This subject is optional for the fourth year and focuses on giving basic knowledge about nutrigenomics (the effect of the diet on gene expression) and nutrigenetics (what are the genetic differences between the human population that affect nutrient uptake and metabolism) . It is essential to have approved the subject of Biology and Genetics of 1st year to be able to study.

• Revise and deepen the concepts, terminology and basic essential mechanisms related to the functioning of the genetic material.
• Obtain knowledge about the regulation of gene expression by nutrients, and how genetic variability determines the effect of these nutrients on metabolism.
• Obtain the necessary technical knowledge to understand the current scientific literature on nutrigenomics and nutrigenetics
• Being able to solve simple problems.

Competences

Specific Competences

CE1 Know the chemical, biochemical and biological foundations of application in human nutrition and dietetics

CE2 Know the structure and function of the human body from the molecular level to the complete organism, in the different stages of life

CE3 Know the statistics applied to Health Sciences

CE25 Know the nutrients, their functions and their metabolic utilization

CE34 Know the pathophysiological aspects of nutrition-related diseases

CE47 Manage the basic ICT tools used in the field of Food, Nutrition and Dietetics.

CE48 Know the legal and ethical limits of dietary practice

General Competences

CG1 Recognize the essential elements of the dietician-nutritionist profession, including ethical principles, legal responsibility and the exercise of the profession, applying the principle of social justice to professional practice and developing it with respect to people, their habits, beliefs and cultures

CG2. Develop the profession with respect for other health professionals, acquiring teamwork skills.

CG3. Recognize one's own limitations and the need to maintain and update professional competence, giving special importance to learning, autonomously and continuously, new knowledge, products and techniques in nutrition and food, as well as motivation for quality.

CG4. Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with people, health professionals or industry and the media, knowing how to use information and communication technologies, especially those related to nutrition and health. life habits.

CG5. Know, critically assess and know how to use and apply the sources of information related to nutrition, food, lifestyles and health aspects.

Basic competences

CB2 That students know how to apply their knowledge to their work or vocation in a professional way and possess the competencies that are usually demonstrated through the elaboration and defense of arguments and the resolution of problems within their area of ​​study.

CB3 That students have the ability to gather and interpret relevant data (usually within their study area) to make judgments that include reflection on relevant social, scientific or ethical issues.

CB4 That students can transmit information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialized and non-specialized audiences.

CB5 That students have developed those learning skills necessary to undertake further studies with a high degree of autonomy.

Transversal Competences of the UdL

CT1 Have a correct oral and written expression

CT2 Master a foreign language

CT3 Mastering ICT

CT5. Acquire essential notions of scientific thought.

1. Introduction

• Basic genetic concepts.
• Organization of DNA in the cell: the chromosomes. Nucleosomes
• Variation and inheritance; phenotype and genotype; gene, allele and locus; genetic and congenital character.

2. The human genome

• The Human Genome, structure levels of the genome
• First source of genetic variability: the replication of DNA.
• Second source of genetic variability: recombination.
• Techniques of analysis of genetic variability

3. Regulation of gene expression

• Concept of regulation of gene expression.
• Regulation for the remodeling of chromatin.
• Transcriptional regulation. The transcription factors.
• Gene regulation for nutrients: SREBPs, ChREBPs and nuclear receptors.
• Post transcriptional and translational regulation.

4. Epigenetics

• Epigenetic control of gene expression
• Epigenetic modifications: Methylation
• Epigenetic modifications: Post-induce modifications of the histones. Acetylation and Methylation. The genetic imprint
• The influence of the environment. Agouti mice and obesity

5. Mutagenesis

• Concept of mutation and polymorphism
• Types of mutations: chromosomal vs. genetic, dominant vs. recessive
• Variations in the name of genes. The case of the AMY1 gene.
• Mutations that affect the metabolism of carbohydrates.
• Mutations that affect the metabolism of amino acids.
• Mutations that affect the metabolism of urea.
• Mutations that affect metabolism of lipid hydrates.
• Mutations that affect energy metabolism (mitochondrial).

6. The inheritance

• Heretability in quantitative and qualitative characters. Relative incidence and correlation of twins.
• Morel inheritance. Molds of inheritance: autosomal dominant, autosomal recessive, linked to the X chromosome, maternal.
• Allelic and non-allelic systems. Epistasia

7. Genetic diagnosis and analysis techniques

• Type of genetic diagnosis
• Chromosomic diagnosis
• Direct and indirect molecular diagnosis

8: Nutrigenomics and diet

• Diet and the microbiome
• Diet and obesity
• Diet and cardiovascular diseases
• Diet and metabolic syndrome
• Diet and cancer

9: Genetic determinants

• Risk of hypertension and osteoporosis
• Sensitivity to salt and response to Ca ++
• The metabolism of alcohol and coffee

Practical activities

Computer room:

            - Databases in genomics

            - Identification of inheritance patterns

            - Monographic exhibitions

Laboratory:

         Analysis of the diet in tumor growth in a colon cancer model in Drosophila

Type of activity	Description	Hours in class	Groups	Hours professors
Theory	Class	36	2	72
Computer class	Computer practices	16	2	32
Laboratory	Lab practices	8	2	16
TOTAL		60		120

 

CONTINUOUS EVALUATION
The evaluation will be carried out in the following way:
1) Theory (65%)
- 1st theory exam. Themes 1-4.
- 2nd theory exam. Topics 5-9
* You must get a minimum of 4.5 to make an average and be able to compensate with the grade of the other exam and the grades of seminars and attendance.
2) Seminars and group work (10%)
- Papers given in the seminars
- Other activities carried out in small groups
3) Monograph (20%)
- Monograph on a topic chosen by the student (10%) and presentation in the form of a seminar (10%)
4) Attendance and participation (5%)

FINAL GRADE: 65% Theory exam + 10% Seminars and group work + 20% monograph + 5% attendance and participation
• The final grade must reach 5 to pass the subject

ALTERNATIVE ASSESSMENT
The student who accepts the alternative assessment modality will have to take a single exam on the day and time scheduled for the 2nd assessment. This exam is worth 100% of the grade.
Composition of the exam: 65% theory questions + 35% questions and problems from the seminars
The student will be exempt from the obligation to attend the seminars and practicals of the subject.

RECOVERY
It is possible to recover all or part of the theoretical subject in which a grade of less than 4.5 has been obtained in the case of the continuous assessment or less than 5 in the case of the alternative assessment. The date and time of recovery will be established by the teaching office.

EXAMINATION FORMAT
The assessment exams will be mixed and may contain different types of questions:
• Test-type question, with 4 possible answers and only one is true (mistakes discount 0.25 p.)
• Short answer, fill-in-the-blank or matching question
• Long answer question (half page)
• Problems
If it is necessary to carry out the virtual assessment with the virtual campus test and questionnaire tool, the type of test will be similar, but the order of the questions and the options will be randomized.
Suspended students may request that their seminar grade and attendance at seminars and practicals be kept.
They can also request to save the grade of one of the written tests only if they have obtained a grade of 5 or higher in the exam. The grade of the written tests, however, will only be kept for one academic year.

Molecular Biology of the gene. 6th ed. Watson et al. 2008 Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press.

Genes IX. 9th ed. Lewin 2008 Jones and Batlett Publishers.

Lewin’s essential genes. 2nd ed. Krebs et al. 2010 Jones and Batlett Publishers.

Genetics: analysis of genes and genomes. 7th ed. Hartl & Jones 2009 Jones and Batlett Publishers.

Genetics: a conceptual approach. 3rd ed. Pierce 2008 W.H. Freeman and Co.

Genetics: analysis & principles. 3rd ed. Brooker 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education.