Molecular endocrinology: health and environment
Summary
We will define homeostasis, principles of hormone regulation and the molecular mechanisms underlying hormone action and their pharmacologic exploitation. Human interactions with the environment, pertinent public health issues and their causes and preventative strategies will be analyzed.
Content
Study human physiology and the cellular and molecular basis underlying endocrine control mechanisms. After a basic primer in physiology and the endocrine system, we examine the mechanisms of steroid and peptide hormone action, canonical and rapid actions, the cross talk with other signaling pathways and ways to pharmacologically interefere with them. We will discuss the role of hormones in development and in human diseases such as diabetes, obesity and endocrine-related cancer.Pertubations through endocrine disruption and transgenerational disease predisposition will be examined.
Keywords
endocrine system, endocrine disruptors, genetic and environmental factors in human disease, nuclear hormone receptors, physiology, reproduction, sex differentation, homeostasis, diabetes, obesity, hormone dependent cancers
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, the student must be able to:
- Assess / Evaluate
- Contextualise
- Interpret
- Propose
- Plan
- Explore
- Investigate
- Explain
Transversal skills
- Plan and carry out activities in a way which makes optimal use of available time and other resources.
- Communicate effectively, being understood, including across different languages and cultures.
- Take responsibility for environmental impacts of her/ his actions and decisions.
- Take account of the social and human dimensions of the engineering profession.
- Demonstrate a capacity for creativity.
- Demonstrate the capacity for critical thinking
- Access and evaluate appropriate sources of information.
Teaching methods
Ex-cathedra lectures, practical session, creative group projects
Expected student activities
Group projects: movie for lay public, analysis and discussion of a public health problem, causes and solutions
Assessment methods
Written exam(s)
group projects
presentation
In the programs
- Semester: Spring
- Exam form: During the semester (summer session)
- Subject examined: Molecular endocrinology: health and environment
- Courses: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Exercises: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Type: optional
- Semester: Spring
- Exam form: During the semester (summer session)
- Subject examined: Molecular endocrinology: health and environment
- Courses: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Exercises: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Type: optional
- Semester: Spring
- Exam form: During the semester (summer session)
- Subject examined: Molecular endocrinology: health and environment
- Courses: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Exercises: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Type: optional