve this nascent and transformative field of study.

20. Bio101: Introduction to Molecular and Cellular Biology

Link: https://learn.saylor.org/course/view.php?id=349

Saylor Academy is a non-profit educational platform that offers free courses to any interested student. The website provides nearly 100 classes in a variety of fields that are appropriate for both college and professional levels. Classes are free to attend and can be completed on your own time. Certificates of completion are available at the end of the courses, and you can also take them through Saylor Academy's Direct Credit Program for college credit and an official transcript.

This free online course delves into the fundamentals of molecular biology, covering topics such as carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids, water, and other materials found in living cells. Students will also learn about mitosis and meiosis, cellular metabolism, and genetics.

21. On-Ramp to AP* Biology

Link: https://www.edx.org/es/course/on-ramp-to-ap-biology-2

Weston High School is accepting applications for this free online course titled "On-Ramp to AP* Biology." This course will assist students who have completed an introductory level biology course in preparing for more advanced courses, such as AP Biology. You will be able to compare DNA and Protein sequences using BLAST and create a mathematical model of populations. Applicants must be familiar with basic biology concepts taught in elementary and high school.

Conclude

Biology is a fairly broad field to study. So you need to make sure you have the best quality study materials.

During the learning process, you can have an interesting and fun experience, or if the teaching is not engaging enough, you will be overwhelmed and unmotivated. That's why the approach is important.

The top online biology courses that I mentioned in this article are currently being offered by the best platforms out there. As a result, you will receive the most detailed, high-quality content and dive into the world of biology.

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