Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

General aims of the course: (1) Knowledge of the molecular design of life, with particular emphasis on the main processes linked to energy production and storage, signal transduction and expression of genetic information, to allow the student to gain the scientific background necessary to understand physiological and pathological processes in animals presented in future courses; (2) Knowledge of the basic theory of colorimetric-based quantitative biological assay and of key topics related to recombinant DNA methodologies;(3) Knowledge of simple bioinformatic tools to allow the student to acquire key up-to-date information from reliable on-line bibliographic and scientific sources; (4)Undestanding the contribution of basic and applied research in veterinary science.

1- Knowledge and understanding. The student will acquire information concerning (a) the structure and function of the most relevant biomolecules, including macromolecules, (b) the main biological processes operating in animal cells, including the biological fate of the main components of nutrients, mechanisms of energy production and storage, molecular mechanisms of metabolic control and signal transduction and (c) expression of genetic information. The course is completed with seminars in which the previous information are used to describe in deeper details specific topics including three dimensional structure of proteins and related rationale drug design approaches, bioenergetics, oxidative stress, rumen biochemistry and recent developments in recombinant DNA technologies and proteomics.
2-Applying knowledge and understanding. The student will gain the necessary knowledge on cell and organism organization and function absolutely required in order to understand physio-pathological processes presented in a number of successive courses. Lectures are complemented with exercitative activities including exercises held in class collectively and practical laboratories, in which basic concepts of colorimetric assays are applied to the quantification of molecules of biological interest; the latter activities are also meant to be preparatory to the future course of Clinical Biochemistry. Student will acquire competences to obtain fundamental up-to-date information from bibliographic and scientific databanks
3- Making judgments. All information given in theoretical lectures and seminars is presented with an approach aimed at emphasizing the relevance of basic science researches in animal science and of the quantitative-based experimental methodology which is used to support any biological finding. Concerning laboratories activities, a critical discussion on all aspects of the activity is performed collectively in class. In addition, great emphasis is placed on the need to critically evaluate information from on-line sources
4-Communication. In order to learn how to work in group and communicate results efficiently, practical activities are performed in teams of two students and require the use of both manually and computer generated plots to present the results. The final examination consists in a written test with open answers, in which the student is also required to use an appropriate language, including proper scientific terminology, synthesis and completeness.
5- Life long learning skills. Knowledge of the main chemical components of organisms and food, knowledge of fundamental biological processes in organisms and ability in using tools to withdraw information from reliable on-line sources acquired during the course will allow life-long capacity to keep up-to-date on any topic of interest from scientific literature.