Epigenetics in development and disease

In depth understanding of molecular methods used for addressing epigenetic phenomena in basic research and in the clinic.

The understanding of the bases for genetic and epigenetic inheritance has been improved tremendously over the last decades. While Gregor Mendels results completely revolutionized the basic understanding of genetic inheritance with his discoveries in garden pees more than 150 years ago, the understanding of inheritance has recently been challenged by the many dynamic chemical modifications on histones, DNA and RNA that regulate gene expression. Such modifications are able to switch on and off genes without changing the coding sequence of DNA. Switch in gene expression programmes following fertilization and during development can now be studied in different model organisms. What is more, these rapid switches in gene regulation that is required for cellular homeostasis and normal development can also be incorrectly regulated and lead to dysregulation of the cell cycle and in cancer.

This course provides an introduction to the various epigenetic mechanisms, an updated presentation of novel aspect of epigenetic regulation and examples of epigenetic analysis, including diagnostics and chemotherapeutic agents that have entered the clinic.

Studying genetic and epigenetic regulation in the laboratory is challenging and requires state-of-the-art methodological insight. There will be a particular focus on novel molecular methods used to address these phenomena that includes; analysis of modified bases in DNA and RNA and histone modifications, high-throughput sequencing methods, CRISPR technology, mutant organisms and clinical samples.