187.632.01 ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH: THE MOLECULAR BASIS

Reviews the mechanisms of environmental diseases at the molecular and genetic levels through faculty lectures and discussion of scientific papers. Presents most recent technological advances in the molecular and genetic tools available to study environmental diseases, which includes omics technologies (proteomics, genomics and metabolomics), microarray, nextgen sequencing for genetic variations (SNPs), bioinformatics, transgenic animals and emerging alternative animal models. Topics include mechanisms and cell signaling pathways involved in oxidative, nitrosative stress and inflammation in response to exposure to air pollutants, metals and other environmental toxicants that causes non-communicable diseases such as cancer, lung and heart diseases. Addresses the impact of environmental toxicants on cell growth, cell death, DNA repair, epigenetics, inflammation and the multi-stages of carcinogenesis which cause major non-communicable diseases and impact public health.

Upon successfully completing this course, students will be able to: a) Analyze and understand the literature regarding a wide array of topics relevant to molecular aspects of environmental diseases, including the molecular response to environmental stress and DNA damage and pathways of carcinogenesis, DNA repair and epigenetics. b) Describe various gene-environment interactions that lead to either cell adaptation, cell death or disease in response to exposure to environmental toxicants. c) Explain the application of various state-of-the-art techniques for molecular analyses, including proteomics, genomics, genetic variation, transgenic animals and alternative animal models for research in environmental diseases and public health.