Muscle Biochemistry and Genetics of the Physical Exercise

The course provides knowledge in:
- the skeletal muscle differentiation and regeneration processes; characteristics and role of muscle satellite cells;
-genome variability and variants' classification with and without impact on the function of the gene product and on phenotype; Mendel's laws and Mendel inheritance in humans by the interpretation of pedigrees with examples of neuromuscular inherited diseases.
the contribution of genetic variability to sport performance and individual training response;
the role of the main genetic polymorphisms in the modulation of strength and endurance capacities;
the epigenetic mechanisms involved in the response to physical exercise and in muscle adaptation processes, recovery, and susceptibility to injuries

Students will acquire the comprehension of the biochemical-molecular mechanisms underlying the development and differentiation of skeletal muscle, the role of muscle satellite cells and the main factors that modulate their activity.
Students will be able to recognize the various types of genomic variants and understand the impact of genomic variability on protein function and phenotypic expression. They will be able to recognize the various types of human inheritance through the interpretation of family trees.
In addition, students will acquire knowledge of the contribution of genetic variability to sport performance and individual training response. They will be able to interpret the role of the main genetic polymorphisms and epigenetic mechanisms in muscle adaptation, recovery, and susceptibility to injuries, developing a critical approach to the application of genetic data in the sport context.