About this course: The Origins course tracks the origin of all things – from the Big Bang to the origin of the Solar System and the Earth. The course follows the evolution of life on our planet through deep geological time to present life forms.
Who is this class for: The course is intended for students at college and undergraduate university level. However, it can also be followed by others who have a basic knowledge of biology, chemistry, geology and physics.
Created by: University of Copenhagen
Taught by: Henning Haack, Associate Professor
Natural History Museum
Taught by: James Connelly, Professor
Natural History Museum of Denmark
Taught by: Vivi Vajda, Professor
Department of Geology, Lund University
Taught by: Jon Fjeldså, Professor, Curator
Taught by: Thomas Gilbert, Professor
Taught by: Michael Houmark-Nielsen, Associate Professor
Natural History Museum of Denmark
Taught by: Bent Erik Kramer Lindow, Curator
Natural History Museum of Denmark
Taught by: Gilles Guy Roger Cuny, Associate Professor
Natural History Museum of Denmark
Taught by: Ole Seberg, Associate Professor
Natural History Museum of Denmark
Taught by: Gitte Petersen, Associate Professor
Natural History Museum of Denmark
Taught by: Tais Wittchen Dahl, Assistant Professor of Geobiology
Taught by: Arne Thorshøj Nielsen, Associate Professor
Natural History Museum of Copenhagen
Taught by: Martin Vinther Sørensen, Associate Professor, Curator
Natural History Museum of Denmark
Taught by: Svend Stouge, Associate Professor
Natural History Museum of Denmark
Taught by: Danny Eibye Jacobsen, Associate Professor, Curator
Natural History Museum of Denmark
Taught by: Jan Audun Rasmussen, Associate Professor
Natural History Museum of Denmark
Taught by: Emily Catherine Pope, Assistant professor
Natural History Museum of Denmark
| Commitment | 5-7 hours/week |
| Language | English |
| How To Pass | Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. |
| User Ratings |
Syllabus
WEEK 1
Origin of the Elements, the Solar System and the Planets
In the first module of Origins Jim Connelly and Henning Haack go through the evolution that resulted in the Solar System with the planets that we know today. Jim will actually go even deeper than that -- he will tell you about how the elements of the periodic ...
11 videos, 2 readings
Graded: Quiz 1
WEEK 2
The early Earth and origin of life
The first lecture described the origin of the elements, the Solar System and the planets. This time we are going to have a look at our own planet, just after it formed. Emily Pope from the Natural History Museum of Denmark will take you on a tour back in deep ...
6 videos
Graded: Quiz 2
WEEK 3
Origin of the microbial world / The Cambrian Explosion and Exceptional Preservation
In the last lecture Emily Pope told you about the early evolution of Earth and the oldest evidence of life.This time Jan Audun Rasmussen and Danny Eibye-Jacobsen will show you how life evolved during the first 4 billion years of the Earth evolution. As you wil...
8 videos
Graded: Quiz 3
WEEK 4
Transition from Microbial to Macrobial Life: Snowball Earth and the Ediacara Biota / Eukaryotic Evolution and the Phylogeny of All Life
In the last module Jan Audun Rasmussen and Danny Eibye-Jacobsen lectured on the early evolution of microbial life, leading up to the Cambrian Explosion of higher life forms. You may have wondered why it took almost 4 billion years before the higher life forms ...
7 videos
Graded: Quiz 4
WEEK 5
Origin of the marine Cambrian and Palaeozoic Evolutionary Faunas / Diversity in deep time / Origin of predation and the Mesozoic Arms race
In the module 5, Arne Thorshøj Nielsen and Jan Audun Rasmussen will show you how the higher life forms, particularly the marine animals, evolved in the oceans, after the sudden appearance of a hard skeleton in many different animal groups some 540 My ago. You ...
5 videos
Graded: Quiz 5
WEEK 6
Oxygenation and Animals
In module 6 Tais Wittchen Dahl will take a detailed look at one of the most important factors controlling the evolution of life - oxygen. In the previous lectures you have already heard that the oxygen levels have changed in the past, but Tais will show you ho...
3 videos
Graded: Quiz 6
WEEK 7
Origins and Early Development of Plants / The Origin and Diversification of Flowering Plants
In module 6 Tais Witchen Dahl explained how the oxygen levels in the atmosphere and the oceans are linked with the evolution of life. In module 7 we will have a close look at the biggest source of oxygen -- the plants. Up till now we have heard a lot about the...
6 videos
Graded: Quiz 7
WEEK 8
The Evolution of Insects and their Role in Terrestrial Ecosystems
In module 8 Lars Vilhelmsen will take a close look at the insects which account for more than 50% of today’s biodiversity and biomass. Part of the story behind the success of the insects is their remarkable adaption to a wide range of environments. Insects mas...
4 videos
Graded: Quiz 8
WEEK 9
Colonization of the continents and the Origin of the Dinosaurs and Birds/Mass Extinction Events and Their Causes
In the ninth module we will explore how our ancestors colonized dry land. Jesper Milan will tell you about how this happened and give you examples of some of the first vertebrates that gradually adapted to a life on land. Vertebrates are animals with backbones...
8 videos
Graded: Quiz 9
WEEK 10
Origin of Recent Climate Change / The Molecular Clock
In the tenth module we will tell you about two very different topics - recent climate changes and the molecular clock. Michael Houmark will tell you about the most important factor controlling the evolution of modern life – the changes in global climate over t...
9 videos
Graded: Quiz 10
WEEK 11
Primate Origins and Evolution / Human Origins and Evolution
One group of animals emerging during this period is the primates - the group to which we also belong. In the first videos of this week Bent Lindow comes back and tells you about the evolution of primates, leading up to the early humans. Bent will also introduc...
6 videos
Graded: Quiz 11
WEEK 12
Modern Diversity
In the last set of lectures we will look the modern biodiversity, which is perhaps the most remarkable result of the evolution, which we have described throughout the course.There is an enormous difference between the biodiversity of different types of habitat...
8 videos
Graded: Quiz 12
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University of Copenhagen
The University of Copenhagen is the oldest University in Denmark - founded in 1479, and with over 38,000 students and more than 9,000 employees. The purpose of the University is to conduct research and provide education to the highest academic level. Based in Denmark's capital city it is one of the top research institutions in Europe.
Ratings and Reviews
Thank you for giving us this incredible opportunity to expand our knowledge
Excellent program (5 stars). But most teachers were clearly reading a script, with little or no graphic information, which made retaining the information practically impossible (2-3 stars).
Course structure is very precise. Content is concise and good for a beginner like me.
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HB
excelente curso y muy bien estructurado