BIOLOGY APPLIED TO BIOTECHNOLOGY
Academic year and teacher
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- Versione italiana
- Academic year
- 2017/2018
- Teacher
- CHIARA SCAPOLI
- Credits
- 6
- Didactic period
- Secondo Semestre
- SSD
- BIO/13
Training objectives
- The course in Biology applied to Biotechnology deals with advanced applications of Biology to biotechnology and biomedicine.
The main educational purpose of the course is to provide the students with information on advanced research fields in Applied Biology related to biotechnology and biomedicine
The specific aims of the course are the following:
-the study of biology and genomics of the most relevant model organisms in each living Kingdom
-information on some advanced aspects of the Genome Projects and on emerging experimental methods in genomics and proteomics
-the study of extremophile organisms and their applications in Biotechnology
-information about advanced biomaterials, new pharmacological compounds and recent applications of stem cells
-learning the basic techniques for writing reports and scientific papers, for a correct use of bibliographic styles, for oral or poster communication of results and for use of applied biology databanks.
The main abilities the students should acquire are the following:
- ability to apply knowledge about biology and genomics of the most relevant model organisms to advanced studies and research projects in biotechnology and biomedicine
- using updated information about the Genome Projects and emerging experimental methods in genomics and proteomics for study and research activities in biotechnology
-ability to apply information acquired on extremophile organisms, biomaterials, new pharmacological compounds and stem cells to studies and research projects in biotechnology and biomedicine
- acquire the basic techniques to write laboratory reports and scientific papers, write a correct reference list according to international rules and convey scientific results by oral communications and poster presentations
- achieve an operative use of informatic tools and databanks in applied biology Prerequisites
- No formal preparatory courses are required, but the student should have acquired the knowledge provided in previous first-level university courses in General Biology, Genetics, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
Course programme
- The course is composed of 52 hours, divided into 40 hours of lectures and 12 hours of laboratory practice.
The 40 hours of lectures will deal with the following topics:
Introduction to the course and to advanced fields in Applied Biology (4 hours). Organisms of unclear classification and their relevance in biology and biotechnology (2 hours). Model organisms: general concepts (2 hours). Model organisms and their genomes among Prokaryotes, Protista, Fungi and Plants (8 hours). Model organisms and their genomes among Animalia: Protostomia and Deuterostomia (4 hours). Model organisms among Primates and their genomes (2 hours). Advanced aspects of the Human Genome Project (2 hours). Emerging experimental methods for DNA sequencing, genome and proteome studies (2 hours). Extremophile organisms and their relevance in applied biology (2 hours). Extreme environments on Earth and other Solar System objects (2 hours). Biomaterials and their applications (2 hours). Emerging pathologies and advances in drug discovery and development (2 hours). Stem cells and their applications in biotechnology and biomedicine (2 hours). Basic techniques for writing reports and scientific papers, international bibliographic styles and their correct use (2 hours). Techniques for oral or poster communication of results, and operative use of relevant databanks in applied biology and biotechnology (2 hours).
The 12 hours of laboratory practice will deal with the following topics:
Model organisms among Protista, Fungi, Plants and Animalia (4 hours). Databanks on model organisms and advanced research fields in applied biology (4 hours). Online overview of international journals and authors’ guidelines for publishing; bibliographic styles and techniques for poster preparation; operative use of relevant databanks in applied biology and biotechnology (4 hours). Didactic methods
- The course is organized in 40 hours of lectures and 12 hours of laboratory practice, for a total of 52 hours. The lectures will be delivered by Power Point presentations and other audio-visual teaching supports. The laboratory practices will be held in the Laboratory of Morphology and in the Multimedia Laboratory of the Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology
Learning assessment procedures
- The exam at the end of the course has the purpose to verify the level of acquisition of the educational aims.
The final exam will be a written test with open questions (rated 3, 4 or 5 points each, according to complexity), for a total of 16 points (corresponding to a maximum score of 30/30 magna cum laude). After taking the written test at least once and passing it with a minimum score of 9/16 (that is 18/30), the student may choose to take an integrative oral test (optional) or to maintain the score of the written test. The integrative oral test will usually consist of three questions, the first one dealing with mistakes in the written test.
Overall, the exam will evaluate the level of knowledge about:
- biology and genomics of relevant model organisms in biotechnology and biomedicine
- updated information about the Genome Projects and advanced experimental methods in genomics and proteomics
- extremophile organisms and their applications in biotechnology
- biomaterials, new pharmacological compounds and stem cell applications
- basic techniques for writing reports and scientific papers, compiling a correct bibliography, performing effective oral or poster communications and using applied biology databanks Reference texts
- The students will be provided by the teacher with pdf copies of lectures, papers and reviews, together with animations and short movies related to lecture and laboratory topics.
