Content
This course explores the mechanisms that influence genome organization. The genome is not static but dynamic, shaped over evolutionary time. We will examine processes that maintain genome stability and those that drive instability, focusing on:
• DNA damage repair, especially double-strand break (DSB) repair. DNA damage can lead to genetic instability, contributing to aging, cancer, and genetic disorders, but also generates genetic diversity during meiosis.
• Mobile genetic elements (transposable elements) and their role in genome rearrangements during an organism’s life and across evolutionary timescales.
The course combines theoretical concepts with practical approaches, including analysis of research articles and discussion of experimental models that have advanced our understanding of genome dynamics.
Lectures (15h)
• Genome structure and evolution: mechanisms shaping eukaryotic genomes, illustrated with fungal, plant, and animal models.
• DNA damage repair: focus on double-strand break repair, its regulation, and implications for genome stability and diversity. Applications in molecular biology and medicine.
• Transposable elements: history, classification, mechanisms of transposition, regulation, and impact on genome rearrangements. Links to retroviruses and genetic diseases. Applications in transgenesis and mutagenesis.
Tutorials (15h)
• Scientific article presentations: students work in pairs to prepare and present a research article with guidance from a faculty member.
• Emphasis on presentation quality and understanding of scientific methodology.
• Each pair submits a two-page summary (Times 11, 1.5 spacing, including references) using a reference manager (e.g., Zotero, Mendeley).
• One session dedicated to reviewing and analyzing these summaries.
