ENVIROMENTAL BIOCHEMISTRY
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- Versione italiana
- Academic year
- 2021/2022
- Teacher
- MONICA BORGATTI
- Credits
- 6
- Didactic period
- Secondo Semestre
- SSD
- BIO/10
Training objectives
- The course will provide knowledge about the environmental effects on the genome, metabolism and cellular systems, screening methods for genotoxicity and analysis of xenobiotics. The learning objectives include the acquisition of knowledge concerning: (a) the action of physical and chemical mutagens, with particular attention to xenobiotics and their metabolism; (b) introduction of gene and chromosomal mutations, epigenetic changes, oxidative stress, carcinogenesis; (c) genotoxicity assays in vitro (in bacteria and eukaryotic cells ) and in vivo; (d) genomic, post-genomic and epigenetic analysis.
During the guided tutorial in the labs, the students utilize molecular biology techniques to identify GMOs sequences in foods. After DNA extractions, the samples are analyzed by a quantitative Real-Time PCR.
Acquired knowledge:
- The physical, chemical and epigenetic mutagens
- The environmental xenobiotics and their metabolism
-The oxidative stress and antioxidants
- The genotoxicity tests and genomic, post-genomic and epigenetic analysis.
Acquired abilities:
-DNA extraction from a food using a rapid and simple method
-Analysis of GMO sequences in extracted DNAs by qRT-PCR and agarose gel electrophoresis. Prerequisites
- Basic Knowledges of chemistry, biochemistry, molecular biology and Biochemistry and Cellular Technologies are required.
No prerequisites. Course programme
- The course consists of 52 hours of teaching divided in lectures (40 hours) and guided tutorial in the labs (12 hours).
The lectures will address the following issues:
FIRST PART:BASIC PRINCIPLES
Xenobiotics (10 hours)
Epigenetic modifications (4 hours)
Genetic and chromosomal mutations (2 hours)
Physical and chemical mutagens (4 hours)
Repair systems (2 hours)
Nanoparticles (2 hours)
Oxygen and formation of toxic compounds (2 hours)
Antioxidants (2 hours)
Cancer and environment (2 hours)
SECOND PART: SCREENING METHODS
Genotoxicity assays in vitro (bacteria and eukaryotic cells) (3 hours)
Genotoxicity assays in vivo (3 hours)
Genomic and post-genomic analysis (2 hours)
Epigenetic analysis (2 hours)
The hours for the specific issues are indicative.
The guided tutorial in the labs (12 hours), the students utilize molecular biology techniques to identify GMOs sequences in foods. After DNA extraction by two different techniques, the samples are analyzed by advanced techniques available such as quantitative Real-Time PCR .
Lab experiences:
-DNA extraction from foods and PCR reaction (6 hours)
-qRT-PCR reaaction (3 hours)
-Sample analysis in agarose gel (3 hours) Didactic methods
- The course consists of lectures (40 hours, 5 ECTS) and guided tutorial in the labs (12 hours, 1 ECTS). The lectures are performed using slides in power point format and blackboard provided in the classrooms to explain better the topics.
For the guided tutorial in the labs, laboratory experiments are carried out in the dedicated classrooms for 12 hours divided in at least 4 days, for a total of 12 hours. Learning assessment procedures
- The exam is intended to evaluate the study of the matter and understanding of the described concepts during the course.
The exam includes a test (5 multiple choice questions with explanation of the specific answer with a maximum score of 6 points for each question expect to one question having 7 points; in details, 1 point for quiz and 2 or 4 (or 5) maximum points for explanation of the answer), based on all the topics covered in the course.
Wrong answer or no date 0 points. The final mark is the sum of the marks obtained from 5 questions, with the total score of 31 equal to the final vote of 30/30 cum laude. The exam lasts one hour.
If it will be not possible to carry out the exam in the presence due to Covid-19 emergency, it will be performed as online oral exam.
For DSA students the test procedure will be evaluated individually. Reference texts
- Slides shown during the frontal lectures (PDF format).
Specific topics can be further developed in the following texts, as indicated in the slides shown during the frontal lectures:
-Mutagenesi Ambientale, Migliore L, Zanichelli Editore
-Biochimica della nutrizione, Leuzzi G et al., Zanichelli Editore
-Principi di Chimica degli Alimenti, Cappelli/Vannucelli, Zanichelli Editore
-Chimica degli Alimenti, Cabras/Martelli, Piccin Editore
-Tossicologia Generale e Ambientale, Dolara P, Piccin Editore
-Introduzione all’Epidemiologia epigenetica, Paganetto/Aiello, ARACNE editore
-Analisi dei prodotti alimentari, Cabras/Tuberoso, Piccin Editore
-Biotecnologie Alimentari, Gigliotti-Verga, Piccin Editore
-Chimica Ambientale, Baird C et al., Zanichelli Editore
-Chimica dell'ambiente, Manahan SE, Piccin Editore
-Biochimica, Stryer et al., Zanichelli Editore
-Biochimica, Devlin, EdiSES Editore
-Biologia Molecolare della cellula, Alberts et al., Zanichelli Editore
-Handbook of Epigenetics: The new molecular and medical genetics (eBook-EBSCOhost)
