OBJECTIVES: the course of molecular methodologies applied to environmental research aims to provide students with an overview of the biomolecular and analytical instrumental techniques used for environmental studies. Knowledge will be given to develop the knowledge of environmental influences on the biology of living organisms and on humans.
Students will acquire conceptual tools to understand the methods for the study of the effects of pollutants on human health and the environment and for the evaluation of toxicological risk.
KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING: at the end of the course the students will have to know the modern techniques of molecular biology used in the environmental field. They will understand the principles underlying the main molecular and analytical methods for the study of environmental pollutants. They will be able to correctly use the appropriate terminology used in molecular and analytical instrumental methodologies. They will be able to describe the structural elements of the main tools of a biochemical / molecular laboratory (liquid chromatography, spectrophotometer, mass spectrometer). They will know the classification of environmental toxic chemicals and their effect on humans.
CAPACITY TO APPLY KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING: mastery of analytical and molecular methods for the study of genetic-environmental variability. Ability to identify the analytical-molecular techniques to be applied in different cases. Ability to apply techniques related to the identification of environmental pollutants.
JUDGMENT AUTONOMY: to have a concrete ability to integrate basic biomolecular knowledge and manage the complexity of problems in the environmental application field.
COMMUNICATION SKILLS: ability to expose the acquired knowledge. The student must be able to present logically, concisely and rigorously, in various forms and with different tools, objectives, concepts, data and procedures of work or experimental analysis.
LEARNING SKILLS: develop autonomous learning skills in the field of the discipline in question to increase their knowledge, constantly updating and keeping informed about new developments and bio-molecular methods used in the environmental field.