Biology and Genetics Section

The Biology and Genetics Section is located at the first floor of the Biomedical Buildings, Block B, Telephone: 045/8027295. It hosts and coordinates the scientific and teaching activities of Molecular Biology (SSD BIO11), Applied Biology (SSD BIO13), Medical Genetics (MED03) teaching staff.
Research activities are organized in several projects including: -Identification of post-translational control mechanisms involved in cell proliferation and in pathogenic processes; Virus-cell interactions in HTLV human retrovirus induced leukaemogenic processes; role of MHC-I complex in the control of HIV induced infection; study of the interactions between HIV-1 Nef protein and human thioesterase ACOT8;
-investigations on the molecular bases of Mendelian disorders and on susceptibility genes in complex disorders such as respiratory diseases, cardiovascular diseases and autism; identification of polymorphic variants and of differentially expressed genes in case/control studies; evaluation of the genetic risk in complex diseases;
-application of statistical and bioinformatic tools for genome-wide association studies (GWAS), transcriptome, exome and methylome; analysis of data produced by high-throughput platforms in the context of respiratory, bone, and neurological disorders.
Laboratories and instruments available in the Section: facilities for cell cultures, nucleic acids manipulation, protein analysis; Nikon Eclipse 80 fluorescence microspore, ABI Prism 310 gene analyzer, Nanodrop spectrophotometer, hardware and software dedicated to complex computational analysis in the mathematical genetics lab; Victor 3PE luminometer/Fluorimeter, Lonza Nucleofector, ChemiDoc-It Imager, UVP, Biorad ELISA reader
Biobanks. The B&G section hosts: i) a collection of biological samples of autistic patients supported by a nationwide research project (ITAN foundation, ITalian Autism Network) for clinical, genetic and biological markers of autism; ii) a DNA biobank from an Italian population, representative of the Veneto region, which has been enrolled in a cooperative study on nephropathies; iii) a DNA biobank from phenotypically well characterised subjects to study the role of genes and environment on respiratory diseases (GEIRD project - Gene Environment Interaction in Respiratory Diseases).
Genetic counselling. A specialist in Medical Genetics provides preconceptional, prenatal and postnatal counselling for mendelian and chromosomal pathologies; he also collaborates with the Breast Unit of Verona AOUI for oncogenetic counselling in the context of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer.
Teaching activities. Molecular Biology, Biology, Genetics, Medical Genetics are taught in several courses of the Medical School and also in Exercise and Sport Science, Biotechnology and Bioinformatics courses. The Section also hosts the PhD course in Applied Life and Health Sciences and the aggregated School of postgraduate specialization in Medical Genetics.