APPLIED BIOCHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMICAL TECHNOLOGIES FOR BIOTECHNOLOGIESModule BIOCHEMICAL TECHNOLOGIES FOR BIOTECHNOLOGIES
Academic Year 2025/2026 - Teacher: VINCENZA BARRESIExpected Learning Outcomes
1. Knowledge and understanding
Students will acquire knowledge of molecular diagnostic technologies and their broad applications in the biomedical field. They will understand the methods and tools used for the detection of gene mutations and genomic alterations, as well as their role in diagnosis, prognosis, and prediction of therapeutic response prior to the initiation of targeted therapies.
2. Applying knowledge and understanding
Students will be able to apply molecular diagnostic techniques for the identification of genetic and genomic alterations, supporting clinical decision-making processes related to diagnosis, prognosis, and personalized therapeutic strategies.
3. Making judgements
Students will develop the ability to critically evaluate the appropriateness, reliability, and limitations of molecular diagnostic methods, as well as to assess their clinical relevance in different biomedical contexts.
4. Communication skills
Students will be able to communicate complex molecular diagnostic concepts, methodologies, and results clearly and effectively, using appropriate scientific terminology in both academic and professional environments.
5. Learning skills
Students will develop independent learning skills that will enable them to keep up to date with advances in molecular diagnostic technologies and their applications in precision medicine.
Equal opportunities
To ensure equal opportunities and in compliance with current legislation, students may request an individual meeting to arrange appropriate compensatory and/or dispensatory measures, in accordance with the learning objectives and their specific needs.
Course Structure
Required Prerequisites
Attendance of Lessons
Detailed Course Content
Textbook Information
| Author | Title | Publisher | Year | ISBN |
|---|
Course Planning
| Subjects | Text References | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Biological samples: types, sampling, treatment and storage. | 1) Metodologie Biochimiche e Biomolecolari, a cura di Maccarone M. e colleghi, Zanichelli editore. 2) Scientific papers and teaching material provided by the teacher of the course |
| 2 | Extraction and purification of nucleic acids from human cells by means of chromatography columns for filtration gel, ion exchange and for affinity. Purification of nucleic acids with magnetic beads. Dosage and qualitative evaluation of nucleic acids with spectrophotometric and fluorimetric methods. | 1) Metodologie Biochimiche e Biomolecolari, a cura di Maccarone M. e colleghi, Zanichelli editore. 2) Scientific papers and teaching material provided by the teacher of the course |
| 3 | Technologies based on the complementarity of purine and pyrimidine nucleotides. | 1) Metodologie Biochimiche e Biomolecolari, a cura di Maccarone M. e colleghi, Zanichelli editore. 2) Scientific papers and teaching material provided by the teacher of the course |
| 4 | Synthesis of cDNA by reverse transcription. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Various types of PCR. Restriction and modification enzymes | 1) Metodologie Biochimiche e Biomolecolari, a cura di Maccarone M. e colleghi, Zanichelli editore. 2) Scientific papers and teaching material provided by the teacher of the course |
| 5 | Agarose gel electrophoresis of nucleic acids. Capillary electrophoresis of nucleic acids for the analysis of single nucleotides and for the analysis of microsatellites. | 1) Metodologie Biochimiche e Biomolecolari, a cura di Maccarone M. e colleghi, Zanichelli editore. 2) Scientific papers and teaching material provided by the teacher of the course. |
| 6 | First generation, second generation and third generation nucleic acid sequencing technologies. Methods for the preparation of libraries for the analysis of the exome and specific regions via multiplex. Clonal amplification methods. Techniques for the detection of incorporated nucleotides. Bio-informatic and statistical methods for the interpretation of data obtained from second sequencing platforms generation (NGS). Applications for the study of tumors. | 1) Metodologie Biochimiche e Biomolecolari, a cura di Maccarone M. e colleghi, Zanichelli editore. 2) Scientific papers and teaching material provided by the teacher of the course. |
| 7 | DNA- and RNA-microarrays: Preparation of DNA or RNA samples for global genome and transcriptome analysis. Molecular analysis of the human karyotype by means of photolithographic genomic microarrays based on “Single Nucleotide Polymorphism-SNP” and “Copy Number Variation-CNV” probes. Use of algorithms and softwares for data interpretation (CN state, Allele difference). Transcriptome analysis by expression microarray. CDNA microarrays. Oligonucleotide expression microarrays. Applications for the study of tumors. | 1) Metodologie Biochimiche e Biomolecolari, a cura di Maccarone M. e colleghi, Zanichelli editore. 2) Scientific papers and teaching material provided by the teacher of the course |
| 8 | Detection of chromosomal aberrations using MLPA (Multiplex Ligation-dependent Probe Amplification) technology. | 1) Scientific papers and teaching material provided by the teacher of the course. |
Learning Assessment
Learning Assessment Procedures
The evaluation of the knowledge acquired takes place through an oral exam. The grade is expressed on a scale of thirty, up to a maximum of 30/30 cum laude.
The following parameters will be taken into account to assign the final grade:
• Score 29-30 with honors: The student demonstrates in-depth knowledge of the topics, promptly and correctly integrates and critically analyzes the situations presented, independently solving even very complex problems. He has excellent communication skills and competently masters the language adopted in clinical biochemistry and clinical molecular biology.
• Score 26-28: The student has a good understanding of the topics, is able to integrate and analyze the situations presented critically and logically, explains the topics clearly using appropriate scientific language.
• Score 22-25: The student has a fair understanding of the topics, even if limited to the main areas. He is able to integrate and critically analyze the situations presented, although not always in a linear way, and presents the topics quite clearly with moderate linguistic competence.
• Score 18-21: The student has minimal knowledge of the topics, has a modest ability to integrate and critically analyze the situations presented and presents the topics clearly enough, although his/her linguistic competence may be poorly developed.
• Exam not passed: The student does not have the minimum required knowledge of the fundamental contents of the course. The ability to use a specific language is minimal or non-existent and the student is not able to independently apply the knowledge acquired.