61500 - Clinical Molecular Biology

Academic Year 2019/2020

  • Docente: Gloria Isani
  • Credits: 2
  • SSD: BIO/12
  • Language: Italian
  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
  • Campus: Bologna
  • Corso: Single cycle degree programme (LMCU) in Veterinary Medicine (cod. 8617)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the lessons the students has acquired knowledges on the most important techniques of molecular biology and related application

Course contents

The module is part of the integrated course BIOCHEMISTRY AND VETERINARY CLINICAL MOLECULAR BIOLOGY. The integrated course aims to provide students with the specific knowledge and skills reported in the individual programs and also to develop soft skills (judgment autonomy, critical ability and communication skills) through targeted activities. Furthermore,  skills related to the achievement of the B2 level will be improved through the use of teaching tools (videos, questionnaires, articles) in English.

This module consists basically of applications of genomics and proteomics to small animals.

Applications of molecular biology to the study of the dog's genome and molecular basis of some genetic diseases: genomics, transcriptomics  and related techniques, DNA extraction and electrophoresis, PCR and microarray.  Applications of these techniques to the sudy of the dog genome and to the molecular basis of important inborn errors of metabolism (e.g. pyruvate kinase deficiency, cystinuria, von Willebrandt disease). Epigenetic modifications.

Plasma proteome: separation by different electrophoretic techniques; biochemical characteristic and function of the most important plasma serum proteins; particular attention will be paid to transport proteins, including lipoprotein function and metabolism. Electropherograms of dog, cat, horse and non conventional species.

Laboratory activities: practical work is aimed at the acquisition of basic knowledge and skills related to basic biochemical and molecular biology methods. Laboratory activities are carried out according to specific protocols and are reported in the personal laboratory notebook by each student. The laboratory notebook is checked periodically by the teacher to ascertain its correct management.


Readings/Bibliography

The teaching material consists of the suggested textbooks (see below) and of the material put on the specific course website: https://iol.unibo.it.

The suggested textbooks are:

Champe et al., Le basi della biochimica (Zanichelli)

Campbell e Farrell, Biochimica (EdiSES)
Allison, Fondamenti di biologia molecolare (Zanichelli)

Teaching methods

The course includes 16 hours of lectures and 6 hours of practical activity. Innovative teaching techniques will be applied, aimed at obtaining an active participation of the students.

1) Lectures. The lectures cover the theoretical part of the course and present the program in an organic way. When possible, the topics will be dealt with by starting from clinical cases and concrete situations related to veterinary practice. Some topics related to inborn error of metabolism will be addressed with the "problem oriented" approach. With the student agreement a topic could be deepened in groups and will be presented with a short presentation (LID approach).

2) Practical activity. Practical activities will be carried out in the laboratory, as reported in the Course content Section. It is mandatory to wear a gown for access to the teaching laboratory. When necessary, PPEs will also be provided for carrying out specific activities, such as single-use gloves and safety goggles.

Students with special needs are invited to contact the teacher by e-mail to illustrate them and to organize the teaching and examinations in the most suitable way.

Assessment methods

1) Student evaluation

The class is part of an Integrated Course. The final score of the exam is based on the synthesis of the evaluations of the two classes of the integrated course. The final mark will be proportional to the CFU of each teaching course.

The exam consists of a written test followed by an oral test. The written test includes the topics of the entire integrated course: metabolic pathways to be performed with formulas, metabolic schemes, open questions concerning the topics of the integrated course and multiple choice questions. The duration of the written test is two hours. The exam is stuctured to assess the acquisition of the knowledge and competences required according to what is reported in the course program and their use in solving problems concerning the future professional profile. Students wishing to take the exam in English should inform the teacher by e-mail at least two days before.

Evaluation: the evaluation is referred to the achievement of learning objectives and includes the evaluation of active participation of students, e.g. in laboratory work (10%) and the evaluation of the final exam (90%).

2) Exam reservation and dates of exam sessions

Students can make a reservation of the exam at: (https://almaesami.unibo.it/almaesami/welcome.htm ). Studends that have regularly attended the course can take the exam at fixed dates within specific periods of the academic year. All the other students can take the exam in other dedicated dates. Student who fails the exam may take it again three weeks after the previous attempt.


Teaching tools

Power point presentations, virtual labs, databases, practical laboratory work.

During the lessons digital tools will be used to support and integrate lectures: IOL and specific apps (Kahoot!) for conducting surveys and questioning sessions.

Office hours

See the website of Gloria Isani

SDGs

Good health and well-being Quality education Partnerships for the goals

This teaching activity contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN 2030 Agenda.