EPIGNETIC OF PHYSICAL EXERCISE
Academic year and teacher
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- Versione italiana
- Academic year
- 2022/2023
- Teacher
- MAURO TOGNON
- Credits
- 2
- Didactic period
- Secondo Semestre
- SSD
- BIO/13
Training objectives
- The course aims to give basic knowledge of epigenetics of the human cell, and to highlight the role of physical exercise in gene expression changes associated to the epigenetics.
Student's knowing:
The course follows a training course at the end of which the student will be able to understand:
1. how epigenetics regulates gene expression in the human cell.
2. the methodological aspects used to study the epigenetic modifications.
3. how epigenetics affects cell biology during the development and adulthood.
4. the role of physical exercise on epigenetic modifications.
5. the role of epigenetics in applications to sports biology studies.
Student's know-how:
At the end of the course the student will have the ability to:
1. to evaluate the differences between genetic and epigenetic expression control of the human cell;
2. have mastery of the epigenetic aspects that affect the biology of the cell after physical activity;
3. evaluate the potential of epigenetics in the sports field. Prerequisites
- Knowledge of basic concepts of Biology, Genetics and Chemistry
Course programme
- The mechanisms of epigenetics: DNA methylation, histones and their post-translational modifications, polycomb, non-coding RNA (eg microRNA) and chromatin remodeling. Epigenetic analysis methods for the study of DNA methylation, histone and chromatin modifications, and miRNAs. Bioinformatic analyzes and animal models in the study of epigenetics. Epigenetic changes during embryonic development: reprogramming of the zygote, genetic imprinting and mechanisms, inactivation of the X chromosome. Epigenetics and environment: effects of environmental pollution and endocrine-mimic substances on the epigenome, on epigenetic reprogramming and on the transgenerational inheritance. The epigenetic basis in sport biology: basic concepts on the epigenetic mechanisms that influence changes in gene expression following physical activity, such as DNA methylation, chromatin conformation and microRNAs. Examples of post-exercise epigenetic changes that positively affect brain and muscle performance. Epigenetics in sports applications and specific pathologies.
Didactic methods
- The course provides teaching activities, such as recorded lectures available on-line on the classroom platform.
Learning assessment procedures
- The learning assessment will be carried out by means of a written exam lasting 30 minutes, without the use of books or notes, in the presence of the teachers. The 31 questions will be formulated with multiple choice questions (five options for each question), related to all the educational objectives as defined above. There will be no penalty for incorrect or not given answers. The questions will be prepared in order to verify the knowledge of epigenetics of physical exercise acquired by the student in relation to all the educational parts of the program, with reference to both the basic knowledge of the epigenetics of the human cell and their applications in the physical and sports activities.
To pass the exam it will be necessary to acquire a minimum score of 18 out of 30. The sufficiency threshold is reached with 18 correct answers. The score is given in thirtieths. The maximum score, equal to thirty cum laude, is reached correctly answering all the questions. Reference texts
- Epigenetics. Massimo Romani author. Edited by Zanichelli.
