BIOTECNOLOGIE MOLECOLARI E GENOMICA DELLE PIANTE AGRARIE

The educational objective of the course is to provide students with theoretical and practical knowledge of the main techniques used to analyze the structure and function of biomolecules, in particular those that led to the development of new disciplines such as genomics, transcriptomics and proteomics.In particular, the expected learning outcomes declined according to the Dublin Descriptors are: 

Knowledge and understanding 

At the end of the course, the student will have acquired basic knowledge on the main experimental methodologies in the field of molecular biotechnologies applied to plants. He/she will acquire knowledge and understanding of the role of nucleic acids and proteins and their analysis in cellular processes under normal and stressful conditions. 

Applying knowledge and understanding 

At the end of the course, the student will be able to translate theoretical knowledge into methodological tools for solving scientific problems and will be able to process experimental data and represent them in the most suitable way. The ability to apply knowledge and understanding will be assessed through short reports to be carried out after the laboratory activities and by carrying out the two questions relating to experimental problems included in the final examination. 

Making judgements 

At the end of the course, the student will be able to answer questions, develop a reasoning, describe the results of an experimental test and start a process of data interpretation. 

Communication skills 

The student will be able to describe, discuss and define the applicability of theoretical topics included in the course contents. These skills will be assessed through the two open questions inserted in the final examination. 

Learning skills 

At the end of the course, the student will be able to develop a logical reasoning and measure himself/herself with new information and to use it for different purposes. 

Teaching (8 CFU) includes 28 hours of frontal lessons and 56 hours of laboratory exercises. For lectures, the teacher will make use of power point presentations and videos, also in English. The laboratory exercises will take place in the form of a mini-course on the main topics of the course (for example: extraction of nucleic acids, electrophoresis of nucleic acids and proteins, preparation of plasmid DNA and digestion with restriction enzymes), seminars (also on line) 

As a guarantee of equal opportunities and in compliance with current laws, interested students can ask for a personal interview in order to plan any compensatory and/or dispensatory measures, based on their specific needs and on teaching objectives of the discipline. It is also possible to ask the departmental contacts of CInAP (Center for Active and Participatory Inclusion - Services for Disabilities and/or DSAs).

The course does not include preparatory courses. Despite this, adeguate knowledge of General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Biochemistry and Plant genetics are necessary in order to be able to profitably attend the class 

Attendance of the lessons is not compulsory but strongly recommended 

Basic concepts on the structure and functions of nucleic acids and proteins.The manipulation of nucleic acids. Southern and Northern blots. Molecular and genomic markers. Qualitative and quantitative PCR. Cloning techniques and vectors. The genetic transformation of prokaryotes. Preparation and analysis of cDNA and genomic libraries. The DNA microarray technology. Subtractive hybridization. Methods of nucleic acid sequencing. Genomics and Transcriptomics. RNAseq. Epigenomics, Protein two-dimensional electrophoresis and proteomics. The genetic transformation of eukaryotes. Cisgenesis and Intragenesis. Genome editing. Expression Vectors and fusion proteins. The recombinant DNA technology in the food industry. 

1) Biochimica e biologia molecolare: Principi e Tecniche, Wilson K., Walker J., ed. Raffaello Cortina (ottava edizione). 

2) Rao R., Leone A., Biotecnologie e genomica delle piante, Idelson-Gnocchi ed. 

3) Scientific articles provided by the teacher