PRESENTAZIONE

The course is centered on the knowledge and illustration of the genetic and epigenetic control of gene expression in its broad significance (from the architecture of chromatin to its remodeling and modification, nuclear and cellular RNA roles and methabolism) and on the experimental methods and tools that the biotechnological and biomedical research have developed in the last twenty years to address these important topics.

OBIETTIVI E CONTENUTI

OBIETTIVI FORMATIVI

The objective of the course is to deepen the molecular biology basic knowledge tackling in detail the functional mechanisms of nuclear biomolecular processes. Furthermore, students will develop methodological instruments to be able to face molecular biology challenges in applied research.

OBIETTIVI FORMATIVI (DETTAGLIO) E RISULTATI DI APPRENDIMENTO

The objective of the course is to teach the students the bases of epigenetics tackling in detail the functional mechanisms of nuclear biomolecular processes in the cell nucleus and the role of RNAs, both in the nucleus and outside of it, in the regulation of gene expression. Furthermore, at the end of the course students will be able to use the modern biomolecular instruments and experimental techniques to face molecular biology challenges in applied research. They will develop the ability to design the most suitable experimental approaches to tackle applied research challenging topics by using  both theoretical molecular biology knowledge as well as practical molecular techniques and instrumentation.

MODALITA' DIDATTICHE

There will be frontal lessons for the theoretical part of the course and experimental laboratories for the practical part. Students will be involved in discussions throughout the course to evaluate their level of knowledge and understanding of the topics treated during the lessons, and they will be required to prepare and discuss a presentation in english on a particular topic of interest that will be decided during the course.

PROGRAMMA/CONTENUTO

The topics of the frontal lessons will be the following:

The structure and significance of gene regulatory elements

Structural and functional organization of chromatin in the cell nucleus

Chromatin modification and remodeling processes

Epigenetic control of gene expression by DNA methylation and acetylation, methylation, ADP-rybosilation, phosphorylation, ubiquitination/sumoylation of histones

Classification, roles and significance of non coding RNAs (long non coding and micro)

The induced pluripotent stem cells as a paradigm of catastrophic epigenetic reprogramming of the somatic cell

History and modern development of genome editing tools: meganucleases, zinc finger nucleases, TALE nucleases, CRISPR/CAS nucleases

At the end of the first part of the course (12 lessons) students will be divided in groups and requested to prepare a presentation for each group deepening a particular topic of interest discussed during the lessons.

DOCENTI E COMMISSIONI

Commissione d'esame

IRENE APPOLLONI (Presidente)

SONIA SCARFI' (Presidente)

PAOLO MALATESTA

LEZIONI

INIZIO LEZIONI

first week of october 2018

Orari delle lezioni

L'orario di questo insegnamento è consultabile all'indirizzo: Portale EasyAcademy

ESAMI

MODALITA' D'ESAME

The exam will be an oral discussion on the themes treated during the lessons and in the experimental laboratories. Part of the final mark will derive from an oral (english) presentation students will be required to produce developing a particular topic discussed during the frontal lessons.

MODALITA' DI ACCERTAMENTO

The preparation of the students and the skills developed during the course will be assessed by the teachers by answering to specific questions posed dealing with both practical and theoretical problems/topics. Their level of knowledge and understanding will also be tested by an oral presentation for each student developing a particular theme of interest picked among the topics treated during the theoretical lessons.

Calendario appelli