The course of Biochemistry aims to provide to the students the basis to understanding the physical, chemical and biological contexts in which molecules, reactions and metabolic pathways play their role. Particular attention will be given to the structure and function relationship of the major classes of macromolecules as also to the metabolic regulation at the molecular and cellular level. In order to stimulate student interest, the topics will be explained emphasizing the logical and consequential interconnections emphasizing the clinical aspects and introducing experimental methods. At the end of the present course, the student will understand the structure-function relationships of the main biological molecules, essential biochemical mechanisms that underlie a proper metabolic function and the consequences of their alterations.
The main purpose, of the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology teaching course for the students in the field of Stomatology, is: to provide the basic information on physical, chemical and biological context in which molecules, reactions and metabolic pathways have a function; to highlight the relation between structure and function of the principal macromolecules and the metabolic regulation at molecular and cellular level. To stimulate the interest of students, logical and sequential interconnections will be underlined, pointing out the clinical aspects and introducing the experimental methodology. To the end of the lectures the student will understand the relationship between structure and function of macromolecules, the biochemical mechanisms essential for the metabolic function and the consequences of the their alteration
The aim of the course is to make the student understand the role of genetic tests in the patient's clinical path and to provide an updated view of the molecular biology methods that are applied in the clinical field. At the end of the course the student will acquire the knowledge of the application principles of techniques for detecting genetic alterations.
The teaching of Clinical Biochemistry and Clinical Molecular Biology, of the integrated course of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, aims to provide to the students the basic and methodological notions to the comprehension and interpretation of the results obtained from the biochemical-molecular diagnostic investigations of biological samples for the characterization of conditions pathophysiology and pathology of organs and tissues. At the end of the course the student will acquire the knowledge of the biological and biochemical parameters and of the indicators of the alterations which are at the base of some diseases widely spread in the population.
frontal lessons
The teaching is held with lectures using slides which will be uploaded on Studium platform for students. Attendance of the course is mandatory to the extent provided by the study programme.
Should teaching be carried out in mixed mode or remotely, it may be necessary to introduce changes with respect to previous statements, in line with the programme planned and outlined in the syllabus.
The course takes place through lecture with slide projection and practical exercises; in addition, there will be activities to be carried out independently or in groups. Interactive teaching is foreseen with participation in active working groups and quizzes, through the use of web platforms and Open Source software.
Written and oral exam. Written examination with multiple choice questions on all the topics covered during the course.
Should teaching be carried out in mixed mode or remotely, it may be necessary to introduce changes with respect to previous statements, in line with the programme planned and outlined in the syllabus. Learning assessment may also be carried out on line, should the conditions require it.
The course takes place through lecture with slide projection and practical exercises; in addition, there will be activities to be carried out independently or in groups. Interactive teaching is foreseen with participation in active working groups and quizzes, through the use of web platforms and Open Source software.
Written and oral exam. Written examination with multiple choice questions on all the topics covered during the course.
Should teaching be carried out in mixed mode or remotely, it may be necessary to introduce changes with respect to previous statements, in line with the programme planned and outlined in the syllabus. Learning assessment may also be carried out on line, should the conditions require it.
In particular the course of Biochemistry will be devoted to clarificy molecular meccanism envolved during the study of ormonal and metabolic approaches in order to better underline the cross-talk between molecules that play a pivotal role in understanding the targets for the objectives to be analyzed set by biochemistry. and molecular biology.
Nucleic acids: primary and secondary structures. Eukaryotic genomes. Genes organization. Transmission of genetic information and RNA molecules: the central dogma of molecular biology. tRNA adaptor molecule. function of mRNA (prokaryotic and eukariotic cells). DNA replication: DNA polymerase. Protein synthesis: ribosomes; step of protein synthesis; inhibithors of protein synthesis, the genetic code. Gene transcription: mechanism and general concepts; components of transcriptional units; promoters; trascription starting site, transcripts; transcription termination; eukaryotic RNA processing; splicing and alternative splicing. Relevance of regulation in trascriptional expression: gene expression regulation in prokariotic cells; operones organization; regulation of eukaryotic transcription; general and inducible transcription factors. Molecular Biology techniques: nucleic acid manipulations; electrophoresis; restriction enzymes; southern and northern blotting; DNA sequencing; cloning tecnology; vectors. PCR: principle, methods and results analysis.
Clinical Molecular Biology tests.
Clinical molecular diagnostics: biological material.
Spectrophotometric techniques for nucleic acid and protein analysis.
Recombinant biotechnologies for clinical diagnosis, genome and gene expression analysis.
Enzymatic tools of genetic engineering, new generation sequencing platforms, immunochemical techniques.
Introduction to Clinical Biochemistry: collection, transport and storage, treatment and causes of alteration of biological samples.Analytical and statistical concepts in data analysis: pre-analytical, analytical and post-analytical variability, biological variability, diagnostic sensitivity and specificity, predictive value of a test, quality control of analytical methods, principles of bioinformatics and biobanks.
Laboratory analysis in diseases of the liver and biliary tract. Markers of hepatic injury.
Laboratory analysis in cardiovascular diseases. Cardiac injury markers.
Laboratory analysis in kidney diseases. Indices of renal function.
Clinical molecular diagnostics: application of the omic sciences in the laboratory, genomic and proteomic biomarkers, nutrigenomics and nutrigenetics.
1. Siliprandi-Tettamanti. Biochimica Medica. Piccin.
2. Nelson Cox. I principi di Biochimica di Lehninger. Zanichelli
Watson, J.D. et al., Biologia Molecolare del gene VII ed., Zanichelli 2015;
Zlatanova & van Holde, Biologia molecolare, Zanchelli 2018;
Other summaries of the topics covered are also available in books as:
Nelson & Cox, I principi di Biochimica di Lehninger, Zanichelli 2010
Other teaching material will be uploaded on Studiun platform
1) Biologia Molecolare. F. Amaldi, P. Benedetti, G. Pesole, P. Plevani. CEA edizioni.
2) Medicina di laboratorio. Logica e patologia clinica. I. Antonozzi, E. Gulletta, Piccin.
3) Le analisi personalizzate nella medicina di laboratorio. L. Spandrio, B. Milanesi. Piccin.
1) Biochimica Clinica e Medicina di Laboratorio. M. Ciaccio, G. Lippi. Edises.
2) Medicina di laboratorio. Logica e patologia clinica. I. Antonozzi, E. Gulletta, Piccin.
3) Medicina di Laboratorio. G. Federici. McGraw-Hill Education.
4) Le analisi personalizzate nella medicina di laboratorio. L. Spandrio, B. Milanesi, Piccin.