CODE 95317 ACADEMIC YEAR 2017/2018 CREDITS 6 cfu anno 1 MEDICAL-PHARMACEUTICAL BIOTECHNOLOGY 10598 (LM-9) - SCIENTIFIC DISCIPLINARY SECTOR BIO/06 LANGUAGE English TEACHING LOCATION SEMESTER 1° Semester TEACHING MATERIALS AULAWEB OVERVIEW The purpose of the course is to study animal models and their potential biotechnological applications. AIMS AND CONTENT LEARNING OUTCOMES The aim of the course is to provide students with the essential informations necessaries to carry out experiments on laboratory animals. Particularly, wide information on different animal models and their usefulness are given. Additionally, all necessary indications on law dispositions about animal research and on animal welfare are specified. Furthermore, the students will learn all methodologies currently in use to create mutant animals, including new scientific approaches. Specific examples are illustrated. AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES The course is devoted to prepare students for experimental work on live animals. The students will be first taught of mouse gametogenesis, in order to understand later how the main biotechnologies, including transgenesis are carried out. The course will also focus on the use of animals in biomedical research, to provide an introduction to the major areas of laboratory animal science, that contribute both to the humane health, to the animal care, and to the quality of experimental results. TEACHING METHODS Frontal lessons and laboratory. SYLLABUS/CONTENT Introduction, Historical notes and Legislation. Description of different type of animal models and their use in research, preclinical studies and for public health. Anatomy, physiology and pathology of laboratory animals. Animal welfare and 3R principle. Laboratory animals housing and breeding, and prevention of the risks. Animal models: outbred, inbred and mutant strains. Immunodeficiency, pathology, oncology and surgical models, and their experimental applications. In vivo analysis of the genic function: “Reverse” and “Forward” genetics Mouse molecular genetics: pronuclear and blastocyst microinjection Technology for generating transgenic animals, including mice and livestock. Mouse Embryonal Stem Cells and their use for mutant production, Knock-out and Knock-in: gene targeting strategies, homology recombination, positive/negative selection, BAC recombinering, ZFN, etc. Conditional expression: inducible promoters, transactivators, Tet-on/tet-off, cre/loxP, tamoxifen systems. Gene reporters and atlas of gene expression. Others technology: RNAi, etc. In vivo random mutagenesis: ENU and other chemical and physical mutagens. Insertional Mutagenesis: gene, enhancer and promoter trap, transposons. Examples of mutant models for the study of human diseases and implication of different genetic backgrounds on mutant phenotype. Cloning of endangered species Other vertebrate models: Zebrafish, Xenopus laevis, Gallus gallus Invertebrate models: Drosophila melanogaster as model organism for developmental biology studies and transgenic fly production; C. elegans and the RNA interference. Laboratory training: mouse manipulation and necropsy; imaging in preclinical models and treatment evaluation; collection, microinjection and implant of mouse fertilized egg cells and blastocysts. RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY Handouts provided by the Professors TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD OTTAVIA BARBIERI Ricevimento: Students can book an appointment with the professors; professors and students will agree on date and time. Address, Phone, Mail Professor Ottavia Barbieri’s Room: L.go R. Benzi 10, (CBA Torre B piano 0) tel. 010 5558260 e-mail: ottavia.barbieri@unige.it MICHELE CILLI Ricevimento: By appointment by email: michele.cilli@hsanmartino.it Exam Board OTTAVIA BARBIERI (President) MICHELE CILLI LESSONS LESSONS START October 1, 2017 Class schedule ANIMAL MODELS FOR BIOTECHNOLOGY EXAMS EXAM DESCRIPTION Oral. ASSESSMENT METHODS The exam is oral and is always conducted by both lecturers of the course in the presence of at least two students. The average duration is about 30 minutes and generally, given the experience of the teachers, the commission is in a position to verify, with unanimity of opinion, if the educational objectives of teaching have been achieved. Whenever these are not met, the student is invited to deepen the study and to get advantage of further explanations on the part of the teachers. Exam schedule Data appello Orario Luogo Degree type Note 24/01/2018 09:00 GENOVA Orale 21/02/2018 09:00 GENOVA Orale 20/06/2018 09:00 GENOVA Orale 11/07/2018 09:00 GENOVA Orale 25/07/2018 09:00 GENOVA Orale 12/09/2018 09:00 GENOVA Orale 26/09/2018 09:00 GENOVA Orale