Introduction to Biology - The Secret of Life (MITx 7.00x)
by Eric Lander, Michelle Mischke, Graham Walker et al. · MITx on edX
Biochemistry, genetics, molecular biology, recombinant DNA, genomics and rational medicine, taught in Eric Lander's video lectures with test-yourself questions and interactive problem sets. Free to audit; learners come away able to reason about how genes and proteins explain living systems and disease.
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Be Smart
Science channel from PBS Digital Studios where biologist Joe Hanson answers single questions in short documentary-style episodes, ranging across evolution, ecology, animal behavior, astronomy, and human physiology, usually tracing each answer back to published research.
biointeractive.org
BioInteractive is an HHMI free educational site offering biology learning resources such as interactive simulations, virtual labs, short videos, and ready-to-use classroom activities. It covers topics across biology—genetics, evolution, cell biology, physiology, ecology, and more—ideal for teaching and independent learning.
khanacademy.org/science/biology
Khan Academy Biology offers free, expert-led video lessons, practice questions, and quizzes to support introductory biology learning. It covers core topics from cell biology and genetics to evolution, ecology, and physiology.
PhET Simulations
Free interactive simulations from the University of Colorado Boulder covering natural selection, gene expression, neuron signalling and molecular biology. Running the models lets you test how changing parameters shifts biological outcomes rather than reading static explanations.
Fundamentals of Biology (MIT 7.01SC)
Four self-study units on biochemistry, molecular biology, genetics and recombinant DNA. 39 lecture videos, problem-solving sessions, concept quizzes, problem sets and exams with solutions build the core understanding of how cells store, express and pass on genetic information.
Systems Biology (MIT 8.591J)
Cellular and population-level systems biology: genetic switches and oscillators, network motifs, cellular decision-making, pattern formation, cell-cell communication and evolutionary dynamics, with an emphasis on synthetic biology. Includes 24 lecture videos, problem sets and exams for learning to model genetic networks quantitatively.