- Docente: Giovanni Perini
- Credits: 3
- SSD: BIO/18
- Language: English
- Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
- Campus: Bologna
- Corso: Second cycle degree programme (LM) in Molecular and Cell Biology (cod. 5825)
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from Oct 05, 2022 to Nov 08, 2022
Learning outcomes
At the end of the module the student will have acquired the basic aspects of the genetic and epigenetic mechanisms that elicit cellular transformation and promote progression of cancer cells towards more severe and aggressive phenotypes. The student will also learn the technical and molecular approaches to analyze the genetic and epigenetic features of cancer cells and will be trained in posing and solving critical questions addressing key issues of cancer biology.
Course contents
Genetic bases of cancer. Role of viruses in cell transformation. Identification and function of oncogenes. Role ad function of tumour suppressor genes. Genes that generates a mutator phenotype. Cooperativity among oncogenes. Hypothesis of the multiple hit. Epigenetic bases of cancer. Role of DNA methylation and related enzymes. Role of histone variants and histone modifications. Functional screens employed to identify novel genetic/epigenetic functions that contribute to cancer formations. Strategies of cancer gene therapy.
Reading of original articles.
Readings/Bibliography
Original articles provided during the course
Teaching methods
ppt slides and use of white board
Assessment methods
The exam of Cancer Biology course (Porcelli-Perini-Rapino) will consist in a power point presentation of 45 minutes + 15 minutes discussion and will cover a specific and innovative subject that emerged during the course. A list of possible subjects will be discussed with, and approved by students at the end of the course. The presentation will be prepared and discussed by a group of three students chosen through a random selection procedure. The attribution of the subject matter to the group will be also determined by a random choice. At the moment of the exam, the order of presentation of the three students will be decided by the exam board just before the beginning of the presentation.
Teaching tools
power point slides and scientific articles
Office hours
See the website of Giovanni Perini