Functional Genomics

Functional Genomics (FG) is a sub-specialty of molecular biology that enables exploration of gene and protein function not only at the gene level but also on a genome-wide scale. Technologies such as RNA interference (RNAi) and gene editing (e.g. CRISPR) that interfere or alter gene function allow us to investigate gene function in vertebrate cells in a single experiment. The FG unit provides tools and technologies, for individual genes, pathway-focused genes and genome-wide analysis.

The FG unit is equipped with forefront techonologies for the Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) and functional studies aimed to define the role of one or more genes in a specific context.

Experimental Activities

	Analysis of gene expression through Affymetrix microarrays, RNA-seq (NGS technologies) and qRT-PCR
	Sequencing of DNA through Sanger Sequencing, pyrosequencing and NGS technologies to determine Single Nucleotide variants (SNVs), short insertions and deletions (indels), and copy number variations (CNVs)
	Functional studies based on over-expression, gene silencing, gene knock-out and/or gene-editing through CRISPR/Cas9 system
	Reversible immortalization of primary cells via the stable trasduction of lentiviral vectors.
FG activities allow to assess the effects of a specific pharmacological treatment, to identify and validate novel therapeutic targets and/or diagnostic biomarkers. Our Bioinformatic core facility has an outstanding expertise in FG-derived data analysis.