Genomics and Epigenetics of the Brain

Course Number: 02-719

This course will provide an introduction to genomics, epigenetics, and their application to problems in neuroscience. The rapid advances in single cell sequencing and other genomic technologies are revolutionizing how neuroscience research is conducted, providing tools to study how different cell types in the brain produce behavior and contribute to neurological disorders. Analyzing these powerful new datasets requires a foundation in molecular neuroscience as well as key computational biology techniques. In this course, we will cover the biology of epigenetics, how proteins sitting on DNA orchestrate the regulation of genes. In parallel, programming assignments and a project focusing on the analysis of a primary genomic dataset will teach principles of computational biology and their applications to neuroscience. The course material will also serve to demonstrate important concepts in neuroscience, including the diversity of neural cell types, neural plasticity, the role that epigenetics plays in behavior, and how the brain is influenced by neurological and psychiatric disorders. Although the course focuses on neuroscience, the material is accessible and applicable to a wide range of topics in biology.

 Key Topics: Technological advances in genomics, epigenetics, biological basis of genomics and epigenetics, basic computational tools to analyze epigenomic data, neuroscience, diversity of neural cell types, neural plasticity, the role that epigenetics plays in behavior, and how the brain is influenced by neurological and psychiatric disorders.

This class is intended for computational biology majors and minors.

Semester(s): Fall
Units: 12
Prerequisite(s): (03121 or 03151) and (03220) and (15121 or 02201 or 15110)

Textbook(s):

Learning Objectives

1. be able to describe the technological advances in genomics, different classes of genomic experiments researchers conduct, and how genomics has contributed towards our understanding of biology;
2. critically evaluate primary literature that uses genomic technology to understand the brain;
3. distinguish whether genomic technology is being used to test for specific hypotheses, screen for candidate molecules, provide an annotation, or learn the basic rules underlying a biological system;
4. explain the role that epigenetics plays in gene regulation and inheritance;
5. conduct a computational analysis of genomic data, from raw output to biological conclusions, using existing genomic analysis tools at the command line;
6. conduct a statistical analysis of transcriptomic and epigenetic data using the R programming language;
7. design genomic experiments with sufficient statistical power and controls by approaching problems in biology and neuroscience from a quantitative perspective;
8. describe the molecular and functional difference between neurons, astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and microglial cells in the brain;
9. describe how epigenetics contributes to the process of neural plasticity;
10. and describe the biological basis of neurological and psychiatric disorders and how genomic technology has contributed towards our understanding of them.

Assessment Structure: 

1200 points graduate
Homework Projects: 300 points
Literature Review Report: 100 points
Literature Review Presentation: 100 points
Class participation: 100 points
Exams: 150 points
Final Exam: 150 points
Project: 300 points