Genotoxicology

Timetable

Lecture 8 h

Seminar 6 h

Laboratories 16h

Module aim (aims)

The main aim of this course is to familiarize students with current knowledge about the biotic and abiotic factors that can damage genetic information and can be the potential cause of various diseases.
The scope of the module will comprise:
• mechanisms leading to DNA damage and mutagenesis;
• cell defence to genotoxic events;
• cancerogenesis (initiation, promotion, progression);
• classification of chemical, biological and, physical factors involved in mutagenesis
• techniques used to study the effects of genotoxicity and mutagenicity.
Lectures will focus on the introduction to various aspects of genotoxicity; during laboratories students become familiar with techniques used for testing the effects of genotoxicity and mutagenicity, while during seminars the latest papers concerning particular examples of genotoxicity will be discussed.

Pre-requisites in terms of knowledge, skills and social competences (where relevant)

Basic knowledge of genetics and cell biology

Syllabus

Week 1: Introductory lecture: Introduction to genetics
Week 2: Lecture: Living in a toxic world- introduction to toxicology
Week 3: Lecture: Cancerogenesis (initiation, promotion, progression)
Week 4: Lecture: In vitro & in vivo genotoxicity assays (from bacteria to mammalian cell lines)
Week 5: Seminar: presentation and discussion of the paper related to air, water and soil contamination genotoxic effects
Week 6: Seminar: presentation and discussion of the paper related to cancerogenesis
Week 7: Seminar: presentation and discussion of the paper focus on the lifestyle factors such as alcohol, diet etc. insults with genotoxic effects
Week 8: Laboratories: model organisms in genotoxical tests: bacteria, yeast,
Drosophila melanogaster etc.
Week 9: Laboratories: practical application of selected cytological tests used in
genotoxicology
Week 10: Laboratories: practical application of selected molecular methods used in genotoxicology part 1
Week 11: Laboratories: practical application of selected molecular methods used in genotoxicology part 2

Reading list

Dhawan, Alok, Bajpayee, Mahima (Eds.), Genotoxicity Assessment: Methods and Protocols, Springer Science & Business Media New York, 2013
Smart R.C., Hodgson E. Molecular and biochemical Toxicology, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New Jersey, 2014
Sierra, L. María, Gaiv?o, Isabel (Eds.) Genotoxicity and DNA Repair, Springer Science & Business Media New York, 2014