Even though taking classes within the university classrooms under the mentorship of qualified instructors is essential for gaining knowledge and experience in the field of interest, taking online courses is also a great way to fulfill the knowledge gained at the university. Along with that, online courses are often more flexible and cheaper in contrast to the traditional education system. Taking online classes is advantageous for individuals for several reasons, including easy access to study material, no need for transportation to campus, self-paced learning, and lower costs. For that reason, various educational platforms have aimed to transform traditional education by removing financial barriers along with location, accessibility issues.
Considering the convenience of such courses, here is the list of online Biochemistry courses.
Biochemistry: The Molecules of Life – FutureLearn, University of East Anglia (Norwich, England)
FutureLearn offers various online courses from leading universities and institutions throughout the world. All the courses are accessible on different devices, including mobile, tablet, or desktop. One of such courses offered by FutureLearn is an online course in Biochemistry at the University of East Anglia. The course will be mainly for the 15 to 19-year olds who have a particular background in Biology and Chemistry and are willing to study Biochemistry in the future.
The Biochemistry course will emphasize the principles and general history of the field as well as its importance in the life sciences. Moreover, the course will cover diverse topics including A Brief History of Biochemistry, Metabolism, bioenergetics, Future Developments in Bioenergy, Natural Products and Healthy Living, and New Technologies in the Molecular sciences.
The instructors for the online course are Richard Bowater who specializes in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, focusing on DNA structure and Fraser MacMillan whose teaching and research connects Biochemistry and Biophysics with emphasis on structure and function of essential membrane proteins.
The online Biochemistry course duration of which is 3 weeks (3 hours per week) offers various options for the applicants including the Free Course within which students will have access to the course for 5 weeks for free. Another option is Upgraded Course (for $69) in case of which students will have access to the course for as long as it is available on FutureLearn and ability to print a digital Certificate of Achievement after completing the course. The last option is an Unlimited Course (for $269/year) which grants the students access to not only the course in Biochemistry but also hundreds of other FutureLearn courses, ability to print a digital Certificate of Achievement after completing the course, access to all courses that students have completed for as long as the courses are available on FutureLearn, and the freedom to complete the courses of interest in preferred time throughout the year.
Principles of Biochemistry – edX, Harvard University (Cambridge, Massachusetts)
edX is a platform founded by Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology which offers a diverse variety of online courses from top-ranked universities and leading companies worldwide. edX provides an online course in Biochemistry at Harvard University for the students with knowledge in college-level Introductory Biology, Introductory General Chemistry, and Basic Organic Chemistry.
The course will focus on general principles of Biochemistry through exploring the molecules of life from simple building blocks to complex metabolism. Enrolled students will learn the Structure and Function of the Chemical Building Blocks of Life, Navigation of Protein Structures Using PyMOL, Central Role of Enzymes in Catalyzing Essential Reactions, Primary Metabolic Pathways, Intricate Mechanisms Regulating Cellular Metabolism, and the Integration of Biochemical Processes in the Context of Cells, Tissues, and Whole Organisms.
The instructors for the online Biochemistry course are Alain Viel, Senior Lecturer at the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology at Harvard University and Rachelle Gaudet, Professor of Molecular and Cellular Biology at Harvard University.
The length of the online course is 15 weeks, with a minimum of 4 to 6 required hours per week. The required language of the course, as well as video transcriptions, is English. The intermediate-level course is offered for free, but in case if students are willing to add a Verified Certificate, they will be responsible for paying a fee of $199.
Metabolomics in Life Sciences – edX, Osaka University (Osaka Prefecture, Japan)
edX is a platform founded by Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology which offers a diverse variety of online courses from top-ranked universities and leading companies worldwide. edX provides an online course in Biochemistry emphasizing Metabolomics, the study of metabolites produced as a result of metabolism. The course is offered for the students with an undergraduate-level knowledge in Biochemistry, Analytical Chemistry, or Biostatistics at the Osaka University.
The course provides introductory topics for metabolomics and its applications in diverse fields of life sciences. The topics include the Basic Principles of Metabolomics, Application of Metabolic Fingerprinting for Food Quality Assessments, Tools for Phenotype Improvement, and Basics of Mass Spectrometry and Imaging Mass Spectrometry. Throughout the course, instructors will provide a summary of all steps used in metabolomics research, case studies of diverse research samples, and enough explanation for better understanding of principles and techniques. For that reason, there is no need for previous experience in metabolomics.
The mentors for the online course are Professors and Teaching Assistants including Eiichiro Fukusaki, Suichi Shimma, Sastia Prama Putri, Katsuaki Nitta, Kana Yamamoto, and Emi Takeo.
The duration of the course is 4 weeks, during which the students will be required to spend about 2 to 3 hours per week for studies. edX offers the course for free, but there is a fee of $49 in case if students are willing to get a Verified Certificate. The introductory-level session will be held in English with video transcripts.
Biochemistry: Biomolecules, Methods, and Mechanisms – edX, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Cambridge, Massachusetts)
edX is a platform founded by Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology which offers a diverse variety of online courses from top-ranked universities and leading companies worldwide. One of such courses is an online Biochemistry course for students with an undergraduate-level knowledge in Introductory Biology, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Chemistry, or Organic Chemistry I offered at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
The course will focus on various biomolecules and methods and mechanisms used in Biochemistry. Students will learn how to apply the scientific methods to pursue research questions, protein purification techniques, determination of protein structure, influence of structure, Allostery and the Bohr effect on hemoglobin structure, interpretation of graphs and plots, calculation of constants related to enzyme functions, differentiation of pumps, transporters, and channels in molecule transport across membranes, and the role of G-Proteins in cell signaling pathways.
The students will study under the mentorship of Professors, MITx Digital Learning Scientists and Fellows from Massachusetts Institute of Technology: Michael Yaffe, Mary Ellen, Darcy Gordon, and Monika Avello.
The online course in Biochemistry, which lasts for 11 weeks requires student engagement of 3 to 6 hours per week. The course is offered for free, but students will have to cover the fee of $150 for a Verified Certificate. Moreover, the language of the course and video transcripts in English.
Biochemistry – edX, University of Naples Federico II (Naples, Italy)
edX is a platform founded by Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology which offers a diverse variety of online courses from top-ranked universities and leading companies worldwide. edX offers an online introductory-level Biochemistry course at the University of Naples Federico II.
The course will be focused on the Biochemistry of life processes, its mechanisms, and impact in everyday life. Along with basic concepts and ideas, instructors will provide various examples to better understand how Biochemistry works in everyday life. The students enrolled in the online course will learn the structure and function of amino acids, proteins, and nucleotides, protein denaturation and renaturation, structure and function of hemoglobin, function and regulation of enzymes, general concepts of metabolism, structure and metabolism of carbohydrates, glycolysis and the Krebs cycle, respiratory chain, oxidative phosphorylation, metabolism of lipids and amino acids.
The instructor for the online course in Biochemistry is Margherita Ruoppolo, Professor of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology at the University of Naples Federico II.
The length of the free online course if 6 weeks during which students will be required to spend 4 to 6 hours per week for studies. To get a Verified Certificate, students will be required to pay a fee of $60. An introductory course will be held in Italian with Italian video transcripts.
Microbiology and Immunology – edX, University of Naples Federico II (Naples, Italy)
edX is a platform founded by Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology which offers a diverse variety of online courses from top-ranked universities and leading companies worldwide. One of the courses offered by edX is an online course in Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Naples Federico II. The course is offered for the students interested in how cell signaling works and what the role of the immune system is in defense against various infections.
The course will illustrate general aspects of the structure of the microbial cell with emphasis on biochemical, physiological, and morphological concepts of prokaryotes and other pathogens. Moreover, the course will provide students with ideas of Immunology and its role in defense along with main laboratory techniques. Students will learn these concepts through the topics including the Basic Concepts of Microbial Cell structure, Foundations of Immunology, the Role of Immunology in Defense Against Infections, Structure of the Immune System, and the Main Laboratory Methods Used in Immunology.
The instructors for the course are Rosa Marina Melillo, Professor of General Pathology at the University of Naples Federico II and Paola Salvatore, Professor of Microbiology at the University of Naples Federico II.
The 7-week online course is offered for free, but there is a fee of $60 for a Verified Certificate. Students will be required to spend a minimum of 6 to 8 hours per week on studies. The courses will be held in Italian with Italian video transcripts.
Biochemical Principles of Energy Metabolism – Coursera, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (Daedeok Innopolis, Daejeon, South Korea)
Coursera is an online platform which offers courses under the mentorship of top instructors from the world’s leading universities and educational institutions. Coursera provides affordable online classes in various fields of study along with financial aid opportunities for the students who cannot afford to pay the fee. One of such online courses is offered in Biochemistry at Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, also referred to as KAIST.
The course will be primarily focused on the principles of energy metabolism. Instructors will provide a clear and comprehensible overview of basic concepts by explaining what metabolism is, the importance of energy in life, and the role of ATP in energy metabolism. Moreover, the course will highlight the metabolic organs, carbohydrate digestion, the function of enzymes, and glucose metabolism along with an examination of hunger hormones. Furthermore, students will also learn concepts regarding glucose oxidation and energy production, photosynthesis, fat metabolism, glucose energy homeostasis and diabetes, and energy homeostasis in the human body.
The mentor for the online course is Seyun Kim, Assistant professor from the Department of Biological Sciences at KAIST.
The duration of the course is 7 weeks, during which students will be able to study for free. After purchasing the Certificate, students get access to course materials and electronic Certificate after completing the course. The course offers flexible deadlines through which students will be able to reset deadlines under their schedules. The course will be held in English with English subtitles as well.
Structural Biochemistry – Coursera, Nanjing University (Nanjing, Jiangsu)
Coursera is an online platform which offers courses under the mentorship of top instructors from the world’s leading universities and educational institutions. Coursera provides affordable online courses in various fields of study along with financial aid opportunities for the students who cannot afford to pay the fee. One of the courses offered by Coursera is an online Biochemistry course for students with knowledge in General Biology and Organic Chemistry at Nanjing University.
The course will provide overview of essential structural components of large biomolecules as well as in-depth understanding of general topics in Structural Biochemistry including Structure and Function of Proteins, Structure and Function of Nucleic Acids Bases, Properties of Proteins and Nucleic Acids, Structure and Function of Enzymes, Structure and Function of Carbohydrates and Lipids, and Structure and Function of Hormones.
The instructor for the online course in Structural Biochemistry is Yang Rongwu, Professor from the College of Life Sciences at Nanjing University.
This free online course will last for 8 weeks including 7 weeks for theoretical studies and the last week for the final exam, concluding remarks and acknowledgments. The course offers flexible deadlines through which students will be able to learn at their schedules. Sessions will be held in Chinese (simplified) with subtitles also in Simplified Chinese.
DNA Decoded – Coursera, McMaster University (Hamilton, Ontario, Canada)
Coursera is an online platform which offers courses under the mentorship of top instructors from the world’s leading universities and educational institutions. Coursera provides affordable online courses in various fields of study along with financial aid opportunities for the students who cannot afford to pay the fee. One of the courses offered by Coursera is an intermediate-level online DNA Decoded course at McMaster University.
The course will focus on answering various questions regarding the importance of DNA. The topics will include Cracking the Genetic Code, Getting the Message Across: Transcription, Translation, and Replication, Manipulating DNA, and DNA and Me. Along with that, students will learn the practical techniques used in the analysis of genetic risks and treatments for a diverse variety of genetic diseases. Moreover, students will get an opportunity to perform forensic DNA analysis of samples from crime scenes and solve a murder.
Instructors for the online course are Caitlin Mullarkey, Assistant Professor at the Department of Health Sciences at McMaster University and Felicia Vulcu, Assistant Professor at the Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences at McMaster University.
The duration of this free online course is 4 weeks, during which students will be required to spend at least 3 hours per week for studies. The course offers flexible deadlines, which grants the students freedom to choose deadlines for particular assignments. Moreover, the intermediate-level session will be held in English.
Bioinformatics – Coursera, University of California, San Diego (San Diego, California)
Coursera is an online platform which offers courses under the mentorship of top instructors from the world’s leading universities and educational institutions. Coursera provides affordable online classes in various fields of study along with financial aid opportunities for the students who cannot afford to pay the fee. One of such courses is offered in Biochemistry with emphasis on Bioinformatics at the University of California, San Diego.
The online course will be focused on bioinformatics software and computational approaches utilized in modern biology. Students will be able to choose from 7 courses in the specialization of Bioinformatics. The courses include the following: Finding Hidden Messages in DNA (Bioinformatics I), Genome Sequencing (Bioinformatics II), Comparing Genes, Proteins and Genomes (Bioinformatics III), Molecular Evolution (Bioinformatics IV), Genomic Data Science and Clustering (Bioinformatics V), Finding Mutations in DNA and Proteins (Bioinformatics VI), and Bioinformatics Capstone: Big Data in Biology. Through completing the courses mentioned above, individuals will be able to obtain a toolkit of software resources based on computational topics. Even though the specialization is built on the computational approaches, knowledge in programming is not mandatory.
Instructors for the online courses in Bioinformatics are Pavel Pevzner, Professor at the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Philip Compeau, Visiting Researcher at the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, and Nikolay Vyahhi, Visiting Scholar at the Department of Computer Science and Engineering.
Duration of the courses varies from 3 to 6 weeks depending on the course of the interest from the list of 7 online courses mentioned earlier. Students will be required to spend 4 hours on average per week to complete the course successfully. The course offers flexible deadlines and opportunities to learn according to individual schedule. The beginner-level course in Bioinformatics will be held in English with English subtitles on the lecture videos.
