This course will provide students with an understanding of the scientific principles underlying the toxic actions of various substances that have a profound impact on human health. In addition, they will be provided with an in-depth survey of advanced molecular laboratory techniques used to investigate these phenomena by a careful examination of the current literature. The chemical nature of toxic substances, their mode of action, and the impact that they have on gene regulation will be emphasized. Molecular biological techniques for interrogating genomes at the epigenetic level will be introduced. Finally, students will be introduced to the topics of pharmaco-/toxico- genetics and genomics and bioinformatics and quantitative approaches necessary to analyze these studies. This course is designed to prepare graduates who have an interest in medicine and human health services to pursue careers in these disciplines. In addition, this course will serve as one of the units in the training of the lab-based graduate students in the area of chronic disease and Environmental and Occupational Health in the Faculty of Health Sciences.

The objectives of this course are to expose students to current molecular biological protocols, paradigms and stratagies that are commonly used in modern analytical and research lab settings. Students should be able to demonstrate knowledge of the principles of epigenetics and gene regulation as they relate to the physiology of drug and toxicant action in the body. In addition, students should be able to examine a peer-reviewed article and clearly articulate the hypothesis, the main finding(s) and critically evaluate the rigour and validity of the study. To support their critiques, students should be able to cite relevant findings in the literature. By the end of the course the students should be comfortable describing multiple approaches to molecular based methodologies for interrogation of the genome as it relates to human physiological adaptation to environmental stress and cues. In particular, students should be able to demonstrate firm understanding of toxico-genomics and the quantitative approaches used to interpret broad-based genomic studies regarding topical pharmaco-toxicological issues in human health.