1) Development of experimental strategies, based on massive sequencing and other molecular biology approaches, for genomic sequencing, analysis of the transcriptional profile, alternative splicing pattern, RNA editing and other epigenetic features. 2) Development of bioinformatics methodologies and specialized databases for the analysis and functional characterization of "omics" data. In particular, bioinformatics methodologies include: i) assembly and annotation of viral, prokaryotic and eukaryotic genomes; ii) study of the transcriptome in prokaryotes and eukaryotes and of the alternative splicing pattern of eukaryotic genes; iii) identification and functional characterization of RNA editing events; iv) epigenetic analysis; v) evolution and functional characterization of the mitochondrial genome; vi) taxonomic and functional characterization of the microbiome. 3) Identification of biomarkers and characterization of specific molecular processes in aging, neurodegenerative diseases and tumors; 4) Study of the microbiome in clinical and environmental samples using metagenomic approaches.