Introduction to Biology of Nutrigenomics: Gene–Nutrient Interactions

Catalog description

Nutrigenomics examines how nutrients and dietary patterns interact with the genome to regulate gene expression, cellular function, and health outcomes. This course introduces undergraduate students to the molecular mechanisms underlying gene–nutrient interactions, including transcriptional regulation, epigenetic modification, and transcriptomic responses to diet. Students will explore how dietary components act as biological signals, how gene expression is modified without changes to DNA sequence, and how these processes contribute to metabolic health and disease. The course also introduces how nutrigenomics informs emerging approaches in precision nutrition, while emphasizing the strengths, limitations, and ethical considerations of genomics-based nutrition research. This course is not a comprehensive genetics or bioinformatics course. Instead, it uses nutrigenomics as a framework to build mechanistic understanding, scientific literacy, and data interpretation skills appropriate for a 2000-level undergraduate audience.