June 2026 cohort application deadline
19 June 2026
Online Program
Explore gene editing: Learn about genetics and its uses in healthcare
by Polygence
An online genetics course exploring gene editing, healthcare applications and ethical questions through expert-led discussions, a literature review and a research presentation.
Last verified: 10 Oct 2026Reviewed by:SSSean Stevens
Get the full picture before you decide
See Succeed's assessment of the programme, who it may suit, the estimated total cost, what applying involves and what is still to confirm.
or let us know if .
What Succeed checks
We review public online program details such as eligibility, age range, cost, duration, learning format, scheduling, mentor model, outputs and application timing.
What Last verified means
Last verified is the latest date Succeed checked the public details shown on this page. Program dates, prices and availability can still change.
How official sources are used
Succeed uses official provider information where available, then rewrites it into a student-facing summary for comparison and planning.
Why some dates are reference dates
If the current cycle is not available, Succeed may show the latest verified cycle dates so you can understand typical timing.
Succeed is independent from this provider unless a partnership is clearly stated.
Explore gene editing at a glance: cost, dates and eligibility
Current status
In progress
Eligibility
No prerequisites; parental supervision under 18
Age range / Year group
Ages 13+
Location / Region
Online
Cost
$495
Duration
6 weeks
Format
Online
BiologyMedicineEthics
Sessions / cadence: 6×1h Saturdays; 1–2h weekly independent work
Mentor model: Assigned expert; 2–6 students
Assessment style: Assignments and final deliverable; no grades
Main deliverable / output: Article and hosted video presentation
Latest verified cycle: October–November 2026
Session time: 3:00pm EDT / 12:00pm PDT
Catch-up access: Materials and Zoom recordings
Explore gene editing summary
Polygence’s genetics Pod connects gene-editing tools with human disease, clinical research and ethical questions. Expert-led teaching combines lectures with small-group discussion.
Students complete an individual literature review and collaborate on presentations, working toward an article and a hosted research video. It suits students testing their interest in genetics through a structured course.
What is Explore gene editing: Learn about genetics and its uses in healthcare?
Explore gene editing: Learn about genetics and its uses in healthcare is a Polygence Pod focused on genetics, gene-editing technologies and their medical applications. Its structured teaching moves from DNA, mutations and inheritance to gene therapy, clinical trials and ethical decision-making.
Students learn through online lectures and group discussions guided by an assigned expert mentor. They complete a literature review, collaborate on presentations and practise navigating genetic databases while developing an article and a hosted research video.
Why Succeed highlights Explore gene editing
The curriculum connects genetics fundamentals with specific disease mechanisms, giving medical applications a scientific foundation.
Comparing TALENs, Zinc Fingers and CRISPR-Cas9 encourages students to examine trade-offs between technologies.
Ethical and safety discussions help students evaluate gene editing beyond its technical promise.
ClinVar and UCSC genome browser activities introduce concrete tools for exploring genetic evidence.
Written research and collaborative presentations give students two ways to practise explaining scientific ideas.
Who is Explore gene editing for?
Best for
Students curious about genetics and medicine who want structured teaching, discussion and a guided introduction to literature-based research.
Not ideal if
You want laboratory experiments or a fully individual research project with a topic and timetable of your own.
Is Explore gene editing worth it?
This course offers a useful way to test whether genetics and medical research hold your interest. Its progression from foundational biology to disease cases and experiment design gives the final research work a clear academic purpose.
The value depends on participating in discussions and completing work between sessions. It is a focused taught introduction with literature-based outputs, so students seeking laboratory practice or an independently chosen investigation should compare other formats.
A practical overview of cost, time commitment, provider details, student outcomes and online support to review before deciding.
Cost and what is included
$495; includes Six one-hour expert-led group sessions., Course materials and session recordings., Polygence workspace access., Individual literature review and collaborative presentation activities..
Dates and time commitment
6 weeks; 6×1h Saturdays; 1–2h weekly independent work.
Provider details
Review the Polygence provider page and official sources before making a final decision.
What the student gains
Potential output: The course builds toward an article and a hosted video presentation of the research.. Check whether feedback, certificate, recommendation or application evidence is included.
Online support and safeguarding
The curriculum includes designing a CRISPR experiment and navigating ClinVar and the UCSC genome browser. Polygence’s remote mentorship does not provide laboratory access or laboratory equipment.
What to check before committing
Confirm current dates, session schedule, payment terms, cancellation rules, support expectations and what output or certificate is included with the provider.
Compare this program with similar options before deciding on dates, cost, format and fit.
Compare with similar programsHow much preparation does Explore gene editing need?
Effort level
Moderate; about 2–3 hours weekly, sometimes more.
Best started
Plan one to two weeks before your chosen cohort starts, allowing time for enrollment and workspace familiarization.
Main challenge
Explaining complex genetic mechanisms clearly while keeping up with assignments.
Typical preparation
Refresh the basic relationship between DNA, RNA and protein.
Reserve a weekly work block alongside the scheduled live session.
Use the workspace access email, sent seven days before the first session, to review expectations and introduce yourself.
Useful if
You want to explore genetics before attempting a larger research project.
What do students do on Explore gene editing?
You follow a structured sequence of genetics teaching, discussion and research assignments. The course builds toward written research and collaborative presentation work, with a final session introducing CRISPR experiment design and genetic databases.
Step-by-step process
- 1
Learn how DNA, RNA, proteins, mutations and inheritance relate to human health.
- 2
Compare TALENs, Zinc Fingers and CRISPR-Cas9.
- 3
Distinguish gene therapy from gene editing.
- 4
Examine sickle cell disease, Leber Congenital Amaurosis and Huntington’s Disease.
- 5
Discuss ethical and safety considerations in human gene editing.
- 6
Explore guide RNA design, ClinVar and UCSC genome browser CRISPR tracks.
- 7
Develop your literature review and article, and collaborate on research presentations.
Explore gene editing dates and deadlines
Past
July 2026 Monday cohort application deadline
5 July 2026
July 2026 Sunday cohort application deadline
11 July 2026
October 2026 cohort application deadline
9 October 2026
June 2026 cohort
20 June-25 July 2026
Saturdays, 2:00pm EDT/11:00am PDT; six one-hour sessions.
July 2026 Monday cohort
6 July-10 August 2026
Mondays, 7:00pm EDT/4:00pm PDT; six one-hour sessions.
July 2026 Sunday cohort
12 July-16 August 2026
Sundays, 2:00pm EDT/11:00am PDT; six one-hour sessions.
October 2026 cohort
10 October-14 November 2026
Saturdays, 3:00pm EDT/12:00pm PDT; six one-hour sessions.
| Milestone | Date | Timezone | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
June 2026 cohort application deadline | 19 June 2026 | Local | Past | |
July 2026 Monday cohort application deadline | 5 July 2026 | Local | Past | |
July 2026 Sunday cohort application deadline | 11 July 2026 | Local | Past | |
October 2026 cohort application deadline | 9 October 2026 | Local | Past | |
June 2026 cohort | 20 June-25 July 2026 | Local | Past | |
July 2026 Monday cohort | 6 July-10 August 2026 | Local | Past | |
July 2026 Sunday cohort | 12 July-16 August 2026 | Local | Past | |
October 2026 cohort | 10 October-14 November 2026 | Local | Active |
Eligibility and requirements
Be at least 13 under the platform terms.
Use the service with parental supervision if under 18.
No prerequisites or previous research experience are required.
Confirm that your selected cohort’s session time works for you.
How much does Explore gene editing cost?
Course tuition
$495 — Paid upfront for the course.
What's included
Six one-hour expert-led group sessions., Course materials and session recordings., Polygence workspace access., Individual literature review and collaborative presentation activities.
How to apply to Explore gene editing
- 1
Use the genetics Pod page’s topic-specific waitlist to receive information about the next cohort.
- 2
For enrollment, select your cohort on the individual Pod page and confirm its session schedule.
- 3
Complete the enrollment flow and pay tuition upfront.
- 4
Keep your enrollment confirmation email and follow the workspace link sent seven days before the first session.
Next step with Succeed
Interested in this programme?
or let us know if .
Succeed replies first, usually within a working day
Learning format
The course combines six weekly one-hour online sessions with lectures, group discussion and at least 1–2 hours of independent work each week. The October cohort meets on Saturdays at the published time of 3:00pm EDT/12:00pm PDT; materials and Zoom recordings support catch-up study.
Students remain responsible for missed assignments and reviewing missed teaching.
Mentorship and feedback
An assigned expert mentor guides the six-session curriculum.
Groups contain 2–6 students.
Eliotte is listed with a UC Berkeley PhD in Microbiology.
Rami is listed as a PhD candidate in Molecular Biology.
The shared workspace supports mentor communication and resource sharing between sessions.
Mentor-led discussions and assignments build toward the final deliverable.
Time-zone considerations
- The October cohort lists Saturdays at 3:00pm EDT/12:00pm PDT.
- Cohort meeting days and times are scheduled in advance.
- Confirm the session time before completing enrollment.
- Session recordings support catching up after a missed meeting.
Tech requirements
A computer with internet access or a compatible mobile device.
A Polygence account for the course workspace.
Access to the online session materials and Zoom recordings.
Assessment style
Learning is applied through assignments, a literature review and presentations rather than grades or tests.
- Assignments between sessions develop the final deliverable.
- Students complete their own literature review.
- Group presentations add collaborative research communication.
- The final outputs are an article and a hosted research video.
Portfolio / outputs
Main deliverable / output
The course builds toward an article and a hosted video presentation of the research.
An individual literature review supports the written research.
Group presentations provide a collaborative way to explain findings.
Explore gene editing FAQs
No. Polygence Pods have no prerequisites or required previous experience, and the curriculum begins with foundational genetics concepts.
There is one one-hour session each week. Students should also expect at least 1–2 hours of independent work, with the actual workload varying by assignment.
Materials and Zoom recordings are accessible for catching up. Students remain responsible for reviewing missed teaching and completing missed assignments; unattended sessions are not refundable.
The course lists an article and a hosted video presentation as its outputs. Students complete their own literature review and collaborate through group presentations.
The curriculum includes designing a CRISPR experiment and navigating ClinVar and the UCSC genome browser. Polygence’s remote mentorship does not provide laboratory access or laboratory equipment.
The listed cohorts are led by Eliotte, whose qualification is a UC Berkeley PhD in Microbiology, or Rami, a PhD candidate in Molecular Biology. Each cohort has an assigned mentor.
No. Pods do not require a consultative call or an admissions decision; enrollment requires payment. Tuition must be paid upfront.
Before the first session, students may receive up to a full refund; later withdrawals may qualify for refunds for sessions not yet held. Missed sessions are not refundable, and the general refund policy deducts a 3.25% processing fee.
Alternatives to Explore gene editing
Compare these options if you want broader medical study, a medicine research format or an in-person biology program.
Alternatives to Explore gene editing
Online introduction to medicine
Medicine
Deadline: Not announced
From $3200
14-17
Online
Online
Best for
Students considering medicine beyond a single genetics topic.
Online medicine research program
Medicine
Deadline: Not announced
From £2995
13-18
Online
Online
Best for
Students comparing taught genetics with medicine research options.
In-person biology research program
Biology
Deadline: Not announced
From $3500
14-18
Winston-Salem
In-person
Best for
Students who want to compare online study with in-person biology.
Save this program in Succeed to compare it with similar programs, dates, costs and formats in one place.
Compare with other programsContent reviewed by
Sean Stevens
Co-founder, Succeed | Founder, Immerse Education (2012–2026)
Sean works at the intersection of academic enrichment, program quality and university preparation, with expertise in evaluating pre-university experiences for ambitious secondary school students.
Sources & verification
Source types reviewed
- Terms of Use | Polygence
- Polygence Pods: 6-Week Group Research Programs for High Schoolers | Polygence
- Frequently Asked Questions about the Polygence Research Program | Polygence
- Frequently Asked Research Program Questions | Polygence
- Next Deadline October 15th | Polygence
- Genetics Research Program | Polygence
Succeed uses official provider information where available, but keeps this public page focused on comparison and planning inside Succeed.
What we verified (on 10 Oct 2026)
Official course page reviewed
Cohort schedules checked
Course tuition checked
Participation requirements reviewed
Research outputs checked
Refund rules reviewed
How Succeed uses this information
We use source material to verify core facts, then show older cycle dates as reference when a current cycle is not available. Always check current application instructions before applying.
Explore gene editing: Learn about genetics and its uses in healthcare
by Polygence
In progress
Get the full picture before you decide
Succeed's assessment, estimated total cost and what applying involves.
No account needed for the Guide or Compare.
Not ready to decide yet? Keep it for later.
Save this program
Keep dates visible
Compare similar programs
Keep recommendations organised