University of Melbourne - Epigenetic Control of Gene Expression
- Offered byCoursera
Epigenetic Control of Gene Expression at Coursera Overview
Duration | 17 hours |
Total fee | Free |
Mode of learning | Online |
Official Website | Explore Free Course  |
Credential | Certificate |
Epigenetic Control of Gene Expression at Coursera Highlights
- Shareable Certificate Earn a Certificate upon completion
- 100% online Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.
- Flexible deadlines Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.
- Approx. 17 hours to complete
- English Subtitles: Arabic, French, Portuguese (European), Italian, Vietnamese, German, Russian, English, Spanish
Epigenetic Control of Gene Expression at Coursera Course details
- While the human genome sequence has transformed our understanding of human biology, it isn?t just the sequence of your DNA that matters, but also how you use it! How are some genes activated and others are silenced? How is this controlled? The answer is epigenetics.
- Epigenetics has been a hot topic for research over the past decade as it has become clear that aberrant epigenetic control contributes to disease (particularly to cancer). Epigenetic alterations are heritable through cell division, and in some instances are able to behave similarly to mutations in terms of their stability. Importantly, unlike genetic mutations, epigenetic modifications are reversible and therefore have the potential to be manipulated therapeutically. It has also become clear in recent years that epigenetic modifications are sensitive to the environment (for example diet), which has sparked a large amount of public debate and research.
- This course will give an introduction to the fundamentals of epigenetic control. We will examine epigenetic phenomena that are manifestations of epigenetic control in several organisms, with a focus on mammals. We will examine the interplay between epigenetic control and the environment and finally the role of aberrant epigenetic control in disease.
- All necessary information will be covered in the lectures, and recommended and required readings will be provided. There are no additional required texts for this course. For those interested, additional information can be obtained in the following textbook.
- Epigenetics. Allis, Jenuwein, Reinberg and Caparros. Cold Spring Harbour Laboratory Press. ISBN-13: 978-0879697242
- Edition: 1
Epigenetic Control of Gene Expression at Coursera Curriculum
Week 1 - Introduction to Epigenetic Control
Course overview
1.1 Introduction to the concepts of epigenetic control
1.2 Mitotic heritability of epigenetic marks
1.3 Chromatin and the nucleosome
1.4 Chromatin compaction - heterochromatin versus euchromatin
1.5 DNA methylation at CpG islands
1.6 DNA methylation at intergenic regions and repetitive elements
Course syllabus
Teaching team
Start of course survey
Assessment and grading policy
Week 1 and 2 resources
Week 1 quiz - contributes 8% towards your final grade
Week 2 - Epigenetic Modifications and Organisation of the Nucleus
2.1 Introduction to histone tail modifications
2.2 Histone acetylation and histone methylation
2.3 Chromatin remodelling
2.4 Histone variants
2.5 Noncoding RNAs - microRNAs
2.6 Noncoding RNAs - piRNAs
2.7 Noncoding RNAs - long noncoding RNAs introduction
2.8 Long noncoding RNAs Xist and HOTAIR
2.9 3D organisation of the nucleus and summary of epigenetic marks
Week 1 and 2 resources
Week 2 quiz - contributes 8% towards your final grade
Week 3 - Dosage Compensation
3.1 History and background of X chromosome inactivation
3.2 Timing of random and imprinted X chromosome inactivation
3.3 Stages of X inactivation - counting and control of Xist expression
3.4 Control of Xist expression by pluripotency factors
3.5 Stages of X inactivation - choice of which X to inactivate
3.6 Stages of X inactivation - initiation and spreading of silencing
3.7 Stages of X inactivation - establishment of silencing
3.8 Stages of X inactivation - maintenance of silencing e.g. Dnmt1
3.9 Stages of X inactivation - maintenance of silencing e.g. Smchd1
3.10 X chromosome inactivation summary
3.11 Dosage compensation in flies and worms, compared with mammals
3.12 Lessons from the fly - position effect variegation and screening for epigenetic modifiers
Week 3 resources (including required readings)
Week 3 quiz - contributes 12% towards your final grade
Week 4 - Genomic Imprinting and Epigenetic Reprogramming
4.1 Introduction to epigenetic reprogramming of the maternal and paternal genomes
4.2 Epigenetic reprogramming of imprinted genes and repetitive elements
4.3 Location of imprinted genes in the genome and bisulfite sequencing
4.4 Kcnq1 and H19/Igf2 ICR mechanisms of action and Beckwith Weidemann syndrome
4.5 Snrpn ICR mechanism, Prader Willi and Angelman syndromes
4.6 Summary of epigenetic reprogramming and imprinting
Week 4 resources (including required reading)
Week 4 quiz - contributes 12% towards your final grade
Week 5 - The Influence of the Environment on Epigenetic Control
5.1 Disrupted epigenetic reprogramming in assisted reproductive technologies
5.2 Disrupted epigenetic reprogramming in somatic cell reprogramming and cloning
5.3 Introduction of transgenerational epigenetic inheritance, effects of the environment and sensitive periods in epigenetic control
5.4 The Dutch Famine human epidemiological studies and the Developmental Origins of Adult Health and Disease
5.5 Human epidemiological studies on the Overkalix cohort, grandparental effects and possibility of transgenerational epigenetic inheritance in humans
5.6 Extension lecture: Interview with Dr Andrew Keniry
Week 5 resources (including required readings)
Week 5 quiz - contributes 12% towards your final grade
Week 6 - Mechanisms of Environmental Influence on Epigenetic Control and Transgenerational Epigenetic Inheritance Through the Gametes
6.1 Mouse and rat studies on paternal effects of chemical exposure, effects of maternal behaviour on epigenetic makeup
6.2 Transgenerational epigenetic inheritance via the gametes
6.3 The Agouti viable yellow allele in mice
6.4 Environmental effects on the Agouti viable yellow allele
6.5 The Axin fused allele in mice and metastable epialleles
6.6 Potential mechanisms of transgenerational epigenetic inheritance: incomplete epigenetic reprogramming
6.7 Paramutation in plants and paramutation-like effects in mice
6.8 Constitutional epimutation in humans - not transgenerational epigenetic inheritance
Week 6 resources (including required readings)
Week 6 quiz - contributes 12% towards your final grade
Week 7 - Cancer Epigenetics
7.1 Overview of cancer epigenetics
7.2 Hypermethylation of CpG islands in cancer
7.3 Hypermethylation of sets of CpG islands in cancer
7.4 Hypomethylation genome-wide in cancer
7.5 Altered histone modifications in cancer
7.6 Long range epigenetic alterations in cancer and alterations to nuclear architecture
7.7 Altered expression on piRNAs and long noncoding RNAs in cancer
7.8 Mutations in epigenetic modifiers in cancer
7.9 Drugs that target the epigenetic machinery as chemotherapeutics
7.10 Extension lecture: Aging - Part 1
7.11 Extension lecture: Aging - Part 2
Week 7 resources (including required readings)
Academic integrity
End of course survey
Other courses offered by Coursera
Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?
Useful Links
Know more about Coursera
Know more about Programs
- Engineering
- Instrumentation Technology
- Food Technology
- Aeronautical Engineering
- What is Machine Learning
- Metallurgical Engineering
- MTech in Computer Science Engineering
- VLSI Design
- Petroleum Engineering
- Aerospace Engineering
- BTech in Biotechnology Engineering
- Pharmaceutical engineering
- Silk Technology
- Microelectronics
- Agriculture & Farm Engineering