CRISPR/Cas-based editing tools: theory and applications

2 CFU

Schedule: First and second year

Programme

The course will train PhD students in CRISPR/Cas-based genome editing technologies on somatic and embryonic stem cells. Student will learn strategies to plan and execute experiments for knocking-out or knocking-in gene(s) of interest. Furthermore, the course will teach students how to utilize the CRISPR activation system (CRISPR-ON) to effectively upregulate endogenous gene(s), as well as CRISPR interference (CRISPR-OFF) for performing gene knockdown(s). For each method, applications taken from the scientific literature will be presented. Participants will learn how to: 1) define the best CRISPR strategy and design guide-RNAs using bioinformatic tools; 2) efficiency deliver the editing machinery into cells of interest and assess the editing events; 3) design and use CRISPR-ON or CRISPR-OFF systems to perturb the transcriptome.

The course will be both theoretical and practical.