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UTAustinX: NTR.390.6-WB Molecular Nutrition

Professor: Linda deGraffenried, PHD

Phone: (512) 232-9410

Office: PAI 4.36C

Office Hours:  email, by appointment

Email: degraffenried@austin.utexas.edu

 

Molecular Nutrition 390.6

Fall 2021 Course Syllabus

 

Course Instructor

Linda deGraffenried, PhD

Department of Nutritional Sciences, https://he.utexas.edu/ntr

Virtual Office Hours: by appointment, please contact me.

Contact me via email: degraffenried@austin.utexas.edu

512-232-9410

Welcome to NTR 390.6 Molecular Nutrition, which will introduce you to the new world of nutrigenomics. My hope is that you will enjoy learning this material as much as I enjoy teaching it, and that by the time we’re done, you will appreciate how exciting this area of nutrition can be, especially as we move forward in trying to understand how our dietary and lifestyle choices impact our current and future health status.

Additional Course Contacts

TA, Danielle Daily: didaily@utexas.edu

edX Technical Support: support-masters@edx.org

MSNS Support: lschriefer@utexas.edu 

Course Description

NTR 390.6 – Molecular Nutrition

Unique Number 54220

Summary: This course provides a general overview of the regulation of gene expression by diet and nutrition and resulting modulation of disease development.

 

Course Format

This course will be taught entirely online through the edX platform. There will be no class meetings on campus. There will be 12 modules over the course of 7 weeks. See the course calendar for more details.

 

Required Course Materials

  • Assigned readings, videos, and articles are posted within the course.

 

Technology Requirements

  • Access to high-speed internet
  • Basic computer skills
  • Ability to communicate via Internet tools, such as chat, email
  • Computer with speakers or headphones
  • Supported web browser: Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari, or Chrome
  • Download and installation of Zoom and any other plugins.
  • COMPUTER SOFTWARE & HARDWARE: The primary software requirement for accessing course materials is Microsoft Office 2010 or later. (NOTE: Do not submit documents as zip files or files that are not compatible with Microsoft Office 2010 or later, e.g., Google docs, etc., unless otherwise specified.)

 

Grading Policy

Your semester grade will be based on a combination of discussion, writing assignments, final paper and three segment exams. The modules are grouped into three segments: Segment 1 – Modules 1-4; Segment 2 – Modules 5-7; Segment 3 – Modules 8-12.  

Final grades will be based on students earning the following points out of a possible 100 weighted points.

 

Required Assignments

Contribution to Course Grade

Provocative Questions

24 questions - 25% of grade

Segments 1-3: Segment Exams

3 @ 100 points = 30% of grade

Segment 2: Article Summary

1 @ median points given through peer review = 10% of grade

Segment 3: Research Paper

 1 @ 100 points = 35% of grade

Total

 100 weighted points

Check for Understanding

 5 possible extra credit points

 

Course Schedule

All dates and times are in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). Two modules will be available at the beginning of each week (Sunday, 05:00 UTC / Sunday, 12 AM Central). Note that assignments from the first module must be completed by mid-week (Thursday, 04:59 UTC / Wednesday, 11:59 PM), and assignments from the second module must be completed by the end of the week (Sunday, 04:59 UTC / Saturday, 11:59 PM). Assignments may be completed before the due dates. To help you convert your time zone to UTC, use this time zone converter: https://www.thetimezoneconverter.com/

Week

Modules

Due Dates

Week 1: Sun, 05:00 UTC Oct 17 – Sun, 04:59 UTC Oct 24
  • Module 1: Introduction to Nutrigenomics
  • Module 2: Gene Expression Regulation

Module 1: Thurs, 04:59 UTC Oct 21

Module 2: Sun, 04:59 UTC Oct 24

Week 2: Sun, 05:00 UTC Oct 24 – Sun, 04:59 UTC Oct 31
  • Module 3: Transcription Factors
  • Module 4: Epigenetic Regulation of Gene Expression and Translation

Module 3: Thurs, 04:59 UTC Oct 28

Module 4: Sun 04: 59 UTC Oct 31

Week 3: Sun, 05:00 UTC Oct 31 – Sun, 04:59 UTC Nov 7
  • Module 5: Dietary Modulation of Gene Expression
  • Module 6: Regulation of Gene Expression by Aspects of Lifestyle

Module 5: Thurs, 04:59 UTC Nov 4

Module 6: Sun, 04:59 PM UTC Nov 7

Week 4: Sun, 05:00 UTC Nov 7 – Sun, 04:59 UTC Nov 14
  • Module 7: Regulation of Gene Expression by the Microbiome
  • Module 8: Overview of Health and Disease

Module 7: Thurs, 04:59 UTC Nov 11

Module 8: Sun, 04:59 PM UTC 14

Week 5: Sun, 05:00 UTC Nov 14 – Sun, 04:59 UTC Nov 21
  • Module 9: Gene Expression and Cancer
  • Module 10: Gene Expression and Immune Dysfunction

Module 9: Thurs, 04:59 UTC Nov 18

Module 10: Sun, 04:59 UTC Nov 21

Week 6: Sun, 05:00 UTC Nov 28 – Sun, 04:59 UTC Dec 5
  • Module 11: Gene Expression and Cardiovascular Disease
  • Module 12: Gene Expression and In-Utero Exposures

Module 11: Thurs, 04:59 UTC Dec 2

Module 12: Sun, 04:59 UTC Dec 5

Week 7: Sun, 05:00 UTC Dec 5 – Sun, 04:59 UTC Dec 11

Research Paper

Sun, 04:59 UTC Dec 11

*****Week of November 21 – November 28 Thanksgiving Holiday, No Modules

Letter Grade Ranges 

Your grade for this course will be based on the letter grade point ranges that are stated in the course syllabus. If there is a discrepancy between the grade as represented on the edX progress page and the point values assigned to each grade in the syllabus, the syllabus point definitions will be used.

A = 90-100

B = 80-89

C = 70-79

F = lower than 70

 

Course Activities

Below are the activities and assessments you will encounter as you work your way through the course: 

  • Read/Watch/Explore: These are didactic content activities in which you interact with key concepts presented in engaging video and web-based formats
  • Check For Understanding (CFU): CFUs are short quizzes at the end of lessons within modules generated for you to gauge your understanding of the content covered. Each CFU counts 1 point, and you can re-take them as many times as you would like to get the point. These points will be added to your total score and are considered extra credit.
  • Provocative Questions: At the beginning of a module, you are given a real-world scenario and asked to respond to 1–2 questions in the Discussion forum. You are to answer in clear, concise paragraph formatting. Additional parameters provided in edX.
  • Article Summary: You will be asked to review three seminal articles involving topics relevant to the course material, and choose one to provide a concise, but complete summary of the study presented. You will then review the summaries of six of your peers.
  • Segment Exams: Similar to the Provocative Questions, these segment exams will assess your ability to apply the scientific concepts that you have learned during the previous modules to real world scenarios, with a focus on the molecular mechanisms by which diet and lifestyle impact health outcomes. 
  • Research Paper: This 10 page research review paper will allow you to explore an area that you find most interesting, presenting our current understanding as to how aspects of diet or lifestyle modulate the disease process. 

 

Course Policies

LATE ASSIGNMENTS: Late assignments will generally not be accepted. In case of exceptional circumstances, write me an email and we can talk. In general, even in extreme circumstances, 10 points will be deducted for each day the assignment is late.

 

DROP / ADD DEADLINES:

Aug 30th: Last day of the official add/drop period for the second term.  

Sept. 10th:  Twelfth class day last day to drop and receive full tuition. Last day a graduate student may add a class with approvals.

Nov 22nd:  Last day a graduate student may change registration in a class to or from the credit/no credit basis.

Dec 6th: Last day a graduate student may, with the required approvals, drop a class or withdraw from the University.

 

GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE: Anyone feeling that a dispute exists after the grading of an exam or assignment may submit a written grievance. The grievance should identity the item in dispute and provide arguments supporting the student’s position. Grievances must be submitted within two class periods following the return of the exam or quiz. Attach your entire exam or quiz to the grievance.

 

UT AUSTIN SCHOLASTIC DISHONESTY STATEMENT: The University expects every student to maintain a high standard of individual integrity. Scholastic dishonesty is a serious offense that includes but is not limited to, cheating on a test or other classwork, plagiarism (the appropriation of another’s work and the unauthorized incorporation of that work in one’s own work), and collusion (unauthorized collaboration with another in preparing college work offered for credit). In cases of scholastic dishonesty, the faculty member responsible for the course will initiate disciplinary proceedings against the student.

Personal Pronouns

Professional courtesy and sensitivity are especially important with respect to individuals and topics dealing with differences of race, culture, religion, politics, sexual orientation, gender, gender variance, and nationalities. Class rosters are provided to the instructor with the student’s legal name, unless they have added a “preferred name” with the Gender and Sexuality Center (http://diversity.utexas.edu/genderandsexuality/publications-and-resources/). I will gladly honor your request to address you by a name that is different from what appears on the official roster, and by the gender pronouns you use (she/he/they/ze, etc). Please advise me of any changes early in the semester so that I may make appropriate updates to my records.

 

Services for Students with Disabilities

The university is committed to creating an accessible and inclusive learning environment consistent with university policy and federal and state law. Please let me know if you experience any barriers to learning so I can work with you to ensure you have equal opportunity to participate fully in this course. If you are a student with a disability, or think you may have a disability, and need accommodations please contact Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD). Please refer to SSD’s website for contact and more information: http://diversity.utexas.edu/disability/. If you are already registered with SSD, please deliver your Accommodation Letter to me as early as possible in the semester so we can discuss your approved accommodations and needs in this course. 

 

COMMUNICATION AND INTERACTION EXPECTATIONS

·        Use the discussion board to post questions to be addressed during office hours. 

·       Office hours is the time for face-to-face question/answer and discussion. If you have questions, your fellow students likely have similar questions. Please bring your questions to office hours.

·       Office hours will be recorded and available for students to watch if they were unable to attend.

·       If an immediate response is needed, please email the instructor.

·       Students are asked to consolidate their questions into one email. If more than one email is sent, faculty will respond with one email.

·       If questions are more complex than a brief email exchange allows, faculty will ask the student to bring or submit the question to virtual office hours.

·       Faculty will respond to questions in an appropriate time frame (usually 24 hours).

·       Questions about assignments must be submitted 24 hours prior to the due date.

·       Use proper grammar and syntax when posting messages.

·       Interact appropriately and respectfully with instructors and your fellow class members.

 

 

NETIQUETTE (INTERNET ETIQUETTE): There is an informal code of conduct that most people follow on the Internet. Usually people who break the code become the victims of flame emails. Netiquette includes not sending email or messages in ALL CAPS or with too many exclamation points or asking repetitive questions in forums that have FAQs posted. Sending spam is also a violation of netiquette. You're not legally obligated to follow proper netiquette, but you will have an easier time communicating with others over the Internet if you do.

 

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES — YOUR STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • You will ensure your full name and course number and section are listed on the Subject line of the email (e.g., John Doe BIO 1033.002) so I know in which course/section you are registered.
  • You will check your email account regularly.
  • You will not fall behind the syllabus/schedule.
  • You will check announcements.
  • You will not consistently wait until the last minute to take assessments or submit assignments.
  • While you MAY be given a grace period to allow for technical problems, you MUST report problems immediately to me and to IT@UT.

 

COPYRIGHT AND FAIR USE: Copying, displaying, and distributing copyrighted works may infringe the owner's copyright. The University of Texas System's policy statement on Fair Use of Copyrighted Materials can help you determine whether your use of a copyrighted work may be an infringement. Any use of computer or duplication facilities by students, faculty, or staff for infringing use of copyrighted works is subject to appropriate disciplinary action as well as those civil remedies and criminal penalties provided by federal law.

 

Copyright law applies to the Internet, which contains a mixture of copyrighted and non- copyrighted materials. An item does not have to display a statement of copyright to be copyrighted. It is assumed that an item is copyrighted until otherwise determined. For more information on copyright, see the University of Texas System Office of General Counsel web site.

 

THE TEACH ACT: Copyright law provides educators with a separate set of rights, in addition to fair use, to display (show) and perform (show or play) others' works in the classroom (not online). These rights are in Section 110(1) of the Copyright Act and apply to any work, regardless of the medium.

CONDUCT: “Courtesy, politeness, manners, and civility are all, in essence, forms of awareness. Being civil means being constantly aware of others and weaving restraint, respect, and consideration on into the very fabric of this awareness. Civility is a form of goodness; it is gracious goodness. But it is not just an attitude of benevolent and thoughtful relation to other individuals; it also entails an active interest in the well-being of our communities and even a concern for the health of the planet on which we live.”

P.M. Forni – Choosing Civility: The 25 Rules of Considerate Conduct

 

PRIVACY: edX software automatically stores course access records, quiz scores, email postings, discussion postings, and chat room conversations. This is one more reason to make sure that your communications adhere to the netiquette policy.

 

ALTERNATE COMMUNICATION: In the event that a edX problem makes it impossible to use the course communication tools for more than 24 hours, the instructor will communicate with class members through email.

 

CHANGES: The syllabus, along with course assignments and due dates, are subject to change. It is your responsibility to check edX for corrections or updates to the syllabus. Any changes/corrections to the course materials, assignment dates, or other updates will be posted ahead of time in the course Announcements tool. It is your responsibility to check edX regularly for updates.

 

Please refer to the edX Orientation to the MSNS Program “More Resources: MSNS Program Information” page for additional course policies including grading structure, accommodations, academic integrity, religious holidays, and drop dates.

 

Emergency Procedures when on Campus

The following recommendations regarding emergency evacuation from the Office of Campus Safety and Security, 512-471-5767, http://www.utexas.edu/safety/

  • Occupants of buildings on The University of Texas at Austin campus are required to evacuate buildings when a fire alarm is activated. Alarm activation or announcement requires exiting and assembling outside.
  • Familiarize yourself with all exit doors of each classroom and building you may occupy. Remember that the nearest exit door may not be the one you used when entering the building.
  • Students requiring assistance in evacuation shall inform their instructor in writing during the first week of class.
  • In the event of an evacuation, follow the instruction of faculty or class instructors.
  • Do not re-enter a building unless given instructions by the following: Austin Fire Department, The University of Texas at Austin Police Department, or Fire Prevention Services office.
  • Use the Behavior Concerns Advice Line (BCAL) hotline to report any behavior or incident that is suspicious or disturbing: 512-232-5050
  • Link to information regarding emergency evacuation routes and emergency procedures can be found at: http://utexas.edu/emergency.

 

Student Resources

The following resources are available to all students on the UT-Austin campus:

COVID-related information

For those of you who might plan to be on campus, below are the current recommendations:

 

Sharing of Course Materials is Prohibited:

No materials used in this class, including, but not limited to, lecture hand-outs, videos, assessments (quizzes, exams, papers, projects, homework assignments), in-class materials, review sheets, and additional problem sets, may be shared online or with anyone outside of the class unless you have my explicit, written permission. Unauthorized sharing of materials promotes cheating. It is a violation of the University’s Student Honor Code and an act of academic dishonesty. I am well aware of the sites used for sharing materials, and any materials found online that are associated with you, or any suspected unauthorized sharing of materials, will be reported to Student Conduct and Academic Integrity in the Office of the Dean of Students. These reports can result in sanctions, including failure in the course.

 

Class Recordings:

Class recordings are reserved only for students in this class for educational purposes and are protected under FERPA. The recordings should not be shared outside the class in any form. Violation of this restriction by a student could lead to Student Misconduct proceedings.