Molecular Biology Applied to the Biomedical Research
A.Y. 2024/2025
Learning objectives
The first part of the course provides a detailed overview of the molecular mechanisms of cell cycle control. The second part will focus on the structure of the genome and the molecular mechanisms that regulate genome stability and avoid cancer onset and progression. Human diseases resulting from defects in the mechanisms of cell cycle control and in processes responsible for maintaining the integrity of the genome will be taken into consideration.
Expected learning outcomes
At the end of the course, students will acquire knowledge about the following topics:
· Cell cycle progression and its control;
· Mitosis and meiosis;
· Genome stability maintenance.
· Tumor onset and progression;
· Molecular mechanisms altered in many genome instability diseases.
· Cell cycle progression and its control;
· Mitosis and meiosis;
· Genome stability maintenance.
· Tumor onset and progression;
· Molecular mechanisms altered in many genome instability diseases.
Lesson period: Second semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
The eukaryotic Cell Cycle:
- Model organisms in the cell cycle analysis;
- The cell cycle control systems;
- The control of S phase;
- Early mitosis: preparing the chromosomes to segregation;
- Assembly of the mitotic spindle;
- The completion of mitosis and the cytokinesis;
- The control of meiosis;
- Control of cell proliferation and growth;
- The checkpoints of the cell cycle in physiological and pathological growth conditions;
- Alterations of cell cycle in cancer and other human diseases.
The maintenance of genome stability:
- The eukaryotic chromosomes: structure and organization, centromeres and telomeres;
- Alteration of the structure and number of chromosomes;
- Different types of DNA damages;
- Essential molecular mechanisms that preserve the correct structure of chromosomes;
- A plethora of DNA repair pathways;
- DNA damage checkpoints that control genomic stability;
- Human disorders whose cause is a defect in the response to or repair of DNA damage;
- Molecular mechanisms responsible for the development of the immune system;
- The molecular pathways involved in the maintenance of genomic stability as targets of therapeutic treatments
- Model organisms in the cell cycle analysis;
- The cell cycle control systems;
- The control of S phase;
- Early mitosis: preparing the chromosomes to segregation;
- Assembly of the mitotic spindle;
- The completion of mitosis and the cytokinesis;
- The control of meiosis;
- Control of cell proliferation and growth;
- The checkpoints of the cell cycle in physiological and pathological growth conditions;
- Alterations of cell cycle in cancer and other human diseases.
The maintenance of genome stability:
- The eukaryotic chromosomes: structure and organization, centromeres and telomeres;
- Alteration of the structure and number of chromosomes;
- Different types of DNA damages;
- Essential molecular mechanisms that preserve the correct structure of chromosomes;
- A plethora of DNA repair pathways;
- DNA damage checkpoints that control genomic stability;
- Human disorders whose cause is a defect in the response to or repair of DNA damage;
- Molecular mechanisms responsible for the development of the immune system;
- The molecular pathways involved in the maintenance of genomic stability as targets of therapeutic treatments
Prerequisites for admission
Good knowledge of Genetics and Molecular Biology is required.
Teaching methods
Teaching Methods:
Front lectures supported by projected slides.
The students will be encouraged to actively participate in the discussion to improve their critical skills.
Attendance mode:
In presence attendance is strongly recommended
Language: Italian
Program information:
The lessons in pdf format will be available on the ARIEL website of the teacher.
WEBsite: ARIEL website of the teacher.
Front lectures supported by projected slides.
The students will be encouraged to actively participate in the discussion to improve their critical skills.
Attendance mode:
In presence attendance is strongly recommended
Language: Italian
Program information:
The lessons in pdf format will be available on the ARIEL website of the teacher.
WEBsite: ARIEL website of the teacher.
Teaching Resources
D.O. Morgan "The Cell Cycle: principles of control" New Science Press.
Friedberg, E. C., Walker, G. C., Siede, W., Wood, R. D., Schultz, R. A. & Ellenberger, T. "DNA repair and mutagenesis" (ASM Press).
Robert Weinberg. "La biologia del cancro".
Tak W. Mak, Mary Saunders "Fondamenti di immunologia".
Robin Hesketh "Introduction to Cancer Biology" Cambridge University Press.
F. Amaldi, P. Benedetti, G. Pesole, P. Plevani, "Biologia Molecolare" Casa Editrice Ambrosiana.
J.D. Watson, T.A Baker, S.P. Bell, A. Gann, M. Levine and R. Losick "Molecular Biology of the Gene"
Research and review articles concerning the topics dealt with during lectures will be suggested.
Friedberg, E. C., Walker, G. C., Siede, W., Wood, R. D., Schultz, R. A. & Ellenberger, T. "DNA repair and mutagenesis" (ASM Press).
Robert Weinberg. "La biologia del cancro".
Tak W. Mak, Mary Saunders "Fondamenti di immunologia".
Robin Hesketh "Introduction to Cancer Biology" Cambridge University Press.
F. Amaldi, P. Benedetti, G. Pesole, P. Plevani, "Biologia Molecolare" Casa Editrice Ambrosiana.
J.D. Watson, T.A Baker, S.P. Bell, A. Gann, M. Levine and R. Losick "Molecular Biology of the Gene"
Research and review articles concerning the topics dealt with during lectures will be suggested.
Assessment methods and Criteria
Written examination (4 open questions, duration 1h and 20 min); students who regularly attend classes can take the exam by passing one written test in progress at the end of the first half of the program and one at the end of the course. Both tests will have an identical structure to that indicated for the general exam and the final grade will be the average of the marks obtained in the two tests. Assessment parameters: the student's knowledge, his/her logic and reasoning skills will be assessed. Method of communicating the results: following official reporting of the results, the students will receive an e-mail from the system in which they will be informed of their mark which they can accept or reject.
Professor(s)
Reception:
By sending an email, I will immediately arrange a meeting
Via Celoria 26, 4th floor, A tower