• Basic information
• Learning outcomes
• Contents
• Assessment
• Workload

Learning outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

1. Differentiate between genetic inheritance and epigenetic inheritance.

   Contribution to Program Outcomes

   1. To be able to define general concepts and problems related to Molecular Biology and Genetics and to produce solutions.
   2. To be able to define life forms and their relationship with their environment.
   3. To be able to comprehend the history and nature of scientific thinking and to apply them to problems in the field.

   Method of assessment

   1. Written exam
   2. Homework assignment
2. Explain the role of epigenetics in the organization and structure of chromatin.

   Contribution to Program Outcomes

   1. To be able to define general concepts and problems related to Molecular Biology and Genetics and to produce solutions.
   2. To be able to define life forms and their relationship with their environment.
   3. To be able to drive hypotheses using existing knowledge, designing and conducting experiment for problem solving and make correct interpretation of the results obtained from the experiment.

   Method of assessment

   1. Written exam
   2. Homework assignment
3. Explain the role of different molecular factors in the epigenetic regulation.

   Contribution to Program Outcomes

   1. To be able to define general concepts and problems related to Molecular Biology and Genetics and to produce solutions.
   2. To be able to define the structure-function relationship at the molecular level in cells and organisms.
   3. To be able to define life forms and their relationship with their environment.

   Method of assessment

   1. Written exam
   2. Homework assignment
4. Describe the role of epigenetics in reprograming

   Contribution to Program Outcomes

   1. To be able to define general concepts and problems related to Molecular Biology and Genetics and to produce solutions.
   2. To be able to define the structure-function relationship at the molecular level in cells and organisms.
   3. To be able to define life forms and their relationship with their environment.

   Method of assessment

   1. Written exam
   2. Homework assignment
5. Explain the role of epigenetics in the regulation of morphogenesis and tissue specification

   Contribution to Program Outcomes

   1. To be able to define general concepts and problems related to Molecular Biology and Genetics and to produce solutions.
   2. To be able to define the structure-function relationship at the molecular level in cells and organisms.
   3. To be able to define life forms and their relationship with their environment.
   4. To be able to follow current scientific and technological innovations with the awareness of continuous learning and to apply them in the field.

   Method of assessment

   1. Written exam
   2. Homework assignment
6. Explain how does the epigenetic memories are transferred to the next generations.

   Contribution to Program Outcomes

   1. To be able to define general concepts and problems related to Molecular Biology and Genetics and to produce solutions.
   2. To be able to define the structure-function relationship at the molecular level in cells and organisms.
   3. To be able to explain the genetic information flow in organisms and populations.
   4. To be able to define life forms and their relationship with their environment.

   Method of assessment

   1. Written exam
   2. Homework assignment
7. Explain the connection between epigenetic changes and diseases.

   Contribution to Program Outcomes

   1. To be able to define general concepts and problems related to Molecular Biology and Genetics and to produce solutions.
   2. To be able to define the structure-function relationship at the molecular level in cells and organisms.
   3. To be able to define life forms and their relationship with their environment.
   4. To be able to work individually, make independent decisions and participate actively in multidisciplinary group studies.
   5. To be able to apply biological concepts to individual, social, economic, technologic and environmental issues and to develop sustainable approaches for problem solving.

   Method of assessment

   1. Written exam
   2. Homework assignment
8. Describe how epigenetic markers could be used for diagnosis and treatment of diseases

   Contribution to Program Outcomes

   1. To be able to define general concepts and problems related to Molecular Biology and Genetics and to produce solutions.
   2. To be able to define life forms and their relationship with their environment.
   3. To be able to follow current scientific and technological innovations with the awareness of continuous learning and to apply them in the field.
   4. To be able to drive hypotheses using existing knowledge, designing and conducting experiment for problem solving and make correct interpretation of the results obtained from the experiment.
   5. To be able to apply biological concepts to individual, social, economic, technologic and environmental issues and to develop sustainable approaches for problem solving.

   Method of assessment

   1. Written exam
   2. Homework assignment
9. Identify the basic techniques used for the study of epigenetics

   Contribution to Program Outcomes

   1. To be able to define general concepts and problems related to Molecular Biology and Genetics and to produce solutions.
   2. To be able to work individually, make independent decisions and participate actively in multidisciplinary group studies.
   3. To be able to follow current scientific and technological innovations with the awareness of continuous learning and to apply them in the field.
   4. To be able to drive hypotheses using existing knowledge, designing and conducting experiment for problem solving and make correct interpretation of the results obtained from the experiment.
   5. To be able to apply biological concepts to individual, social, economic, technologic and environmental issues and to develop sustainable approaches for problem solving.

   Method of assessment

   1. Written exam
   2. Homework assignment

Contents
Week 1:	Introduction and overview: epigenetic modification vs mutation, factor influences epigenetic modifications of the genome
Week 2:	Epigenetic memory and epigenetic states
Week 3:	Covalent modifications of DNA
Week 4:	Histone modifications
Week 5:	Non-coding RNAs
Week 6:	Polycomb-group proteins (PcG proteins) and Trithorax complex (TrxG)
Week 7:	Mid-term exam and X-inactivation
Week 8:	X-inactivation (X chromosome inactivation) (continue)
Week 9:	Reprogramming of highly differentiated sperm and egg nuclei into totipotency: role of epigenetics information
Week 10:	Epigenetic regulation of morphogenesis and tissue specification
Week 11:	Transgenerational epigenetic inheritance & epigenetic heterogeneity
Week 12:	Epigenetic Modification in human diseases
Week 13:	Epigenetic markers for diagnosis and drug development
Week 14:	Techniques used in the study of epigenetics, Homework presentation
Week 15*:	-
Week 16*:	Final exam
Textbooks and materials:	Handbook of Epigenetics: The New Molecular and Medical Genetics, 3rd Edition, 2022, Edited by Trygve Tollefsbol, ISBN: 9780323919098, Academic Press Publications, Elsevier Inc.
Recommended readings:	1. Epigenetics (2014) by Lyle Armstrong; Published by Garland Science, Taylor & Francis Group (ISBN-13: 978-0815365112; ISBN-10: 081536511X) 2. Handbook of Epigenetics: The New Molecular and Medical Genetics, 3rd Edition, 2022, Edited by Trygve Tollefsbol, ISBN: 9780323919098, Academic Press Publications, Elsevier Inc.
	* Between 15th and 16th weeks is there a free week for students to prepare for final exam.

Assessment
Method of assessment	Week number	Weight (%)
Mid-terms:	7	30
Other in-term studies:	0	0
Project:	0	0
Homework:	14	20
Quiz:	0	0
Final exam:	16	50
	Total weight:	(%)

Workload
Activity	Duration (Hours per week)	Total number of weeks	Total hours in term
Courses (Face-to-face teaching):	3	14
Own studies outside class:	2	14
Practice, Recitation:	0	0
Homework:	8	1
Term project:	0	0
Term project presentation:	0	0
Quiz:	0	0
Own study for mid-term exam:	8	2
Mid-term:	2	1
Personal studies for final exam:	2	12
Final exam:	2	1
		Total workload:
		Total ECTS credits:	*
	* ECTS credit is calculated by dividing total workload by 25. (1 ECTS = 25 work hours)