M.Sc. Veterinary Biochemistry

Master of Science in Veterinary Biochemistry

M.Sc. Veterinary Biochemistry

List of Academic Staff

Name	Status and Qualification	Research Interest
A.S. Adah	Senior Lecturer & Ag. Head of Department DVM, M.Sc., Ph.D. (ABU, Zaria)	Environmental Physiology, Exercise Physiology
MisturaO. Azeez	Professor DVM(Ibadan);M.Sc.,Ph.D.(Lagos); FCVSN (Abuja)	Cardiovascular Physiology, Renal Physiology, Environmental Physiology, Molecular Physiology, Stress Physiology
B.S.Okediran	Professor B.Sc.(OAU,Ile-Ife);DVM(Ibadan); M.Sc., Ph.D.(UNAAB, Abeokuta)	Physiological Chemistry
HelenH. Olaifa	Senior Lecturer DVM,M.Sc.,Ph.D.(ABU,Zaria)	Stress Physiology, Environmental Physiology
A.Basiru	Senior Lecturer DVM,M.Sc.,Ph.D.(Ibadan);FCVSN (Abuja)	Reproductive Physiology, Endocrinology, Phytomedicine, Developmental Toxicology
*A.Z.Jaji	Reader DVM,M.V.Sc.(Maiduguri);Ph.D.(UPM, Serdang)	Nanotechnology

Introduction

The postgraduate academic programme of Veterinary Biochemistry was designed to offer basic and applied research training and skills to veterinarians up to the doctoral level. The programme will provide capacity development in manpower building and career development in the speciality areas of Veterinary Biochemistry.

Philosophy

The philosophy is the development of highly skilled manpower for teaching, research and professional services for the public, private and international organisations in the field of Biomedical Sciences.

Aim and Objectives

The program is aimed at providing in-depth knowledge and research skills in the area of Veterinary Biochemistry. The objectives of the programme are to:

produce individuals with advanced academic training and research skills in Veterinary Biochemistry; and

broaden the horizons of individuals in the field of Veterinary Biochemistry to facilitate its possible applications in other areas of science and veterinary medicine.

Admission Requirements

O‘ Level Credits in five subjects including Mathematics, Biology, Physics, Chemistry and English Language.

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree or its equivalent from recognised institutions.

Duration of the Programme

The Full-time programme shall run for a minimum of 18 calendar months and a maximum of 24 calendar months.

The part-time programme shall run for a minimum of 24 calendar months and a maximum of 36 calendar months

Detailed Course Description

VTC813 Biomedical Research Methodology and Communication       2Credits

History and legal basis of research ethic. Ethical requirements. Ethical review procedure. Ethical issues and requirements: data protection, privacy, informed consent, research on animals and humans, dual use. Identifying research fields. Identifying funding resources. Developing a grant proposal: basic components of a grant proposal, budget and budgeting, research planning and design. Writing research protocol. Submitting a research proposal. Implementing the research project. Describing and analysing research results. Interpreting research results. Report writing. Management control in biomedical research. Challenges and opportunities in collaborative scientific research. Research communication: communicating to scientists, funding agencies, health professionals, policymakers, patients/clients, community, and public media. Writing scientific papers. Publishing scientific papers. Making scientific presentations.30h (T);C

VPH815 Biostatistics          2Credits

Statistics. Study designs. Scales of measurement. Quality of measurement, statistical variable/data. Qualitative and quantitative data sources. Sampling and sample size determination. Data organisation: Statistics charts, tables, graphs frequency tables, frequency distribution, histogram, stem and leaf plot, box plot. Summary indices: Mean, median, modes variance, standard deviation. Probability distributions: Normal, binomial, poisson distribution, descriptive statistics, frequency table, tables for qualitative and quantitative data, diagrams, types of diagrams. Data summarisation: summary indices, measures of central tendency and dispersion. Test of statistical hypothesis. Confidence intervals. Parametric and non-parametric tests. Z-test for proportions. Chi-square test. Fischer‘s exact test and T-test. Analysis of variance. Regression and correlation. Spearman rank and kendal correlation.15h(T);45h (P);C

VPH817 Bioinformatics        2Credits

Bioinformatics: Introduction, principles and application in Veterinary Medicine. Software anddatamanipulation.GenBank.Nucleicacidamplificationandsequencing.Useof gene sequences analysis software (BioEdit®,MEGA,CLCetc). Phylogenetic tree construction and analysis.15h(T);45h (P);C

VPB821 General Veterinary Biochemistry       3Credits

Review of carbohydrates, proteins, lipids and nucleic acid. Metabolism in animals and their regulation. Generation of ATP, Inter-relationship of metabolic pathways. Medical and biological importance of carbohydrates, proteins, lipids and nucleic acids. Classifications of carbohydrates oxidation and respiratory chain, integration of carbohydrate, lipid and protein metabolism.30h(T);45h (P);C

VPB 822 Clinical Veterinary Biochemistry 2 Credits

Evaluation of liver and kidney function test. Enzymes of clinical importance. Molecular basis of inborn errors of metabolism. Classical examples of disease associated with carbohydrates, amino acids, lipids and nucleic acid metabolism.15h(T);45h (P);C

VPB 823 Laboratory Techniques in Biochemical Analysis   2 Credits

Review of basic techniques: Buffer and PH, Principals of centrifugation. Use of marker enzymes, Spectrophotometer, and Electrophoresis. Assay of enzymes. Chromatography. Studies of properties of enzymes, methods for estimation of blood constituents by colorimetric methods. Colorimetric methods for blood glucose estimation, Auto-analyzer, and serum calcium estimation by spectro photometric method. Determination of urine constituent. Nitrogenous organic compounds of urine, inorganic constituent of abnormal urine, reducing sugars in urine.15h(T);45h (P);C

VPB 824    Veterinary Nutritional and Environmental Biochemistry       2 Credits

Nutrients metabolism. Nutrient requirements allowances. Disorders associated with inadequate and excessive nutrient in take. Environmental toxicants in food. Vitamins, minerals, water, electrolytes and acid-base balances. Energy, nutrients, medicines and toxins of food. Ruminant biochemistry.15h(T);45h (P);C

VPB 825 Endocrine and Blood Biochemistry     2 Credits

Blood, plasma and serum. Structure of erythrocyte membrane. White blood cells, platelets, and other organic compounds or constituents of blood. Hormones of clinical importance: Insulin, glucagon, glucocorticoid, mineralocorticoids.15h(T);45h (P);C

VPB 826 Enzymology, Protein and Nucleic acid Biochemistry      3 Credits

Amino acids and peptides. Proteins, protein structure. Determination of protein structure, denaturation of proteins. Plasma proteins, acute phase proteins. immunoglobulin‘s, immunoglobulin disorders. Enzyme inhibition. Enzyme regulation. Enzyme kinetics. Nucleotides, nucleotide metabolism. Nucleic acids. Biosynthesis of nucleic acids. Recombinant DNA technology. Cloning, stem cells, Gene targeting, and different steps of recombinant DNA technology that is used to obtain agene product. Vectors used in gene therapy.30h(T);45h (P);C

VPB 827 Biochemistry of Carbohydrates and Lipids      2 Credits

Metabolism of carbohydrates and lipids. Integration of metabolism of both carbohydrate and lipids, gluconeogenesis, glycogenolysis, cholesterol, lipoproteins, membrane lipids, and glycolipids.15h(T);45h (P);C

VPB 828 Advanced Molecular Cell Biology        2 Credits

Cells and cellular constituents. Molecular biology concept and definition. Chemical foundation of a cell. Protein structure and function. Basic molecular genetic mechanisms. Molecular structure of chromosomes and genes. Proteomics. Bio-membrane and cellular architecture. Integrating cells into tissues. Transporting ions and small molecules across membranes. Cellular energetics. Structural organisation of chromosomes. Transcriptional and Integration of signals and gene control. Cellular secretions and transportation. Synthesis, metabolism and movement of lipids, micro filaments and intermediate filaments. Intra-cellular vesicular traffic. Cell communication. Cell cycle and regulation, cell birth, lineage and death, tissue renewal, cellular aberration and cellular and molecular biology of cancer.15h (T);C

VPB829 Veterinary Biochemical Toxicology   2 Credits

Detoxification of xenobiotics. Biochemistry of apoptosis. Organ function tests, Biochemical toxicology of drugs, chemical pesticides, insecticides. Mode of action of toxins. Chemical carcino genesis. Biochemical mechanisms of genetic and developmental toxicity. Biochemical mechanisms of multi-organ toxicities.15h(T);45h (P);C

VPB867 Seminar I          1Credit

This is essentially a pre-data seminar on the research focus of the student‘s projects covering the title, objective and scope of the work, a review of relevant literature, experimental design and methodology.45h(P);C

VPB868 Seminar II         1Credit

This is a follow-up seminar/post-data or benchwork findings. It should cover research findings, detailed analysis and interpretation of research results, discussion of findings in view of previous reports and new ideas emanating from the study, conclusion and recommendations for future work.45h(P);C

VPB869  Dissertation   6Credits

The original investigation in to an approved research topic under the supervision of an approved academic supervisor.270h(P);C

Graduation Requirements

The final assessment shall be undertaken only when all courses and project requirements for the degree have been fulfilled and certified by the Supervisors. To be awarded a Master‘s Degree candidate must pass 34 credits units made up of the following:

Core                                                                                                    28 Credits

Dissertation                                                                                         6 Credits

Total                                                                                                   34Credits

Summary

Core courses: VTC813 (2), VPH815 (2), VPH 817(2), VPB821 (3),VPB822 (2), VPB823 (2), VPB824(2),VPB825 (2), VPB826 (3), VPB827(2),VPB828 (2),VPB829 (2),VPB897 (1), VPB898(1), VPB899 (6).