OVERVIEW

Marine biodiversity is a treasure to be preserved, but it is also a rich source of inspiration for modern biotechnologies. New drugs, materials, and processes can emerge from the targeted application of knowledge derived from the study of marine biodiversity. This course aims to provide students with the most up-to-date knowledge regarding biotechnologies based on marine organisms and their derivatives.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The module aims to provide students with knowledge of the main biotechnological applications arising from the biomolecular and structural study of marine organisms.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The specific aim of the course is to provide students with theoretical and practical knowledge and skills related to the main approaches of modern biotechnologies applied to marine organisms, with a special focus on designing strategies and solutions that ensure environmental and economic sustainability of the related processes.

By the end of the course, students will have acquired theoretical knowledge and practical skills through targeted laboratory activities on major marine biotechnological techniques. In particular, students will be able to:

· Understand the main areas of application of marine biotechnologies;

· Apply key strategies to make biotechnological processes more sustainable;

· Assess the application potential of a marine organism or its components;

· Think critically to apply the molecular techniques studied and tested in the lab to practical problems, such as the sustainable production of a drug or an industrially relevant biopolymer, and justify their choices.

PREREQUISITES

Basic knowledge of organic chemistry, biochemistry, and molecular biology is required.

TEACHING METHODS

The course includes lectures, one classroom-based theoretical-practical exercise, 1 CFU (= 16 hours) of laboratory activity, and one guided visit to a company. Attendance to lectures is strongly recommended, while attendance of practical exercises and laboratory activities is mandatory (minimum 75%).

Lectures are also delivered using multimedia presentations.

If in-person teaching is not possible due to emergency situations, classes will be held online via the Teams platform, using suitable alternative teaching tools.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

· Introduction to marine biotechnology: definition, fields of application, techniques, environments, and organisms.

· Techniques used in marine biotechnology: omics sciences for biodiscovery, genome mining (classroom-based exercise), heterologous protein production, and synthetic biology.

· Microalgae cultivation techniques.

· Cell culture and aquaculture techniques for marine invertebrates of biotechnological interest.

· Marine biotechnology and human health: main organisms used in drug discovery (bacteria, sponges, cnidarians, mollusks, ascidians), marine-derived antimicrobial peptides, marine polymers (chitin and chitosan, collagen and gelatins, algal polysaccharides), and marine-based cosmetics.

· Marine biotechnology and food: genetically modified fish, marine biotechnologies in nutraceuticals, pigments from the sea.

· Marine biotechnology and energy: algae as a source of biodiesel, bioethanol, biohydrogen, and biogas.

· Marine biotechnology and the environment: biosensors for environmental monitoring, molecular tools for detecting alien species, innovative approaches for ecosystem restoration: algae in heavy metal bioremediation, genetically modified organisms for plastic bioremediation.

Laboratory activities – 4 modules

· DNA extraction from unknown fish samples and species discrimination by PCR analysis.

· Bioactivity analysis of cnidarian venom.

· Extraction of carotenoids from crustacean waste and antioxidant activity assay.

· Extraction of flavonoids from algae and their molecular characterization.

Educational field trip

· 1 guided visit to a microalgae cultivation facility.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Slides and additional learning materials will be provided via AulaWeb.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

Check the updated schedule at: https://easyacademy.unige.it/portalestudenti

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The exam consists of an oral interview aimed at evaluating the student's understanding of the fundamental topics and their ability to make connections among them. The final grade is the arithmetic mean of the grades from the two course modules: Molecular Biology and Marine Biotechnology.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

Students will be asked to orally discuss at least two topics from the course program, assessing both knowledge and competencies.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Students with a valid certification of physical or learning disabilities, registered with the University, who require special accommodations for lectures, exams, or assignments, are invited to contact both the course instructor and Prof. Sara Ferrando (sara.ferrando@unige.it), the Department’s disability advisor.