Corso di Laurea in Biotecnologie

The module acts as an interface among theorical knowledge obtained during biochemistry, molecular biology and genetics courses and laboratory technological approach.

The aim of this module is summarized in two main purposes:

• to provide practical approaches of the basic and most widespread used methodologies in biomolecular and cellular fields;
• to allow students to face with typical project workflow, including experimental design, technical method choice and problem solving.

At the end of the course, students will need to demonstrate the comprehension of theoretical notions of the experimental methods analyzed during the lessons and the practical sessions. Moreover, they will need to demonstrate critical capabilities assessing an experimental setting and choosing the technologies necessary to address specific biological questions and reach the aims.

Biochemistry and Cellular Technology Module

The following techniques will be treated in the module:

• Sterility conditions in cell culture manipulation.
• Cell cultures: processing and propagation in 2D and 3D seeding conditions.
• Expression of proteins of interest in bacteria and in eukaryotic cells: transfection technologies.
• Molecular Cloning Techniques
• Cloning plasmids and Viral vectors
• Transfection and infection technologies
• Electrophoresis
• Gene expression analyses
• Methods of proteins detection
• Functional assays in cellular biology:
  • Proliferation assays.
  • Viability assays.
  • Cell Death assays.
• In vitro and in vivo tumorigenicity assays.
• Protein analysis techniques:
  • SDS-PAGE and Western blotting.
• Microscopy techniques
  • Fluorescence microscopy.
  • Confocal microscopy.
• Lab practicals: 4 hours of pratical teaching. Issues to define during the course.

For BIO0201A module, attendance of at least 75% of the frontal lessons is required (signatures will be collected at each lesson). In case of attendance below the required limit, the teacher will carry out an additional oral exam to be taken on the same day as the written exam.

The course final exam will be verified through a written test. Each module (BIO0201A, BIO0201B) will be evaluated separately. It will be possible to take the exams of the individual modules also in different sessions. Upon completion of the exams of the individual modules, the final grade of the teaching will be weighted on the basis of the results of the exams of the individual modules.

It will be possible to freeze the grade of a single module, pending the passing of the second module, only within the range of sessions scheduled for the current academic year. Failure to pass one of the two modules within the terms described above will lead to the cancellation of the module already passed.

The exam of the Biochemistry and Cellular Technology Module includes both multiple choice and open-ended questions, each associated with a score (global score: 32 points). Questions aim to assess theoretical concepts addressed in class and application of project procedures/ technological applications to solve experimental questions, encountered during the practical session.

The module score will be given in thirtieths.

1. Francesco Amaldi, Piero Benedetti, Graziano Pesole, Paolo Plevani

Tecniche e metodi per la biologia molecolare

Casa Editrice Ambrosiana. Distribuzione esclusiva Zanichelli

2020

    2. Mauro Maccarrone

Metodologie biochimiche e biomolecolari

Strumenti e tecniche per il laboratorio del nuovo millennio

2019

    3. Andreas Hofmann, Samuel Clokie

Wilson and Walker's Principles and Techniques of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

8th Edition

May 2018