Time:                Tuesdays & Thursdays 11:10 am – 12:30 pm

Text Box: Room:              Building 20 Room 212

 

Instructor:       Diane M. Stearns, Associate Professor

                          Office: 211 Biochemistry (Wettaw) Building

                          Phone: 523-4460

                          Email: Diane.Stearns@nau.edu

 

Office Hours:   Thurs. 10:00 – 11:00 am; or by appointment

 

 

Course Description and Objectives:  Toxicology is the study of the adverse effects of xenobiotics on living systems.  Toxicologists seek to understand molecular mechanisms of toxicants so a population’s risk from exposure may be assessed.  This introductory graduate course will cover basic principles and mechanisms of toxicology on a subcellular and systemic level.  Through this course students will gain knowledge of the molecular mechanisms of toxic species, will gain experience in formal presentations and will be introduced to current research areas in chemical toxicology. 

 

Prerequisites:  CHM 238 or a comparable organic chemistry course, plus CHM360 or CHM460 or a comparable biochemistry course. 

 

Required Text:  Casarett & Doull’s Toxicology: The Basic Science of Poisons, 6th edition.  Klaassen, CD, Ed. (2001) McGraw-Hill.

 

Course Structure: The following topics will be covered (though not necessarily in this order):

 

Chapter          Topic                                                             

1.                                          Introduction and History

2.                                          Principles of Toxicology

3.                                          Mechanisms of Toxicity

4.                                          Risk Assessment

5.                                          Absorption, Distribution and Excretion of Toxicants

6.                                          Biotransformation of Xenobiotics

7.                                          Toxicokinetics

8.                                          Chemical Carcinogenesis

9.                                          Genetic Toxicology

13.                                      Toxic Responses of the Liver

14.                                      Toxic Responses of the Kidney

15.                                      Toxic Responses of the Respiratory System

23.                   Toxic Effects of Metals

-                       Endocrine Disruptors

-                       Chemical and Biological Weapons

Toxicology Articles:  Students are asked to find and turn in 12 newspaper articles related to toxicology.  Articles are due on Thursdays starting 1/26.  Articles may be found online (i.e. “Google News” but the byline must be a news service or newspaper.  Five points will be given for each unique article, less points will be awarded if more than one student turns in the same article. 

 

 

Evaluation Methods:

 

I.                   Midterm Exams (three)       100 pts x 3 = 300 pts

II.                Oral Presentation/Symposium                     70 pts

III.             Tox Articles                                                 60 pts

IV.             Attendance                                                  30 pts

V.                Final Exam                                                200 pts

(Thursday, May 11, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm)                

            Total                                                          660 pts

 

 

 

Grading System:

 

                        A         540 – 600 pts  (90%)

                        B         480 – 539 pts  (80%)

                        C         420 – 479 pts  (70%)

                        D         300 – 419 pts  (50%)

                        F              0 – 299 pts   (<50%)

 

 

 

Course Policies:

 

Students who miss a midterm exam will be given a make-up test outside of class, but only if arrangements are made before the exam is given in class.  The make-up exam will be harder than the in-class exam.  There is no make-up test for the final exam.  Symposium topics will be scheduled toward the middle of the semester.  There are no make-up options for the symposium presentations. 

 

Statement on plagiarism and cheating:  Cheating or taking credit for someone else’s work is wrong.  Any student found cheating will be given an F grade for the course and will be subject to University discipline procedures as outlined in the NAU Student Handbook.