The integration of science and education is an effective way for universities to cultivate students in cutting-edge innovative interests. Epigenetics is the expansion of classical genetics, the corresponding experimental courses of which have not been integrated into the current teaching system. In this paper, by taking advantage of our laboratory's research on the DNA methylation maintenance gene, OsMET1-2 in rice, we have integrated our innovative findings in the education curriculum, and built a comprehensive teaching system on experimentation research, which greatly stimulates the curiosity of the students. Taking the OsMET1-2 mutants and its isogenic wild-type rice plants as experimental materials, this course has successfully demonstrated a causal link between genetic mutation and epigenetic variation, a topic widely interested by the students in learning genetics and epigenetics. Through the practice of this course, students have a deeper understanding of the important role of epigenetic modifications, their scientific research capabilities have been greatly improved, thereby strongly supporting the cultivation of top innovative talents among the students.
科教融合是高校培养拔尖创新人才的有效途径。表观遗传学是对经典遗传学的拓展，针对本校拔尖人才培养体系中表观遗传学实验内容的缺失，我们首次进行了表观遗传学科教融合、协同育人的尝试，将本实验室前期在水稻中开展的OsMET1-2基因的研究成果进行实验教学转化，建成了一个集前沿性、研究型和创新性为一体，以学生独立实验为中心，考核方式多元化的表观遗传学综合实验课程。本课程以OsMET1-2基因突变体和野生型为实验材料，将表观遗传上游酶促基因突变与基因组内特定位点的DNA甲基化和基因组稳定性联系起来。通过本课程的实践，学生对表观遗传修饰的重要作用有了更深刻理解，科研能力得到极大提升，强力支撑了本专业拔尖创新人才的培养。.
Keywords: epigenetics comprehensive experiment; experimental education; integration of science and education.