Plant epigenetics

Coordinators

David LATRASSE (MC Université Paris-Saclay) et Moussa BENHAMED (PR Université Paris Cité)

Goals

To master concepts and recent knowledge of plant epigenetic mechanisms, roles and their methods of study. To critically analyze and to present the results of a scientific publication. To understand the logic and principles of epigenomic analyses. To format and to present results of epigenomic data.

- Explain the mechanisms of epigenetic regulation in plants and their roles in controlling genome activity
- Describe examples of epigenetic control of plant development and/or response to the environment
- Identify and understand the main methodologies used for the analysis of epigenetic regulation of gene expression.
- Reason on choice of different ‘omics’ approaches to resolve a biological question related to epigenetics.
- Present, describe, analyse and synthetize experimental results obtained by the epigenomic approaches used during the practical course and/or in a scientific publication.

Skills

- Understanding of epigenetic mechanisms regulating gene expression in plants, including DNA methylation, histone modifications, and chromatin remodeling.
 - Ability to integrate epigenomic regulation with physiological and developmental processes in plants, particularly under environmental and stress conditions.
 - Critical analysis of scientific literature in plant epigenomics and capacity to synthesize current knowledge and research advances in the field.
 - Autonomy in experimental design and interpretation, with emphasis on choosing appropriate molecular and bioinformatic approaches to study epigenetic regulation.
 - Communication and scientific reasoning skills, demonstrated through oral presentations, and discussion of experimental results.

Content

The main topics dealt during the unit will be as follows: - evolution of plant genome structure: evolutionary dynamics and response to domestication and to human selection pressure (specificities of crop species) (Lectures) - direct and reverse genetics in species of agronomic interest and plant models (Lectures) - genomic tools for plant breeding; introduction to New Breeding Techniques (Lectures) - introduction to NGS data analysis methods (Directed Study) - statistics and mendelian genetics for varietal improvement (Directed Study); - quantitative genetics and genomic selection for crop improvement; legislation of crop breeding (Lectures) - control of reproduction in crops; physiology and quality of the seed (CM)

Format

The module takes place in the form of courses, tutorials and tutored workshops , during which students will analyze epigenomic datasets, with the support of the researchers who produced these data. 

Special teaching methods

Personal work: work on the workshop data and analysis of a scientific article, preparation of oral presentations.

Language : English

Mandatory TU

ECTS : 3

Lectures : 10;  Directed Study : 10