88619 - ELEMENTI DI BIOCHIMICA ED INTRODUZIONE ALLE ATTIVITA' DI LABORATORIO

Learning outcomes

Due to heterogeneity of students, coming from different first-degree courses, the course is aimed at providing students with the required knowledge of basic biochemistry and with practical skills to work in a biochemistry/biotechnology lab.

Course contents

The course, divided in two teaching Units,  aims at strengthening the basic concepts in biochemistry for the understanding of metabolic processes in animals (Unit 1) and at providing students with knowledge and practical skills to perform lab activities (Unit 2). The course includes frontal lessons and lab activities. To enter laboratories students should wear lab coats. Whenever required,  individual protection devices, such as disposable gloves, will be provided before starting lab activities.

Unit 1: structure and function of biomolecules (glucides, lipids, proteins and nucleic acids); the mechanisms of information transmission (genes and gene regulation); enzyme function and regulation; main metabolic pathways and metabolic regulation in fast-feed cycle; bases of cell signaling; principles of quali-quantitative UV-Vis spectrophotometry, centrifugation.

Unit 2: preparation of aqueous solutions and related calculations, use of the basic lab equipment (micropipettes, rews, centrifuges); extraction and quantification of nucleic acids, PCR reactions, electrophoresis of nucleic acids, with the aid of the required equipment (UV-Vis spectrophotometer; thermocycler, electrophoretic cells).  

Readings/Bibliography

Lesson slides and paper leaflets used in the lab will be available for students.

Unit 1: Recommended biochemistry text

• D.L. Nelson, M.M. Cox Introduzione alla biochimica di Lehninger, Zanichelli, 5th Edition.

Teaching methods

Frontal lessons will be associated with work in small groups and lab (hand-on) activities.

Assessment methods

The final mark, defined during an oral exam, will be the mean of the two Unit  marks. Sufficience (18) in each Unit is required to pass the exam. To obtain the highest mark (30L), in each Unit at least 30 in each Unit should be obtained. The evaluation  of on-going (in itinere) written tests (open answer or multiple-choice questionnaires, exercises, metabolic maps etc.) will form 50% (Unit 1) and 100% (Unit 2) of the final mark. The evaluation of an oral speech on a topic chosen by the student, previously defined with the teacher, with the aid of power-point presentation will form the remaining 50% of Unit 1 mark.

Teaching tools

Whiteboard, videoprojector, pc, molecular models (Cochranes molecular models-Sigma Aldrich).Practicals will be carried out in a lab equipped with the required instruments for biochemical and biotechnological analyses.

Office hours

See the website of Alessandra Pagliarani

See the website of Augusta Zannoni