Genetics and Molecular Biology

Module 1: Biological theories of senescence Genetic theories of senescence: -The mutation theory -the theory of catastrophic accumulation of errors in the genome -development theory -evolutionary theories Cellular theories of senescence Genes of aging and longevity in model organisms -yeast -nematodes -insects -mammals Biological clock and aging Module 2: Genetic and molecular basis for aging The genetics of aging in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae Replicative and Chronological Aging Sirtuins and caloric restriction in yeast, nematodes, insects and mammals TOR signalling pathway in yeast, nematodes, insects and mammals (GH)/insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1)/insulin system in yeast, nematodes, insects and mammals Epigenetic mechanisms of aging Transgenerational epigenetic inheritance of longevity in C. elegans Mitochondrial basis of Aging Aging and cancer Progeroid syndromes: Cockayne syndrome; Werner syndrome (WS), Bloom syndrome; Cockayne syndrome; Hutchinson–Gilford progeria syndrome

It is essential to have passed the exams of Genetics, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry In particular, it is necessary to know the basic concepts of Genetics, that is, the laws of heredity, the concept of gene, gene and chromosomal mutations, the structure of DNA and proteins

no text Bibliography -Weinert and Timiras. 2003. Thories of aging. J. Appl. Physiol. 95: 1706-1716. -Guarente and Kenyon. 2000. Genetic pathways that regulate ageing in model organisms. Nature 408: 255-262. -Finkel et al. 2000. Oxidants, oxidative stress and the biology of ageing. Nature 408: 239-247. -Boehm and Slack. 2005. MicroRNA and its target regulate life span in C. elegans. Science 310: 1954-1957. -Paaby and Schmidt. 2009. Dissecting the genetics of longevity in Drosophila melanogaster. Fly 3: 29-38. -Cynthia J. Kenyon. 2010. The genetics of ageing. Nature 464: 504-512. -Finkel et al. 2007. The common biology of cancer and ageing. Nature 448: 767-774.

The 48 hours of lectures will be held in the classroom with the use of Powerpoint files on the program topics divided into two modules of 24 hours each (2X3 CFU)

Class attendance is not mandatory.

The oral exam consists in exposing a topic at will to evaluate the communication skills of synthesis and analysis; in answering one or more questions chosen by the teacher to assess the level of depth of the study on the topics of the program and to evaluate the student's ability to make connections and organize a speech in a logical way. The questions refer to the topics presented during the lessons and also to the laboratory exercises. The evaluation is expressed in thirtieths (minimum mark 18/30, maximum mark 30/30 with honors). To pass the exam with an assessment of 30/30 it is necessary to answer all the questions in an exact, logical, in-depth way and with language properties, demonstrating reasoning skills and being able to contextualize concepts and examples.

-Weinert and Timiras. 2003. Thories of aging. J. Appl. Physiol. 95: 1706-1716. -Guarente and Kenyon. 2000. Genetic pathways that regulate ageing in model organisms. Nature 408: 255-262. -Finkel et al. 2000. Oxidants, oxidative stress and the biology of ageing. Nature 408: 239-247. -Boehm and Slack. 2005. MicroRNA and its target regulate life span in C. elegans. Science 310: 1954-1957. -Paaby and Schmidt. 2009. Dissecting the genetics of longevity in Drosophila melanogaster. Fly 3: 29-38. -Cynthia J. Kenyon. 2010. The genetics of ageing. Nature 464: 504-512. -Finkel et al. 2007. The common biology of cancer and ageing. Nature 448: 767-774.

The 48 hours of lectures will be held in the classroom with the use of Powerpoint files on the program topics divided into two modules of 24 hours each (2X3 CFU)

Module 1: Biological theories of senescence Genetic theories of senescence: -The mutation theory -the theory of catastrophic accumulation of errors in the genome -development theory -evolutionary theories Cellular theories of senescence Genes of aging and longevity in model organisms -yeast -nematodes -insects -mammals Biological clock and aging Module 2: Genetic and molecular basis for aging The genetics of aging in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae Replicative and Chronological Aging Sirtuins and caloric restriction in yeast, nematodes, insects and mammals TOR signalling pathway in yeast, nematodes, insects and mammals (GH)/insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1)/insulin system in yeast, nematodes, insects and mammals Epigenetic mechanisms of aging Transgenerational epigenetic inheritance of longevity in C. elegans Mitochondrial basis of Aging Aging and cancer Progeroid syndromes: Cockayne syndrome; Werner syndrome (WS), Bloom syndrome; Cockayne syndrome; Hutchinson–Gilford progeria syndrome

It is essential to have passed the exams in Genetics, Molecular Biology, and Biochemistry. In particular, students are expected to have a solid understanding of the basic concepts of Genetics, including the laws of heredity, the concept of the gene, gene and chromosomal mutations, and the structure of DNA and proteins

Reviews and articles selected from scientific literature

The 48 hours of lectures will be held in the classroom with the use of Powerpoint files on the program topics divided into two modules of 24 hours each (2X3 CFU)

Class attendance is not mandatory.

The oral exam consists in exposing a topic at will to evaluate the communication skills of synthesis and analysis; in answering one or more questions chosen by the teacher to assess the level of depth of the study on the topics of the program and to evaluate the student's ability to make connections and organize a speech in a logical way. The questions refer to the topics presented during the lessons and also to the laboratory exercises. The evaluation is expressed in thirtieths (minimum mark 18/30, maximum mark 30/30 with honors). To pass the exam with an assessment of 30/30 it is necessary to answer all the questions in an exact, logical, in-depth way and with language properties, demonstrating reasoning skills and being able to contextualize concepts and examples.