Evolutionary Medicine: Diseases of Affluence (2022-2023)
Faculteit | Science and Engineering |
Jaar | 2021/22 |
Vakcode | WMBY025-05 |
Vaknaam | Evolutionary Medicine: Diseases of Affluence (2022-2023) |
Niveau(s) | master |
Voertaal | Engels |
Periode | semester I b |
ECTS | 5 |
Rooster | rooster.rug.nl |
Uitgebreide vaknaam | Diseases of Affluence: Evolutionary Perspectives | ||||||||||||
Leerdoelen | At the end of the course, the student is able to: 1) Develop a critical understanding of how evolutionary biology can be applied to medicine and human health 2) Explain how changes in the environment under which humans have evolved have influenced the evolution of noninfectious diseases of affluence 3) Explain the evolutionary mechanisms underlying senescence and cancer 4) Discuss how transgenerational effects impact diseases of affluence 5) Develop oral skills in effective science communication 6) Develop scientific writing skills for preparing papers for peer-reviewed publication |
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Omschrijving | Diseases of affluence, or wealth, are non-infectious diseases linked with increasing longevity in the western world, and associated lifestyle choices. This course will first look at what is a disease of affluence and why is evolutionary biology a vital science for medicine, and in particular, for diseases of affluence. It will present an overview of evolutionary medicine theory - how life-history theory, evolutionary theory of senescence, and ecological conditions have improved medical progress in understanding diseases of affluence. This course will teach the ecological and evolutionary thinking behind diseases of affluence. The course will cover a wide range of topics, such as: - What is a disease of affluence? - Life-history theory and diseases of affluence - An evolutionary perspective of humans as primates - Sex and ethnicity in human health - The mismatch hypothesis and human health - The hygiene hypothesis and allergies - Ageing and senescence - Evolutionary processes and cancer - Reproductive origins of adult health and disease For example, the course may cover the role of antagonistic pleiotropy in Huntington's disease, somatic evolution and cancer, the mismatch hypothesis and Alzheimer's disease, trade-offs and cardiovascular disease, diabetes linked with human ancestry and western lifestyle, evolution and mental illness, and the hygiene hypothesis and allergies. The Masters course is suitable for any student interested in evolutionary medicine, evolutionary biology or a biomedical field. |
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Uren per week | |||||||||||||
Onderwijsvorm |
Hoorcollege (LC), Opdracht (ASM), Werkcollege (T)
(After the end of the morning lecture on first 10 days there will be MCQs. Students must get 50% of the questions correct each day to pass the day, and overall must pass 50% of days. The tutorial is mandatory. Missing your assigned tutorial without good reason will result in a 5% downgrade.) |
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Toetsvorm |
Meerkeuze toets (MC), Opdracht (AST)
(The podcast, EMPH clinical brief assessments and demonstration of feedback on the EMPH clinical brief must all receive a grade higher than 5.5) |
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Vaksoort | master | ||||||||||||
Coördinator | prof. dr. H.L. Dugdale | ||||||||||||
Docent(en) | prof. dr. H.L. Dugdale , M.G. Elliot, PhD. , Guest lecturer , Guest lecturer ,prof. dr. T. Plosch ,dr. V.K. Robillard ,Dr. G. Stulp ,prof. dr. E.A. van der Zee ,prof. dr. G. van Dijk | ||||||||||||
Verplichte literatuur |
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Entreevoorwaarden | The Diseases of Affluence course is part of the MSc Biology track. It therefore builds upon the requirement of students to have a Bachelors in Biology or a related field. In particular, the course builds upon the 2nd / 3rd year BSc course in Evolutionary Medicine, which provides a broad overview of how ecological and evolutionary thinking can advance understanding of human health and disease. | ||||||||||||
Opmerkingen | The course will be closely integrated with the following course units: Infectious Diseases. | ||||||||||||
Opgenomen in |