About the Course

Dear Learners, Molecular Basis of Non-infectious Human Diseases (BBCET-145) is one of the fifth-semester Discipline Specific Elective course of the B.Sc. (Hons.) Biochemistry programme (BSCBCH). The theory course of Molecular Basis of Non-infectious Human Diseases has a 4-credit weightage and its laboratory course (BBCEL-146) is of 2 credits. This course deals with non-infectious human diseases. Non-infectious diseases do not spread from person to person, hence they are referred to as non-communicable diseases (NCD) . They are caused by inherited gene mutation (enzyme deficiency), oxidative stress or an unhealthy lifestyle/malnutrition. In this course, you will learn the genetic and biochemical basis of non-infectious metabolic disorders. You will also learn the causes, symptoms and physiological effects of lifestyle disorders. By studying this course, you will learn how to manage lifestyle disorders such as obesity, diabetes, hypertension etc. which are more common in young people/children.  

After studying this course, you should be able to:

• define balance diet, recommended dietary allowances and their importance in life;

• discuss the nutritional disorders of water-soluble and fat-soluble vitamins;

• explain marsmus and kwashiorkor and their impact on child’s growth;

• describe causative factors and symptoms of metabolic lifestyle diseases;

• use management plan for prevention of lifestyle disorders;

• explain molecular basis of multifactorial complex disorders;

• discuss the protein misfolding disorders;

• describe genetic and biochemical basis of monogenic disorders;

• identify genetic cause and enzyme deficiency of inherited protein metabolic disorders;

• discuss hemoglobinopathies and clotting disorders;

• enlist the characteristics and biochemical impact of metabolic disorders on health.

Block 1 is about the “Nutritional Disorders”. Its first unit begins with the balance diet. The recommended dietary allowances, major and minor nutrients are discussed with their biological importance. Healthy diet and Unhealthy diet are explained in the unit. In unit 2, Nutritional deficiency disorders of water-soluble vitamins - beriberi, pellagra, pernicious anaemia, scurvy are discussed with their biochemical roles, clinical symptoms and treatment. Marasmus and Kwashiorkor, the most common nutritional disorders are also described. The next unit 3 talks about the biochemical mechanism, symptoms of fat-soluble vitamin deficiency disorders such as night blindness, xerophthalmia (Vitamin A deficiency), rickets and osteomalacia (vitamin D deficiency), haemorrhage (Vitamin K deficiency).

Block 2 deals with the Lifestyle Diseases wherein you will learn about obesity and eating disorders (Anorexia nervosa and Bullemia). You will also study about lifestyle disorders such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, obesity, hypothyroidism and stress in Unit 4. The unit 5 is the heart disorders in which the pathogenesis, symptoms, causative factors of atherosclerosis are described in detail. In unit 6, the causative factors of metabolic syndrome, relationship with lifestyle diseases, irritable bowel syndrome and the prevention and management of Lifestyle disorders are described.

Block 3 is on the Multifactorial Disorders. It deals with the multifactorial disorders, polygenic diseases and their inter-relationship with environmental factors (Unit 7). You will learn about causes, stages, biochemical mechanism of cancer and the role of Proto-oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes in cancer and its treatment strategy in unit 8. Unit 9 discusses about brain disorders.

Block 4 is on Protein Disorders. In this block unit 10 explain protein disorders due to misfolding proteins. Unit 11 gives an overview of monogenic diseases and inborn errors of metabolic diseases in which causes and symptoms of protein metabolic diseases are discussed. Unit 12 (monogenic diseases II) discuss the genetic cause, metabolic effect, symptoms and treatment of cystic fibrosis, Long QT syndrome, familial hypercholesterolemia, achondroplasia. hemoglobinopathies and clotting disorders.

We assume that by this stage our learners would have already acquired basic knowledge of biochemistry, metabolism, human physiology, concept in genetics and biochemical tools and techniques having gone through the most of the course units from the first to fourth semester.

The structural outline in the beginning of each unit is a road map to the unit. The mentioned expected learning outcomes reflect the teaching and learning approaches. The running text describes and illustrates basics and concepts in a concise, learner friendly and interesting manner. It is supported by suitable figures, and tables to enrich the concept of the unit. The key features and concepts have been highlighted. A variety of teaching and learning approaches such as an inbuilt self-assessment exercises and terminal questions along with answers provided at the end of each unit will support the learners to evaluate and meet the expected learning outcomes of the given self-learning material. You are expected to spend a total of about 120 hours for completing this course. This is the average time which is to be spent by a learner for studying the course material, doing self assessment questions, assignments, watching the audio-video programmes and participation in IRC/teleconferencing sessions related to this course.