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CODE 68496
ACADEMIC YEAR 2024/2025
CREDITS
SCIENTIFIC DISCIPLINARY SECTOR MED/46
LANGUAGE Italian
TEACHING LOCATION
  • GENOVA
SEMESTER 2° Semester
MODULES Questo insegnamento è un modulo di:
TEACHING MATERIALS AULAWEB

OVERVIEW

Molecular biology is the branch of science that studies the molecular mechanisms underlying the physiology of living organisms. In particular, molecular science involves analysing the structure, properties and reactions of the chemical molecules that make up living beings. Molecular biology techniques enable the detection, analysis, manipulation and cloning of the nucleic acids DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) and RNA (ribonucleic acid).

The course provides an introduction to general genetics, molecular biology and laboratory diagnostics as applied to microbiology and virology.

 

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The main aim of the theoretical/practical part of the course is to provide students with knowledge of the main molecular biology techniques.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

Attendance and participation in the proposed training activities, frontal lectures and laboratory activities, combined with individual study, will enable the student to know the principles of general genetics, the technologies used in molecular genetics laboratories and the theoretical description of the tests. The student will also be able to select appropriate molecular biological tests to be used in laboratory diagnostics for the detection of infectious agents.

PREREQUISITES

In order to be able to tackle the course effectively the student must have acquired a basic knowledge of biology during their previous studies.

 

TEACHING METHODS

The course consists of 20 hours of lectures, attendance of which is mandatory according to the academic regulations of the course of study, and exercises involving the analysis and solution of simulated laboratory tests on the contents of the educational program.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

- Molecular biology laboratory organisation, sample preparation: pre-analytical, analytical and post-analytical phases

- Introduction to general genetics

- Laboratory diagnostics

- Evolution of Molecular Biology

- Nucleic acid extraction, Classic PCR, Amplification, Detection, Real-time PCR

- Sanger sequencing, drug resistance

- Hepatitis Viruses and Retroviruses

- New Diagnostic Technologies

- Next generation sequencing (NGS)

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

The slides used during the lectures will be made available to the students at the end of the theory course and will in any case be available on aul@Web. This material and the notes taken during the lectures are sufficient to prepare for and pass the exam.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

ADRIANO DESSYPRIS (President)

BARBARA GALANO

NICOLA NIGRO

RENATA BOCCIARDI (President and Coordinator of Integrated Course)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

2nd SEMESTER

Class schedule

GENETIC TECHNIQUES

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The exam consists of a written test. Students are required to take a test containing open and multiple choice questions on the topics covered during the course. The total duration of the examination is approximately 30 minutes. The exam is passed if the student achieves a sufficient mark. The mode of examination may be changed to an oral examination in telematic mode in relation to changes in the health and epidemiological situation related to the COVID-19 emergency.

Please refer to the teaching specific AulaWeb instance for any updates on this topic. 

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The examination is designed to test the basic concepts and information covered in the lectures and the reasoning skills developed by the student. Open questions assess the ability to apply knowledge related to the subject matter, including safety measures and good laboratory practice.

To pass the exam, the student must demonstrate:

- Knowledge of how to define the characteristics of the molecular biology laboratory.

- Basic knowledge of molecular biology.

- Knowledge of the characteristics of the main nucleic acid extraction tests.

- Knowledge of the characteristics of the main classical amplification and real-time PCR tests in molecular biology.