The learning objectives of the course include:
1) to know the main clinical molecular biology tests and understand the clinical significance of the test result;
2) to know the actions to be undertaken in terms of in-depth diagnostics but also of therapy, secondary to the result of the test;
3) to achieve independent judgment on the discernment of test alterations relevant to the patient's health from those that are not/little relevant;
4) to know how to communicate and explain to the patient the meaning of the test result
5) to understand that continuous updating on new clinical molecular biology techniques is essential to provide a quality service

Knowledge of biochemistry concepts and basic physiology

1) Basic techniques in clinical molecular biology 2) Application of clinical molecular biology tests for cancer 3) Lifestyles and risk of cancer onset 4) PCR in diagnostics 5) Nutrigenomics and nutrigenetics

MEDICINA DI LABORATORIO
third edition
Mc Graw Hill
by Giorgio Federici

1) Basic techniques in clinical molecular biology (DNA/RNA extraction, restriction enzymes, nucleic acid and protein electrophoresis, southern blot, northern blot, western blot, nucleic acid probes and hybridization) 2) Application of clinical molecular biology tests for cancer (determination of genetic defects in cancer, identification of oncoviruses / retroviruses / oncogenes / tumor suppressors, determination of tumor neoangiogenesis, study of telomerase and cancer, study of cellular aging, changes in glycosylation and cancer, F.I.S.H. and karyotype, E.L.I.S.A. technique and similar) 3) Lifestyles and risk of cancer onset 4) PCR in diagnostics (principle of polymerase chain reaction, multiplex pcr, specific allele pcr, quantitative real time PCR) 5) Molecular nutrigenomics and nutrigenetics (definition of nutrigenetics and nutrigenomics, ability to metabolise and make bioavailable the nutrients taken in, recommended daily dose, transmission mechanism of the epigenome, effects of diet on the epigenome and cytotoxic stress).

The teaching methods consist of frontal lessons with presentation via power point files; in the lessons, the various types of clinical molecular biology tests will be illustrated together with the presentation of selected clinical cases in which the interpretation of the laboratory data is not immediately interpretable. The power point files will be distributed to students the previous lesson so that students can view them before the teacher's explanation. The teacher will encourage students to ask questions on the topics covered before, after but also during the lesson.

Useful links for further reading: https://www.karger.com/Journal/Home/232009; http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213879X16000183; http://www.fasebj.org/content/19/12/1602.abstract.

Learning will be verified by asking questions about the lessons content. Clarity in exposition, reasoning ability, precision in terminology will be evaluated. At the end of the cycle of lessons, the teacher will give each student a positive (approved) or negative (not approved) evaluation.

This teaching explores topics closely related to one or more objectives of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development of the United Nations