B7012 - METABOLOMICS TECHNIQUES AND THEIR APPLICATIONS IN PLANT SCIENCE

Learning outcomes

After completing the course, the student knows what metabolomics is, and how to approach a metabolomic study through different techniques, acquiring the preliminary knowledge to read and interpret NMR and MS spectra, and to handle and correlate data emerging from a metabolomic experiment. The student understands the experimental design, the potentialities and the limits of metabolomics applied to different fields, with particular attention to plant samples and with some hints also to human samples.

Course contents

-"Omic" sciences and metabolomics, definitions and basic concepts, importance of plant metabolites for humans and for the ecosystem

-Historical notes, complexities and challenges of metabolomics approach

- workflow of a project based on metabolomic analysis -

-experimental design, sampling, sample preparation, prepurification techniques, extraction

-analytical techniques: NMR, LC-MS and other techniques used (advantages and disadvantages), general principles of these analytical techniques

- interpreting metabolomics  through multivariate analysis, database preparation and management

- Applications of metabolomics in the plant sience field (quality control of botanical and food products, ecological studies, studies of active ingredients of plants, studies aimed at understanding the function of secondary metabolites in plants)

-other applications of metabolomics

-practical examples of metabolomic studies applied to plants and their metabolites

Readings/Bibliography

The bibliography will consist of scientific articles that will be indicated during the course and inserted on the slides.

All slides will be published and provided to the students in order to support their study 

Teaching methods

Lectures supported by ppt projections are expected

Assessment methods

The exam will consist of the presentation and discussion of a scientific article focusing on metabolomics. The presentation may be presented as a PowerPoint presentation.

Students will be assessed on their presentation, the critical issues they highlight, and the content presented to demonstrate their mastery of the topic.

The student has the right to refuse the verbalization of the positive grade only once (according to the university teaching regulations ART.16, paragraph 5)

Students with Specific Learning Disorders (SLD) or with temporary or permanent disabilities are strongly advised to contact the University Office in charge in due time ([https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en]). The office will be responsible for proposing any necessary accommodations to the students concerned. These accommodations must be submitted for the instructor's approval at least 15 days in advance, and the instructor will assess their suitability in relation to the learning objectives of the course.

Students with recognized "student-worker" status: consult the dedicated website (https://www.unibo.it/it/studiare/guida-alla-scelta-del-corso/conciliare-studio-e-lavoro ) to request their status and the measures provided.

Teaching tools

On the virtual platform, all the slides will be provided to the students together with the scientific articles of main interest for the study

Office hours

See the website of Manuela Mandrone