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HUMAN BIOCHEMISTRY AND DIAGNOSTIC BIOTECHNOLOGY (WITH LABORATORY)

CODE 98799
ACADEMIC YEAR 2022/2023
CREDITS
  • 10 cfu during the 1st year of 10598 MEDICAL-PHARMACEUTICAL BIOTECHNOLOGY(LM-9) - GENOVA
  • SCIENTIFIC DISCIPLINARY SECTOR BIO/10
    LANGUAGE English
    TEACHING LOCATION
  • GENOVA
  • SEMESTER 1° Semester
    TEACHING MATERIALS AULAWEB

    AIMS AND CONTENT

    LEARNING OUTCOMES

    The course is structured in two modules: Organ Biochemistry and Diagnostic Biotechnology. The Biochemistry module aims to analyze in details some aspects of protein biochemistry and tissue/ specialized organ biochemistry. During the laboratory, selected innovative biochemical methods and technologies will be discussed, using examples from the literature. The module of Diagnostic Biotechnology, aims to introduce students to the methods derived from basic biotechnologies that were transferred to medical diagnostics; know the main analyses of clinical biochemistry and their interpretation to verify metabolism and function of different organs.

    AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

    The course aims to provide a deeper knowledge about protein functions, with a particular focus about the role of post-translational modifications (PTM), protein sorting and proteostasis in physiological and pathological conditions. Moreover, it will analyze at the biochemical and molecular level the specialized functions of organs and tissues and their complex relationships and the control systems in physiological conditions. The course will also focus on the understanding on some of the basic mechanisms responsible for alterations of homeostasis and the onset of diseases.

    At the end of the course the student will be able to:

    • understand and explain, at the molecular and biochemical level, the systems for maintaining homeostasis in cells and in the main tissues/organs
    • apply the acquired knowledge to critically evaluate the consequences of homeostasis alterations in diseases (i.e. neurodegenerative diseases, metabolic syndrome, cancer)
    • understand, critically evaluate and apply the experimental methods described during the course and in the scientific literature on the topic of the course in order to develop an experimental protocol during the Laboratory.
    • acquire an adequate scientific language  

    PREREQUISITES

    A good knowledge of the macromolecule structures, of the metabolic pathways and of signal transduction mechanisms is required.

    TEACHING METHODS

    The Human biochemistry module consists in lectures on the indicated topics. The Laboratory will be practical and it will be held in Polo biotech; students will be required to develop a protocol aimed to study PTM or effects of alterations in PQC.

    SYLLABUS/CONTENT

    1 .Protein biochemistry

    • Protein post-translational modifications (PTM) and their role in heath and diseases
    • Protein sorting in subcellular compartments
    • Protein quality control (PQC) and “conformational” diseases

    2. Organ biochemistry

    • Specialized biochemistry of the main tissues/organs: liver, muscle, adipose tissue, brain, blood
    • Hormonal regulation of metabolism, control of glycemia and lipid metabolism
    • The fasting/feeding cycle

    3. Biochemistry of cancer cells

    4. Biochemistry of the sensory systems (vision, olfaction, hearing, touch, taste)

    RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

    Slides and additional material for the study will be provided usig aualweb

    TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

    Exam Board

    SANTINA BRUZZONE (President)

    MICHELA TONETTI (President)

    MIRKO MAGNONE

    LAURA STURLA

    VALERIA VISCONTI

    LESSONS

    Class schedule

    All class schedules are posted on the EasyAcademy portal.

    EXAMS

    EXAM DESCRIPTION

    The Human biochemistry exam will be written test with 32 multiple choice questions (0.5 marks each). The exam is positively evaluate with a score of 18/30 or higher. The score will be used to calculate the final mark, using the mean with the one obtained in the Clinical Biotechnology exam.

    ASSESSMENT METHODS

    The questions proposed in the written exam will be constructed in such a way evaluate student knowlledge, but also to investigate the student biochemical reasoning and to evaluate the skills and competences acquired according to the objectives of the course.