CODE 95324 ACADEMIC YEAR 2022/2023 CREDITS 5 cfu anno 2 MEDICAL-PHARMACEUTICAL BIOTECHNOLOGY 10598 (LM-9) - GENOVA SCIENTIFIC DISCIPLINARY SECTOR BIO/09 LANGUAGE English TEACHING LOCATION GENOVA SEMESTER 2° Semester TEACHING MATERIALS AULAWEB OVERVIEW The purpose of the course is to give an overview of cellular and molecular mechanisms that regulate functions in the nervous system. AIMS AND CONTENT LEARNING OUTCOMES The purpose of the course is to give an overview of molecular mechanisms that regulate functions in the nervous system with special emphasis on cellular and molecular mechanisms that regulate neurotransmission. In particular students receive a detailed information on the generation and propagation of the electrical signal in single neurons up to the complexity of the firing of neurons in network. Mechanisms underlying synaptic plasticity, fundamental for higher function such as learning and memory, will be analyzed in details. Moreover thank to the laboratory-activity, the students will learn basic skills in vitro electrophysiology (extra- and intracellular recordings, patch-clamp) and functional imaging techniques. Different recording modes and their advantages and disadvantages will be dealt with. By the end of the course the students should be able to understand the possibilities and the limitations of the different in vitro experimental approaches in neuroscience research and to design experiments in which the techniques are applied in a relevant manner to deal with up to date neurophysiology questions. AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES The purpose of the course is to give an overview of molecular mechanisms that regulate functions in the nervous system with special emphasis on cellular and molecular mechanisms that regulate neurotransmission. In particular, students receive detailed information on the generation and propagation of the electrical signal in single neurons up to the complexity of the firing of neurons in the network. Mechanisms underlying synaptic plasticity, fundamental for higher function such as learning and memory, will be analyzed in details. Finally, They will learn how to generate 2D and 3D human model of brain starting from patients’ Induced pluripotent stem cell. Moreover, thank to the laboratory activity, the students will learn basic skills in vitro electrophysiology (extra- and intracellular recordings, patch-clamp) and functional imaging techniques. Different recording modes and their advantages and disadvantages will be dealt with. By the end of the course, the students should be able to understand the possibilities and the limitations of the different in vitro experimental approaches and the various human brain models in neuroscience research, and to design experiments in which the techniques are applied in a relevant manner to deal with up to date neurophysiology questions PREREQUISITES Knowledge of the basic principles of physics, chemistry and biochemistry. Knowledge of cellular biology and human physiology. Passing the exams of: Human Physiology TEACHING METHODS Frontal lessons of neurophysiology and Neurobilogy: 32 hrs Laboratory Activities: 16hrs SYLLABUS/CONTENT Oral exam. The oral exam, lasting about twenty minutes, involves several questions of neurophysiology and neurobiology asked by one teacher of the commission. TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD PIETRO BALDELLI Ricevimento: By appointment by email: pietro.baldelli@unige.it ANNA FASSIO Ricevimento: By appointment by email: anna.fassio@unige.it BRUNO STERLINI Exam Board PIETRO BALDELLI (President) ANNA FASSIO (President) BRUNO STERLINI LESSONS LESSONS START April Class schedule The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy EXAMS EXAM DESCRIPTION Oral exam. The oral exam, lasting about twenty minutes, involves several questions of neurophysiology and neurobiology asked by one teacher of the commission. ASSESSMENT METHODS Oral exam. The oral exam, lasting about twenty minutes, involves several questions of neurophysiology and neurobiology asked by one teacher of the commission. FURTHER INFORMATION Lab activities consist in: optical anad confocal fluorescence microscopy, Electrophysiology, Cell Biology, Immuncitochemistry, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry