Molecular genetics and epigenetics of the cell

This course offers a general view of the new advances related to the control of gene expression, genome structure and organization across the tree of life: bacteria, lower (yeast-, protozoan-) and higher (plant-, mammalian-) eukaryotes, and viruses.
It focuses on the analysis and understanding of the mechanisms underlying gene expression. This includes in vitro and in vivo approaches as well as the newest developments in gene editing.
A specific emphasis will be given to new aspects of gene regulation at a transcriptional and post-transcriptional level in eukaryotic cells (animals and plants). In particular, the role of the epigenome involving DNA methylation, histones and histone variants, long and short non-coding RNAs will be illustrated.
The questions that are addressed in the fields of evolution, cell differentiation and development will be presented through a broad range of model organisms (human, mouse, plants, yeast, bacteria ). The mechanisms used by parasites and viruses to infect host cells will be analyzed as well.
Through these different models, we will see that although specificities exist in the control of gene expression and the way organisms adapt to their environment, common mechanisms and common themes do exist throughout the tree of life.
Key words: Transcriptional and post-transcriptional gene expression regulation, chromosome structure, RNA interference, gene editing, genomes evolution and adaptation, infection, non-coding genomes, genetics and epigenetics.