The aim of the course is to provide notions of advanced biological technologies such as quantitative PCR, DNA microarrays, protein microarrays, miRNA microarrays, comparative genomic hybridization (CGH), Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP)-on-Chip, Next-generation sequencing and genome editing. Notions of bioinformatics for the genome analysis and the search of biological databases will also be acquired.

• Main tools for DNA/protein sequence analysis and for searching biological information in public databases (e.g. BLAST, PubMed, etc.)
• Techniques for nucleic acid amplification: PCR-based techniques; Non PCR-based techniques; Whole Genome Amplification; Whole Transcriptome Amplification. 
• Real-time PCR: principles, methods, applications and data analysis.
• High Resolution Melt (HRM) analysis: principles and examples of applications.
• DNA Microarrays: manufacturing principles; planar microarrays; bead microarrays; applications in transcriptome analysis and in molecular diagnostics (SNP arrays, CGH arrays, arrays for the detection and characterization of microorganisms.
• Protein arrays: function arrays; detection arrays; reverse phase arrays.
• RNA interference: techniques to study microRNAs; miRNA-mediated gene silencing
• Chip-on-chip: methods and applications to study transcription factors and chromatin organization.
• Next-generation sequencing technologies based on pyrosequencing, reversible terminators, oligonucleotide ligation detection (SOLiD), hydrogen ion detection (ion torrent).
• Metagenomics: applications for the analysis of microbial communities.
• Genome engineering through CRISPR/Cas-based methods.

The student must show the possession of a solid knowledge of basic molecular biology and knowledge of the fundamentals of molecular technologies covered during the course. - The student must also show to be able to apply the acquired knowledge in a research and/or clinical diagnostics or environmental context. -  The student must also acquire adequate scientific language skills, and he must take a participatory and critical attitude to the topics of the lectures.

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the lecturer specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

Search for biological information in public databases. 

Teaching

Lectures

Attendance

None

Course books

• Molecular Diagnostics, 2nd Edition 2009 Patrinos, Ansorge. Elsevier academic press. 
• ppt files and scientific reviews published on international journals will be made available online (moodel platform)

Assessment

oral examination

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

Course books

• Molecular Diagnostics, 2nd Edition 2009 Patrinos, Ansorge. Elsevier academic press. 
• ppt files and scientific reviews published on international journals will be made available online (moodel platform)

Assessment

oral examination

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.