ENVR 442 / TOXC 442 / BIOC 442

BIOCHEMICAL AND MOLECULAR TOXICOLOGY

PREREQUISITES

Any combination of two courses in biochemistry, molecular biology, cell biology, or cell physiology (or permission of course director).

FACULTY

Ivan Rusyn (director)	0031 Hooker Research Center	iir@unc.edu	843-2596
David Holbrook	5114B Bioinf. Bldg.	david_holbrook@unc.edu	966-4685
David Threadgill	4340 MBRB	dwt@med.unc.edu	843-6472
Edward LeCluyse	CellzDirect, Inc.	edl@cellzdirect.com	545-9959
William Kaufmann	31-325 LCCC	william.kaufmann@pathology.unc.edu	966-8209
James Swenberg	2002 Hooker Research Center	james_swenberg@unc.edu	966-6139

COURSE PURPOSE

This course is designed for graduate and advanced undergraduate students in Environmental Sciences & Engineering, Toxicology, and related disciplines. The completion of a Human Genome Project has significant implications for molecular biology, genetics, medicine, and environmental sciences and toxicology. New experimental techniques that are based on a better understanding of genes and their actions rapidly proliferate into laboratories; thus, the students need to have a broad knowledge of metabolism, mechanisms and effects of toxicants, as well as to understand techniques that are available for their laboratory research. To achieve these goals, the material that is to be covered in this course spans from basics of biochemical processes that are affected by environmental agents, to molecular mechanisms of action, and to current experimental approaches in environmental sciences and toxicology.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course will consist of lectures, in-class discussions and periodic examinations. The overall emphasis will be made on biochemical and molecular actions of toxicants and assessment of cellular and molecular effects. The students are expected to develop a comprehensive understanding of biochemical and molecular changes caused by environmental chemicals and toxicants.


CLASS SCHEDULE

In-class Examinations:  will test knowledge, comprehension, application, analysis, and synthesis (see definitions from the UNC Center for Teaching and Learning below). Each exam will be based on preceding lectures:
Examination I - lectures 1 through 9
Examination II - lectures 10 through 17
Examination III - lectures 18 through 25
Each examination will have 10 to 15 questions (predominantly of a very short essay type) and the maximum score will be 60 points, or 20% of the total course  grade. The students may not use reference materials, lecture notes or other aides during in-class examinations. Exams are not rescheduled unless pre-approval from a course director is granted in advance.

Knowledge: the recall of specifics and universals, involving little more than bringing to mind the appropriate material. The student recalls or recognizes information, ideas, and principles in the approximate form in which they were learned.

Comprehension: the ability to process knowledge on a low level such that the knowledge can be reproduced or communicated without verbatim repetition. The student translates, comprehends, or interprets information based on prior learning.

Application: the use of abstraction in concrete situations. The student selects, transfers, and uses data and principles to complete the problem or task with a minimum of direction.

Analysis: the breakdown of a situation into its component parts. The student distinguishes, classifieds, and relates the assumptions, hypotheses, evidence, or structure of a communication or concept.

Synthesis: the putting together of elements and parts to form a whole. The student originates, integrates, and combines ideas into a product, plan or proposal that is new to him or her.

Final Examination:  will test all skills detailed above plus evaluation ability. The materials for the final exam will be distributed in January/February along with a list of questions. The students will be asked to review and critique a published manuscript that describes the use of novel molecular biology technique(s) in studies of the mechanisms of action of environmental chemicals. The use of textbooks, lecture notes and other appropriate material is encouraged. The maximum score for this exam is 105 points, or 35% of the total course grade.

Evaluation: the making of judgments about the value of material/methods. The student appraises, assesses, or critiques something on the basis of specific standards and criteria.

Participation: the students are encouraged to attend all lectures and actively participate in class discussions. The maximum score for participation is 15 points, or 5% of the total course grade.

READING MATERIALS

The students are encouraged to review class handouts prior to each lecture by downloading the material from the course website when available. There is no assigned textbook. Copies of published research articles of interest will be distributed in class when appropriate.

Two books are recommended for supplementation of classroom material:

HODGSON, E. and SMART, R.C.: Introduction to Biochemical Toxicology. Wiley and Sons, New York, 2001, Third Edition, pp. 721. ISBN 0-471-33334-4, Hardback.
A comprehensive introductory text.

CASARETT AND DOULL's Toxicology: The Basic Science of Poisons. Sixth Edition, McGraw-Hill, New York, 2001, pp. 1111. Edited by Curtis D. Klaassen. ISBN 0-07-134721-6, Hardback.
An in-depth treatment of toxicology, suitable as a long-term reference for students who intend to specialize in this field.