DNA and Genetics: From Molecules to Traits

DNA and Genetics: From Molecules to Traits is a free learning path on Breni. It runs to 6 courses. It starts at beginner level. You finish able to explain the structural difference between DNA and RNA and how they store biological instructions.

  • 6 courses
  • 0 learning objectives
  • Level: beginner
  • Language: English
  • Price: Free

What you will be able to do

  • Explain the structural difference between DNA and RNA and how they store biological instructions
  • Trace the step-by-step process of how a gene becomes a functional protein
  • Predict the probability of inherited traits using Mendelian genetics
  • Analyze how mutations occur and their impact on health and evolution

Full curriculum

Part 1 · The Blueprint of Life

1. The Molecular Library — What DNA Actually Is and Where It Lives

I hear about DNA on the news, but I have no idea what it actually looks like or where it is kept in my body — I want to visualize the molecule of life.

2. The Messenger and the Factory — How RNA Transcribes Genetic Code

I know DNA holds instructions, but I want to understand how those instructions actually travel out of the cell's nucleus to build things.

Part 2 · From Code to Characteristics

3. Protein Synthesis — Turning Chemical Letters into Living Tissue

I want to connect the abstract A, T, C, and G letters of genetic code to the actual muscles, enzymes, and traits that make up my body.

4. Dominant and Recessive Alleles — Why You Look Like Your Parents

I want to understand why I have my mother's eyes and my father's hairline using the basic rules of inheritance.

Part 3 · Heredity and Variation

5. Mutation and Evolution — When the Copying Process Goes Wrong

I want to know how genetic mutations happen spontaneously, why some cause diseases, and how others drive evolution.

6. Decoding the Family Tree — Synthesizing Heredity, DNA, and Traits

I want to bring together everything I've learned about molecules, proteins, and inheritance to fully decode a genetic pedigree chart.

Questions about DNA and Genetics: From Molecules to Traits

What will I be able to do after this DNA and Genetics: From Molecules to Traits path?

Explain the structural difference between DNA and RNA and how they store biological instructions. Trace the step-by-step process of how a gene becomes a functional protein. Predict the probability of inherited traits using Mendelian genetics.

What does the DNA and Genetics: From Molecules to Traits curriculum cover?

The path is 6 courses, starting with The Molecular Library — What DNA Actually Is and Where It Lives and ending with Decoding the Family Tree — Synthesizing Heredity, DNA, and Traits. Each course is graded across 5 tiers, from Novice to Expert.

How long does the DNA and Genetics: From Molecules to Traits path take?

About 6 courses at a steady pace, across 6 courses. It is self-paced, so you can go faster or slower.

Do I need experience before starting DNA and Genetics: From Molecules to Traits?

The path is pitched at beginner level. The first course opens with: I hear about DNA on the news, but I have no idea what it actually looks like or where it is kept in my body — I want to visualize the molecule of life.

Is the DNA and Genetics: From Molecules to Traits path free?

Yes. All 6 courses are free in the Breni app on Android and iOS, with no trial limit.

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