Genetics and Public Health
Objectives
This Unit has the following objectives:
- Review the essential knowledge of the etiology of common (multifactorial) and rare diseases in human genetics
- To study interactions between genes and environmental factors in the diseases etiology
- Update knowledge on the genetic epidemiology
- Have the ability to identify individual and family genetic risk and provide tools to perform genetic counselling and to get involved in the prevention
- Training the use of genetic testing for the diagnosis of genetic diseases, including the prenatal period, and to support personalized innovative and safer therapies.
- To know the ethical, legal and social framework of human genetics.
It is expected that students acquire the ability to identify the potential of pathological mutations inheritance and predict the impact of genetic disease at different levels - for the patient, family, health care and community response - and develop a critical understanding in the application of the human genome knowledge in health strategies and accessibility to genetic testing and pharmacogenomics.
General characterization
Code
11138
Credits
3
Responsible teacher
Prof. Doutor Luis Nunes
Hours
Weekly - Available soon
Total - Available soon
Teaching language
Portuguese
Prerequisites
Bibliography
The general bibliography will be distributed in the first class, and the specific to each class, by the respective teacher. It is suggested the following general literature:
Main manual:
WHO Genomics and World Health report 2002
· Stevenson RE, Hall JG. Human malformations and related anomalies. Oxford University Press, 1th ed, 2006.
· Jones KL (ed). Smith´s recognizable patterns of human malformations. Elsevier Saunders, 6th edition, 2006.
· Harper PS. Pratical genetic counselling. Hodder Arnold, 7th ed, 2010.
· Ionnidis JPA. Personalized genetic prediction: too limited, too expensive or too soon? Ann Intern Med 2009; 150:139.
· Collins FS, Green ED, Guttmacher AE, and al. A vision for the future of genomics research. Nature 2003; 422:835-7.
· Hastings R, de Wert G, Fowler B, and al. The changing landscape of genetic testing and his impact on clinical and laboratory services and research in Europe. Eur J Hum Genet 2012; 20: 911-6.
· Pallet N, Thervet E. The genetics of kidney transplantation. Hum Genet 2011; DOT 1007//s00439-011 1092-8.
Hudson KL. Genomics, health care and society. N Engl J Med 2011; 365: 1033-41.
Teaching method
Theoretical and practical lectures
With expository and interactive features between students and teacher; use of multimedia, demonstration of scientific research; access to web pages and use of specific software; presentation and discussion of clinical cases.
Dynamization of the lecture
At the beginning of the semester, each student will receive the Medical Genetics Theme to be developed until the final written report of the UC. Student may count on the teacher's support to clarify doubts and the best way to guide the final text.
The teacher can boost each lecture using the Facultys outside spaces (eg the Medical Genetics consultation at Hospital and Health Care Units visit), for exemplification of the trained subject (planning is conditioned to Facultys permission and institutionss availability).
Average class time
Each class will have an average duration of 3 hours, considering the first half of the time for theoretical presentation of the theme and the remaining time for presentation of cases and exemplification of the topic.
There are 15 lessons scheduled in the 2nd semester.
Evaluation method
The evaluation will consider three moments evaluation in group, individual evaluation of a written work and individual oral presentation of the chosen topic.
The group work should consider one of the Medical Genetics topic; students are free to organize small groups of 3-4 persons each, propose the theme and perform the oral presentation in the five minute talk format (five minutes to present/five minutes to discuss)
The written work is based on a medical genetics topic assigned at the beginning of the semester. The individual oral presentation (10 minutes) will consider the same theme of the written work; If the student had the opportunity to observe the Medical Genetic Consultation, will have to prepare the report of the consultation and perform the oral presentation, instead.
Subject matter
To achieve the proposed objectives and develop the suggested skills and knowledge, the syllabus of this course are distributed in 3 groups:
a) knowledge on essential genetics, which include topics as:
Introduction to Genomics and Public Health
Genetics / genomics annotation; genome organization and expression networks
Molecular mechanisms of genetic disease
b) Diagnostic instruments in medical genetics, including:
Pharmacogenetics and orphan drugs
Genetic testing: diagnosis, prediction, prevention
Neonatal screening and throughout life cycle: value in Public Health
Genetics of common diseases and communicable diseases
Information, literacy and genetic counselling
Ethical, legal and social aspects
c) Cases:
Congenital anomalies and rare diseases
Genetics of cardiovascular disease
Genetics of familial cancer
Genetic diseases of late expression
Genetics and social behavior: poverty, social mobility, violence, ethnic groups in Public Health