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stars
750 ratings

Dr. Marnie Blewitt

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Epigenetic Control of Gene Expression

The University of Melbourne

About this Course

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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

The course will re-open in 2022.

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Approx. 17 hours to complete

English

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Skills you will gain

Cancer
Molecular Biology
Cancer Epigenetics
Dna Methylation

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Approx. 17 hours to complete

English

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Try Coursera for Business

Instructor

Instructor rating

4.95/5 (112 Ratings)

Dr. Marnie Blewitt

Head, Molecular Medicine Laboratory

Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research

43,175 Learners

1 Course

Offered by

The University of Melbourne

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Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Content Rating97%(6,978 ratings)

Week

Week 1

2 hours to complete

Week 1 - Introduction to Epigenetic Control

An introduction to and definition of epigenetic control of gene expression, and its importance in normal development. We will learn what chromatin is, and how its composition and packaging can alter gene expression. We’ll also discuss the best-characterised epigenetic modification, DNA methylation, and how it is not only implicated in regulating gene expression, but also in maintaining genome stability.

2 hours to complete

7 videos (Total 65 min), 5 readings, 1 quiz

7 videos

Course overview1m

1.1 Introduction to the concepts of epigenetic control10m

1.2 Mitotic heritability of epigenetic marks10m

1.3 Chromatin and the nucleosome6m

1.4 Chromatin compaction - heterochromatin versus euchromatin9m

1.5 DNA methylation at CpG islands11m

1.6 DNA methylation at intergenic regions and repetitive elements15m

5 readings

Course syllabus10m

Teaching team10m

Start of course survey10m

Assessment and grading policy10m

Week 1 and 2 resources10m

1 practice exercise

Week 1 quiz - contributes 8% towards your final grade30m

Week

Week 2

2 hours to complete

Week 2 - Epigenetic Modifications and Organisation of the Nucleus

We’ll discuss the molecular mechanisms for regulating gene expression in some detail, from how the DNA is packaged at a local level, right up to how the chromatin is positioned within the nucleus. We’ll learn about the chromatin modifications implicated in gene silencing and activation, the role of non-coding RNA, and higher order chromatin structures. This week will provide you with a good understanding of the basic mechanisms that will help you understand the processes we discuss throughout the rest of the course.

2 hours to complete

9 videos (Total 90 min), 1 reading, 1 quiz

9 videos

2.1 Introduction to histone tail modifications4m

2.2 Histone acetylation and histone methylation12m

2.3 Chromatin remodelling12m

2.4 Histone variants8m

2.5 Noncoding RNAs - microRNAs6m

2.6 Noncoding RNAs - piRNAs9m

2.7 Noncoding RNAs - long noncoding RNAs introduction10m

2.8 Long noncoding RNAs Xist and HOTAIR7m

2.9 3D organisation of the nucleus and summary of epigenetic marks17m

1 reading

Week 1 and 2 resources10m

1 practice exercise

Week 2 quiz - contributes 8% towards your final grade30m

Week

Week 3

3 hours to complete

Week 3 - Dosage Compensation

X chromosome inactivation is a really well-characterised epigenetic process that is now used as a model system to study epigenetic processes that are relevant more broadly. This is because it uses many epigenetic mechanisms, at many levels, to achieve really stable silencing of a whole chromosome. We’ll learn about this process and how it occurs in a mouse in great detail, which will greatly add to the mechanistic understanding gained in week two. We will then briefly discuss alternate mechanisms for dosage compensation that occur in other organisms.

3 hours to complete

12 videos (Total 113 min), 1 reading, 1 quiz

12 videos

3.1 History and background of X chromosome inactivation13m

3.2 Timing of random and imprinted X chromosome inactivation8m

3.3 Stages of X inactivation - counting and control of Xist expression13m

3.4 Control of Xist expression by pluripotency factors6m

3.5 Stages of X inactivation - choice of which X to inactivate9m

3.6 Stages of X inactivation - initiation and spreading of silencing11m

3.7 Stages of X inactivation - establishment of silencing6m

3.8 Stages of X inactivation - maintenance of silencing e.g. Dnmt18m

3.9 Stages of X inactivation - maintenance of silencing e.g. Smchd18m

3.10 X chromosome inactivation summary10m

3.11 Dosage compensation in flies and worms, compared with mammals8m

3.12 Lessons from the fly - position effect variegation and screening for epigenetic modifiers10m

1 reading

Week 3 resources (including required readings)10m

1 practice exercise

Week 3 quiz - contributes 12% towards your final grade30m

Week

Week 4

2 hours to complete

Week 4 - Genomic Imprinting and Epigenetic Reprogramming

2 hours to complete

6 videos (Total 68 min), 1 reading, 1 quiz

6 videos

4.1 Introduction to epigenetic reprogramming of the maternal and paternal genomes9m

4.2 Epigenetic reprogramming of imprinted genes and repetitive elements11m

4.3 Location of imprinted genes in the genome and bisulfite sequencing10m

4.4 Kcnq1 and H19/Igf2 ICR mechanisms of action and Beckwith Weidemann syndrome17m

4.5 Snrpn ICR mechanism, Prader Willi and Angelman syndromes13m

4.6 Summary of epigenetic reprogramming and imprinting6m

1 reading

Week 4 resources (including required reading)10m

1 practice exercise

Week 4 quiz - contributes 12% towards your final grade30m

Week

Week 5

2 hours to complete

Week 5 - The Influence of the Environment on Epigenetic Control

2 hours to complete

6 videos (Total 90 min), 1 reading, 1 quiz

6 videos

5.1 Disrupted epigenetic reprogramming in assisted reproductive technologies15m

5.2 Disrupted epigenetic reprogramming in somatic cell reprogramming and cloning15m

5.3 Introduction of transgenerational epigenetic inheritance, effects of the environment and sensitive periods in epigenetic control9m

5.4 The Dutch Famine human epidemiological studies and the Developmental Origins of Adult Health and Disease9m

5.5 Human epidemiological studies on the Overkalix cohort, grandparental effects and possibility of transgenerational epigenetic inheritance in humans12m

5.6 Extension lecture: Interview with Dr Andrew Keniry26m

1 reading

Week 5 resources (including required readings)10m

1 practice exercise

Week 5 quiz - contributes 12% towards your final grade30m

Week

Week 6

2 hours to complete

Week 6 - Mechanisms of Environmental Influence on Epigenetic Control and Transgenerational Epigenetic Inheritance Through the Gametes

2 hours to complete

8 videos (Total 102 min), 1 reading, 1 quiz

8 videos

6.1 Mouse and rat studies on paternal effects of chemical exposure, effects of maternal behaviour on epigenetic makeup14m

6.2 Transgenerational epigenetic inheritance via the gametes10m

6.3 The Agouti viable yellow allele in mice15m

6.4 Environmental effects on the Agouti viable yellow allele11m

6.5 The Axin fused allele in mice and metastable epialleles14m

6.6 Potential mechanisms of transgenerational epigenetic inheritance: incomplete epigenetic reprogramming9m

6.7 Paramutation in plants and paramutation-like effects in mice13m

6.8 Constitutional epimutation in humans - not transgenerational epigenetic inheritance12m

1 reading

Week 6 resources (including required readings)10m

1 practice exercise

Week 6 quiz - contributes 12% towards your final grade30m

Week

Week 7

4 hours to complete

Week 7 - Cancer Epigenetics

4 hours to complete

11 videos (Total 144 min), 3 readings, 1 quiz

11 videos

7.1 Overview of cancer epigenetics7m

7.2 Hypermethylation of CpG islands in cancer16m

7.3 Hypermethylation of sets of CpG islands in cancer11m

7.4 Hypomethylation genome-wide in cancer12m

7.5 Altered histone modifications in cancer11m

7.6 Long range epigenetic alterations in cancer and alterations to nuclear architecture10m

7.7 Altered expression on piRNAs and long noncoding RNAs in cancer9m

7.8 Mutations in epigenetic modifiers in cancer9m

7.9 Drugs that target the epigenetic machinery as chemotherapeutics17m

7.10 Extension lecture: Aging - Part 114m

7.11 Extension lecture: Aging - Part 223m

3 readings

Week 7 resources (including required readings)10m

Academic integrity10m

End of course survey10m

Reviews

4.8

208 reviews

5 stars
87.36%
4 stars
10.90%
3 stars
1.32%
2 stars
0.13%
1 star
0.26%

TOP REVIEWS FROM EPIGENETIC CONTROL OF GENE EXPRESSION

by ASJul 20, 2019

A great learning platform. This was my first ever course on coursera and I've thoroughly enjoyed it. A big thank you to Dr. Marnie Blewitt for helping us learn in a fun way!

by VSAug 7, 2018

A very informative course which starts from the basics and goes up all the way and the pace of the course is also perfectly set for anyone from professionals to first-timers.

by HDNov 24, 2019

Update the reading for the final assignment. It is too old and updating it would be an easy fix. I am not going to finish the certificate as the final paper is 7 years ago. Go Boomer. Sad

by ADMay 12, 2020

Amazingly structured and delivered course by the entire team. Including a few practical assays or how to read some of the assay results related to epigenetic techniques would be welcome.

View all reviews

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Epigenetic Control of Gene Expression

Epigenetic Control of Gene Expression

About this Course

Skills you will gain