Genetic Instability and Cancer

The aim is to describe the current knowledges in the fields of DNA replication, repair and recombination and its consequences on genetic instability and cancer.

Key to the proper inheritance of the genetic information, cells should duplicate their genome before mitosis and avoid mutagenesis. The course will describe the mechanisms and the regulations that ensure the maintenance of genetic information across cell generations. Focus will be put on initiation and completion of replication along the bulk chromosomes and at specific regions such as the telomeres ; the pathways of DNA repair and recombination ; the relationships linking replication stress to the formation of DNA damages ; the signalling of intrinsic and environmentally induced DNA damages ; the interferences with the transcriptional activity ; the variety of cellular responses to damages including the generation of chromosome rearrangements and oncogenesis. A large set of experimental methods involving genetic, molecular, cellular, biochemical approaches will be taught.