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Your DNA and AI: a practical starter guide

A free five-lesson course on using your raw genetic file with AI assistants safely and sensibly: what the file contains, ... Show more
Dr David de Lorenzo
Instructor
Dr David de Lorenzo
Category
Genomics and AI
1 Student enrolled
  • Description
  • Curriculum
  • FAQ
  • Reviews

If you have taken a consumer DNA test, you have a raw genetic file: hundreds of thousands of genetic variants that belong to you. AI assistants such as Claude or ChatGPT can help you explore it, but only if you know what the file contains, how to ask the right questions and where the limits are.

This free course takes about 20 minutes. In five short video lessons you will learn what is inside a raw genetic file, how to download and prepare it, how to write prompts that give useful, evidence-based answers, what AI can and cannot tell you about your DNA, and how to protect your genetic privacy.

Who it is for

It is designed for curious members of the public and for health professionals who want a practical starting point. No technical knowledge is needed. The course is educational: it does not provide medical advice or diagnosis.

What you will learn

  • Understand the 23andMe, AncestryDNA, MyHeritage and VCF formats
  • Prepare a small, private extract with the variants you are interested in
  • Write prompts that ask for evidence, not guesswork
  • Know what AI can and cannot tell you about your DNA
  • Protect your genetic privacy before and after using AI
Your DNA and AI
Is it safe to upload my DNA file to ChatGPT or Claude?
We don't recommend uploading the whole file. Your DNA identifies you, says things about your relatives and can't be changed like a password. On the course you learn to prepare a small extract with only the variants you're interested in, check the assistant's privacy settings and delete what you've shared.
Does it work with 23andMe, AncestryDNA or MyHeritage?
Yes. All three let you download your raw data as text files in a similar format. The course also covers the VCF format, and lesson 2 walks you through downloading and preparing your file.
Do I need to know how to code or understand genetics?
No. The course starts from scratch and explains the basics (variant, genotype, rsID) with simple examples.
Will the AI give me a diagnosis or health advice?
No, and neither will the course. A consumer DNA test can't be used for diagnosis. Any variant that matters for your health should be confirmed with a clinical test and discussed with a health professional. The course is educational and teaches you to recognise those limits.
Do I need to have taken a DNA test already?
Not necessarily. You can take the course to learn what a raw DNA file contains and what to expect before deciding whether to take a test.
How long is it and is it really free?
Yes, it's free. It takes about 20 minutes: five short video lessons and a final 10-question quiz. You just need to create a campus account, and you can go at your own pace.

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Course available for 120 days
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Course details
Duration 20 minutes
Lectures 7
Video 12 minutes of video
Quizzes 1
Level Beginner
CESGEN certificate of completion; not an official qualification.
120 days of access from enrolment

This course is educational. It does not replace advice from a doctor, a dietitian or individual genetic counselling.