Director Prof. Michele Caraglia

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.