Special Topics in Regulation of Gene Expression
Course ID: M300139K
Credits: 2
Course Prerequisites: None
Course Description and Goals:
Introducing the concept of regulation of cell-type-specific, developmental stage-specific and disease specific gene expression, and exposing students to primary literature information.
Schedule Type: In-class lecturing and discussions.
Course Schedule (subject to change):
Week 1: Basis of Life: the Principle of supramolecular assembly of biologically important macromolecules;
Week 2: Levels of gene control in multi-cellular organisms;
Week 3: Gene, genomics and structure of chromatin;
Week 4-5: The epigenome: role of chromatin structure in regulation of gene expression;
Week 6: Control of gene expression at the transcriptional level;
Week 7: Control of gene expression at the post-transcriptional level;
Week 8-9: Cellular signal transduction pathways leading to regulation of gene expression;
Week 10-11: Special examples of control of gene expression in (a) embryonic development, (b) tissue specificity, (c) cancer development, and (d) other human diseases;
Week 12: Conclusions and future prospects.