Genetics Essentials
- HMX
Group Enrollment Option A program that is a popular choice for organizations and institutions to purchase in bulk.
Get essential genetics knowledge to prepare for the future of health care.
- Online; Instructor-Paced
Lessons are released weekly and remain available until the course ends.
$1,025
Enroll early to receive 10% off. Multi-course bundle pricing is also available.
Early Registration Deadline:
Certificate
There are two certification levels, based on participant scores: Certificate of Achievement; Certificate of Completion
10 Weeks, 1-2 Hours/Week
Most people can expect to spend around 15–20 hours total, but this depends on your baseline knowledge and how carefully you take notes.
On This Page
Overview
The way we diagnose and treat diseases is changing, with new technologies enabled by a deeper understanding of the human genome and its relationship to health and disease. This shift has broad implications for those who work in health care and related areas.
During this course, you will review the essential concepts of genetics focusing on how variations in DNA sequences arise, are inherited, and can lead to disease. You will also cover the different types of studies that can be used to identify genetic variants in individuals and populations. Through an engaging, online curriculum and real-world clinical application examples, you will gain an appreciation of recent advances in the field of genetics and their potential impacts on human health and disease.
Learning Objectives
- Get an introduction to key concepts in genetics
- Understand how variation in DNA sequence occurs, is inherited, and can lead to disease
- See how advances in sequencing and genetic testing are increasing our understanding of genetic risk
Participant Types
Health care professionals working in roles such as R&D, product management and strategy, sales, and marketing
About the Course
HMX online courses bring complex material to life through engaging biomedical visualizations, clinical applications, and true-to-life scenarios paired with lectures from Harvard Medical School faculty and leading experts.
Who Should Apply
This advanced course is appropriate for health care professionals who are keen to enhance their understanding of the key principles of genetics and gain a broader appreciation for their clinical applications; researchers who are likely to encounter principles of genetics in their work and are seeking to enhance their expertise; professionals in managerial or health care-related roles seeking clear, easily digestible teaching on the essential principles of genetics, which will allow them to confidently engage with these concepts at a practical level.
Course Format
Most people can expect to spend around 15–20 hours total, but this depends on your baseline knowledge, how carefully you take notes, and how seriously you take the assessments. Lessons from the courses are released toward the beginning of the course session and remain available until the courses end, so you can work at your own pace. There is a final exam at the end of each course that can be taken at any time during the multi-week final exam period. The flexible course format makes this an ideal choice for working professionals.
Want to spend more time learning the foundational aspects of genetics? Consider Genetics Fundamentals instead, which will go into these topics in more depth.
Group Enrollments
HMX courses are ideal for organizations looking to train teams or larger groups. Group pricing is available, making it a cost-effective investment in team development.
Faculty
HMX courses are led by Harvard Medical School faculty, working in collaboration with a multi-disciplinary team of experts in biomedical visualization, assessment, and the science of learning to create a unique learning experience that will stay with you.
- Lecturer in Genetics, Harvard Medical School (former)
Robert Green
MD, MPH
- Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School
- Associate Physician, Brigham and Women’s Hospital
- Geneticist, Brigham and Women’s Hospital
- Director, Genomes2People Research Program, Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Carrie Blout Zawatsky
MS, CGC
- Genetic Counselor, Brigham and Women’s Hospital
George Church, PhD, Robert Winthrop Professor of Genetics, Harvard Medical School / Professor of Health Sciences and Technology, Harvard Medical School
Isaac (“Zak”) Kohane, MD, PhD, Marion V. Nelson Professor of Biomedical Informatics, Harvard Medical School / Lawrence J. Henderson Professor of Pediatrics and Health Sciences and Technology, Harvard Medical School
Calum MacRae, MD, PhD, Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School / Cardiologist, Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Heidi Rehm, PhD, Professor of Pathology, Harvard Medical School / Chief Genomics Officer, Massachusetts General Hospital
Course Quiz
Are you ready for an advanced course? We recommend knowledge of basic chemistry, biology, and physics, as well as knowledge of key genetics concepts. Gauge your knowledge of genetics by taking this short quiz.
From Our Learners
Hear from HMX students as they share their experiences learning online with Harvard Medical School.
"If you are a student and interested in genetics, I would definitely recommend Genetics – Essentials. It starts with the basics and gradually builds on it."
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