General Info
Course
When Biochemistry meets Epigenetics / BIOL414
Year of study
3-4
Semester
Spring
Type of Course
Elective
Number of Credits
3 (ECTS: 4)
Department
Biology, University of Crete
Section
Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Cellular and Developmental Biology
Instructor
Charalampos (Babis) Spilianakis, PhD
Office
IMBB-FORTH, A204
spiliana@uoc.gr, spiliana@imbb.forth.gr
Phone
2810-391163 (office), 2810-391173 (lab)
Office hours
09.00 am - 21.00 pm
Lectures
Biology Auditorium B, Friday 10:00-13:00
During lectures we will discuss principles, outline goals, and present demonstrations. Your attendance at all lectures is vital to your success in this course. You should read the textbook assignment prior to lecture and take clear notes during lecture. I fully encourage and expect student participation during lectures.
Teaching Methods
Lectures (PowerPoint Presentations), Videos & narrated animations, Student Response System (iRespond), Multiple Choice Questions.
Language of Instruction
Greek
Assessment methods
Written Examination
Midterm exams
There will not be a midterm exam.
Grading
An exam is considered successful if you get at least 50/100 points.
Regrading
Any request for a regrade must be made within one week of receiving your graded exam. Contact the instructor preferably by email to arrange for an appointment and go through your script. You will also get a printout with the answers of the exams' subjects.
Attendance
Attendance at all lecture sessions is expected. If a session is missed, it is the student’s sole responsibility to make up any work missed.
Academic Honor Principle
Students are expected to observe the University’s Code of Student Conduct. Cheating on examinations and/or problem sets is not acceptable and will be met with zero tolerance!
Prerequisites
There are no prerequisites for this course.
Instruction Materials
Textbook choice I
Epigenetics
D.Allis-T.Jenuwein-D.Reinberg, CSHL Press, 2014
Greek version: none yet
Textbook choice II
Handbook of Epigenetics
T. Tollefsbol, Elsevier, 2011
Greek version: none yet.
Textbook Webpage. Download Textbook.
Textbook choice III
Epigenetics in Biology and Medicine
M.Esteller, CRC Press Taylor & Francis Group, 2008
Greek version: non yet
Textbook Webpage, Download Textbook.
Lectures Download
Each academic year the Powerpoint presentations in either .pptx format (Microsoft Office 2016) or .pdf format will be uploaded upon the completion of each lecture (material included in an individual lecture's file may be covered in more than a 3 hours session).
Downloads from previous Academic Years
Final Exams with answers
Description
Introduction to Epigenetics
The history of Epigenetics in CSHL Symposia
Download: .pptx presentation (pdf).
Description
- Model organisms for the study of Epigenetics
- Definition of Epigenetics
- The basis of the transcription process
- DNA packaging and chromatin architecture
-
Download: Powerpoint presentation (.pdf).
Description
- Modifying chromatin structure
- Nucleosome remodeling complexes
- Chromatin modification
- DNA methylation
Download: Powerpoint presentation (.pdf).
Description
Chromatin modifications and their mechanism of Action.
- Histones and acetylation regulate transcription
- Acetylation and Deacetylation
- Phosphorylation
- Methylation
- Ubiquitinylation
- Sumoylation
- Open questions in histone modifications
- Histone code
Download: Powerpoint presentation (.pdf).
Description
RNAi and Heterochromatin Assembly.
- Overview of the RNAi pathway
- Early evidence implicating RNA as an intermediate in TGS
- RNAi and heterochromatin assembly in S.pombe
- Conservation of RNAi-mediated chromatin modifications in animals
Download: Powerpoint presentation (.pdf).
Description
Analysis of Gene-specific DNA Methylation.
Methods for Assessing Genome-wide DNA Methylation.
Epigenetic Technology
Chromatin Modifications Distinguish Genomic Features and Physical Organization of the Nucleus.
Assessing Epigenetic Information.
Download: Powerpoint presentation (.pdf).
Description
- Metabolic regulation of DNA methylation in mammals
- Dietary and metabolic compounds affecting chromatin dynamics/remodeling
Download: Powerpoint presentation (.pdf).
Description
Download: ().
Description
Download: ().
Description
Download: ().