Learning objectives
<br />The main objective of the course is to provide the students with the fundamentals of molecular biology, cellular biology and applied biochemistry, focusing on the basic concepts and applications related to the veterinary medicine. By the end of the course the student should be able to describe the mechanisms involved in the flow of the genetic information, in the biochemical regulation of the cellular functions, as well as the main issues regarding animal transgenesis and cloning. Furthermore the student should acquire the knowledge of the most important biochemical and molecular biology techniques applied in veterinary diagnostic. Finally he should demonstrate a critical comprehension of the molecular mechanisms involved in the regulation of the cell functions and their alteration in disease.
Course unit content
<br />Molecular biology<br />The flow of the genetic information:<br />Nucleic acids: DNA and RNA. Genes, chromosomes and chromatin. Duplication and maintenance of genomic DNA. DNA transcription in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Regulation of gene expression in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Protein synthesis.<br />Fundamentals of molecular biology: recombinant DNA and gene cloning. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR and RT-PCR), Southern and Northern blotting<br />Applications of the molecular diagnostics and of the recombinant biotechnologies to the diagnosis and prevention of diseases. <br />Genetic manipulation in animals: animal transgenesis and animal cloning.<br /> <br /> Cellular biochemistry:<br />-Cell regulation: The cell cycle. Cell signalling.
Bibliography
<br />NELSON D.L., COX M.M: I principi di Biochimica di Lehninger, Zanichelli (2002)<br />COOPER G.M.: La cellula - un approccio molecolare, Zanichelli (1998)<br />fnLODISH H, BERK A, ZIPURSKY SL, MATSUDAIRA P, BALTIMORE D, DARNELL JE : Biologia<br />molecolare della cellula, Zanichelli (2002)<br />Alberts B.,Bray D., Hopkin K., Johnson A., Lewis J., Raff M., Roberts K., Walter P.: L¡¦essenziale di biologia molecolare della cellule, Zanichelli (2005)