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EPFLx: Nature, in Code: Biology in JavaScript

by École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne

Course Description - Interactive JavaScript and Biology

About This Course

If you're keen on diving into programming through an engaging, hands-on approach, this course on JavaScript through the lens of biological concepts is tailored for you. It allows learners to not only grasp programming fundamentals but to also see them applied in simulating various biological theories directly in the web browser. This course will especially benefit those aiming to understand complex biological principles in a practical, coding-focused format, without requiring any previous programming experience.

What Will Students Learn?

Basic and intermediate JavaScript programming skills.
Essential biological principles such as population genetics, evolutionary biology, and how diseases spread.
Tools to translate theory or ideas into programming code, enhancing conceptual understanding.
Practical experience through coding that reinforces the understanding of theoretical biological concepts.

Course Outline

Introduction to JavaScript within biological simulations.
Application of population genetics using code.

Exploration of evolutionary biology through programming.

Insights into the spread of infectious diseases via interactive models.

Who Should Enroll?

This course is ideal for students, hobbyists, or professionals interested in bioinformatics, computational biology, or anyone looking to merge IT with biological sciences. It serves as a great starting point for those who wish to understand biology through a digital perspective or programmers aiming to acquire insights into biological data.

Real-World Application

Skills acquired from this course can be instrumental in fields such as drug development, epidemiological research, genetic research, or even academic sectors where programming and biology intersect. Learners can implement educational tools, develop interactive web applications for biological data interpretation, or contribute to scientific research teams with computational tools.

Course Syllabus

Chapter 1: Introduction
Chapter 2: The Genes, They Are a-Changin’ - Application of the Hardy Weinberg Principle and other genetic variability metrics.
Chapter 3: Genetic Drift: The Power of Chance - Understand how randomness affects genetic drift and population sizes.
Chapter 4: Mutation: The Power of Mistakes - Analysis of mutation fixation and its impacts.
Chapter 5: Migration: Spatial Models - Investigate gene flow and its implications on gene pools.
Chapter 6: Natural Selection: The Best Idea Anyone’s Ever Had - Explore different types of selection and their effects on populations.
Chapter 7: Epidemics: The Spread of Infectious Diseases - Learn about epidemic modeling and disease spread through the SIR model.

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