Teaching code

4S009814

Academic staff

Barbara Molesini, Nicola Frison

Coordinator

Barbara Molesini

Credits

6

Language

Italian

Scientific Disciplinary Sector (SSD)

BIO/04 - PLANT PHYSIOLOGY

Period

2nd lecture period (2B) dal Apr 3, 2023 al May 23, 2023.

Lessons timetable Moodle Seminars 0

Learning objectives

The course is included in the learning area on Law, new technologies, sustainability. The course aims to illustrate some of the strategic biotechnological applications and supply chains at national and European level in areas such as energy, environment, health, agriculture, and food. It will illustrate the most interesting biotechnological practices to achieve the objectives of the European Green Deal, aimed at the sustainable management and use of natural resources and waste, ensuring the integrity of the ecosystem and preserving biodiversity. Increase the productivity to meet the needs of an ever-increasing world population to improve health, ensure food security, reduce inequalities, hunger and malnutrition are the current global challenges, also in response to climate changes.
At the end of the course the student will acquire a basic and integrated scientific view of biotechnologies and of their articulated, innovative, multidisciplinary nature and will be able to apply this knowledge to the solution of legal problems.
The student will acquire the skill to face and solve real problems in the professional context in which she/he will work, orienting her/his competence towards compliance, having the necessary tools for the verification of biotechnological products and processes and to set up, in written and oral form, also through working group, written exercises and the Problem Based Solving (PBS) method, the solution of specific issues, using the appropriate and peculiar disciplinary terms, adopting the correct path of thinking and discussion, and formulating independent judgments. The teaching method used is functional to the continuous learning and updating of the acquired knowledge.

Prerequisites and basic notions

No prior knowledge is required.

Program

The in-presence lecturers (5 CFU, 30 hours) are dedicated to the following topics:
- Biotechnology: definition, traditional and innovative; classification; the biotechnology market;
- Hints on molecular biotechnologies: isolation of nucleic acids from cells; manipulation of purified DNA; introduction of DNA into living cells; cloning vectors; the study of genomes; genome editing;
-Description of some biotechnological applications to pursue sustainable development in areas such as agriculture, food, health, renewable energy, environment: strategies to increase the productivity of crop plants; biofortification and functional foods; molecular pharming; biofactories for the production of high-value compounds;
- Definitions of wastewater, solid-liquid waste and by-products and biotechnological approaches for their treatment and/or valorisation;
- Technical and legal barriers for the valorisation of bio-based products from wastewater and waste.
The remote lectures (1 CFU, 6 hours) are intended to deepen the topics covered in the classroom in presence, also by means of seminars held by experts in the field.

Bibliography

Didactic methods

The course includes in-presence (5 CFU, 30 hours) and remote (1 CFU, 6 hours) lecturers.
During the in-presence lectures, scientific papers/case studies with examples of biotechnological innovations will be distributed to the students, which will be analysed with the aim of highlighting application limitations in the productive sector and identifying possible alternative solutions.
Video recordings of lectures will be provided for students who are in special situations of fragility due to conditions of disability or learning disorders and for those in situations of restricted travelling due to COVID.

Learning assessment procedures

Two-hours written test consisting of two open-ended questions on the topics addressed during the course, and one question in which the resolution of a problem will be asked through the application of biotechnological approaches.
The examination format will be the same for attending and non-attending students.

Evaluation criteria

The evaluation will take into account the degree of depth and relevance of the answers, the property of language and the critical ability of analysis.

Criteria for the composition of the final grade

The final exam grade will be expressed in 30-point scale and each question will guarantee a maximum score between 9 and 12 (specified during the exam).

Exam language

Italiano