The course aims to provide an advanced, mechanistic understanding of the physical, topological, and epigenetic control of the eukaryotic and prokaryotic genomes. Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to: Analyze the biophysical and topological properties of DNA. Deconstruct the molecular mechanisms governing the "histone code", 3D chromatin folding and nuclear compartmentalization. Evaluate how cells manage replication stress, transcription-replication conflicts, and coordinate the DNA damage response network to maintain genome integrity. Explain the fine-tuning of gene expression at both transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels, integrating alternative splicing, long non-coding RNAs, and the emerging field of epitranscriptomics Formulate experimental strategies to test causal relationships in molecular genetics, developing advanced scientific literacy, collaborative skills, and data presentation capacity.
Prerequisiti
Students must have successfully completed foundational bachelor-level courses in Molecular Biology, Genetics, and Biochemistry. They are expected to be familiar with the central dogma of molecular biology (replication, transcription, translation), basic DNA structure, Mendelian genetics, and standard laboratory techniques (e.g., PCR, cloning, gel electrophoresis). Proficiency in scientific English is required, as the course, lectures, and all mandatory reading materials are entirely in English.
Metodi didattici
Frontal Lectures: Dedicated to delivering the core biochemical models, biophysical concepts, and methodological frameworks. Interactive Journal Clubs: Students are organized into small working groups to analyze, present, and critically discuss landmark primary literature assigned for each module. These sessions focus on experimental design, data interpretation, control verification, and scientific debate. All lecture slides, primary papers, reading lists, and auxiliary data tracks will be hosted on the institutional kiro platform.
Verifica Apprendimento
In-Course Evaluation based on the student's active participation and presentation quality during the group Journal Club sessions. Final Written Examination with both Multiple Choice Questions, testing solid foundation across all modules, and Short Answer Questions, requiring concise, mechanism-focused explanations and molecular pathway diagrams.
Testi
The course does not rely on a single textbook due to the rapid advancement of the field. Teaching material consists of lecture slides, curated review articles, and specific research papers.
Contenuti
The course is organized into 5 thematic modules structured to guide the student from the physical properties of the DNA molecule to systemic functional genomics: DNA Architecture & Topology Epigenetics & 3D Chromatin Structure Nuclear Architecture & Imaging Genome Stability & Replication Dynamics Transcriptional & Post-Transcriptional Regulation
Lingua Insegnamento
INGLESE
Altre informazioni
Strong attendance at frontal lectures is highly recommended; attendance at the interactive Journal Club sessions is mandatory for the continuous assessment track. The instructor is available for weekly student consultations upon appointment via email.