Chevron Left
Back to Introduction to Systems Biology

Learner Reviews & Feedback for Introduction to Systems Biology by Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

4.2
stars
554 ratings

About the Course

This course will introduce the student to contemporary Systems Biology focused on mammalian cells, their constituents and their functions. Biology is moving from molecular to modular. As our knowledge of our genome and gene expression deepens and we develop lists of molecules (proteins, lipids, ions) involved in cellular processes, we need to understand how these molecules interact with each other to form modules that act as discrete functional systems. These systems underlie core subcellular processes such as signal transduction, transcription, motility and electrical excitability. In turn these processes come together to exhibit cellular behaviors such as secretion, proliferation and action potentials. What are the properties of such subcellular and cellular systems? What are the mechanisms by which emergent behaviors of systems arise? What types of experiments inform systems-level thinking? Why do we need computation and simulations to understand these systems? The course will develop multiple lines of reasoning to answer the questions listed above. Two major reasoning threads are: the design, execution and interpretation of multivariable experiments that produce large data sets; quantitative reasoning, models and simulations. Examples will be discussed to demonstrate “how” cell- level functions arise and “why” mechanistic knowledge allows us to predict cellular behaviors leading to disease states and drug responses....

Top reviews

SV

Feb 6, 2016

Very useful course in order to learn the basics in systems biology. You only need some training in biology to understand the concepts but the course is easy to follow and very complete.

RI

Jan 15, 2016

Great course! It explains very generally but clearly all different aspects involved in Systems Biology. The material used is good and so are the articles used for learning.

Filter by:

26 - 50 of 114 Reviews for Introduction to Systems Biology

By samidha k

Aug 17, 2021

A very interesting course that taught me amazing things and introduced me to the systems biology. Ravi sir is an amazing tutor with enormous excellence over the topic. The lessons and quizzes are very creatively designed. I had a great time learning from this course. Thank you so much!!!

By Daren E

May 6, 2017

Very nice course, would have liked more interactivity / problem solving type questions

By Jubilation Z

Oct 25, 2018

I did the first course in this specialization series and it was way too difficult for me as only a highschool graduate. The course is basically for advanced students who do scientific research in this system biology field. The course is enormous with a lot of things to cover in just 15 minutes lecture video. So you have to do a lot of personal reading and research for terms used by the lecturer. My advice to fellow learners choosing this course means you need to put a lot of passion, dedication and self motivation for completion of the course. So Good luck.

Though I Feel truly accomplished by finishing this difficult course and challenging myself to new boundaries where i thought I would never make it to. So Thank you Sir. Ravi for that.😁

By Bruno A T P

Jan 20, 2016

With a biology background I had some difficulty following this course. That is understandable, as a lot of it relies in mathematical modelling and statistics. I still felt like some exam questions relied on material not yet lectured, which would sometimes leave me at a loss as to how I should have gotten to the right question in the first place. The lectures could have been structured differently, so as to facilitate engagement - I found myself easily losing focus and having to repeat the videos. Despite its shortcomings, the course is still a powerful introduction to Systems Biology.

By Hector F C M

Jul 2, 2019

I have to thank for this virtual course, however although this course is '' introduction '' it supposes that the participants have advanced concepts that are not explained, in many moments the literature is inconclusive, there is no literature that allows a basic revision on the topics that we are learning; The evlauacion is not according to what has been learned and in many cases it is based more on the memory than on the analysis.

By Atanas P

Mar 19, 2021

The lectures are somewhat incoherent. Many facts about the articles are not made clear or missed altogether, and I had to do a lot of extra reading in order to understand them.

By Soheyl M

Nov 27, 2020

The explanations in the course are extremely superficial and do not add anything to the PowerPoint presented in each course. In addition, most of the articles presented in the lectures are hardly discussed which makes it difficult to understand for a beginner in this field.

By Circe M

Aug 11, 2017

Course material was not presented in a matter that flowed naturally. Completing the course didn't lend greatly to my overall understanding in the area though I understand certain aspects very well.

By Carolina A

Apr 19, 2020

I found that the lectures didn't guide me enough. I download the articles and read extra material. I will look for another course to learn more of this part of the specialization.

By Alexandro G A S

Aug 9, 2016

It is a good introductory course, but it relies too much on networks and could be confusing and demoralizing if you intend to pursue a career in systems biology.

By Amogh M

Apr 15, 2023

Worst faculty & course ever. No effort made whatsoever to make newbies understand the basic concepts.

By Alexander

Oct 5, 2016

The material is very randomized, and the instructor presents it in an overly complex way.

By Richelle E

Oct 18, 2020

the course/ lecture session doesnt highlight half the stuff that pops up in the exams

By Ahmed N S

May 6, 2020

i want to cancel mt subscription in this course

By Kyunghoon H

Jun 27, 2022

Honestly not meant for mathematical minds

By Ezequiel O G

Jul 2, 2020

muy malo, no lo recomiendo, para nada

By sayan s

Oct 25, 2021

Very Bad course.

By Kalyan K

Jun 6, 2020

too boring

By Mayra C

Jun 4, 2023

A challenging subject but it was a great and resourceful course. Basic Biology is just a tiny rock in the big broad spectrum of System Biology. I felt like a newbie taking this course. I had to erase a lot of information I thought I know about biology and mammalian cells. This course left me more curious and hungrier for more information. Thank you!

By Cristiano C

May 11, 2020

Excellent introductory course. Professor Ravi Iyengar is very clear and has a broad knowledge of Systems Biology. Indicated papers help to understand the topics and allow the student to have a good starting point in each topic. Thanks all the team for the excellent course.

By Fabián H

Aug 30, 2020

This is a very complete introduction to Systems Biology, I felt that I aquire relevant knowledge to undertake further courses on the subjetct. Hoever, the learning curve could have been less steep in this introductory course.

By Samuel M V

Feb 7, 2016

Very useful course in order to learn the basics in systems biology. You only need some training in biology to understand the concepts but the course is easy to follow and very complete.

By 李俊宏

Aug 30, 2017

It's really a nice introduction of system biology. I have learned a lot of new ideas.

Professor Iyengar is quite interesting! Still I hope more mathematical details can be included!

By Rene R I

Jan 16, 2016

Great course! It explains very generally but clearly all different aspects involved in Systems Biology. The material used is good and so are the articles used for learning.

By Balu R

Aug 8, 2019

Great foundational material and insights from Prof. Iyengar that supports the 'disruptive' trends underway at the intersection of Computational Biology and Medicine.