NS 2200

Introduction to Biology of Nutrigenomics: Gene–Nutrient Interactions

Course Description

Course information provided by the 2025-2026 Catalog.

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.

Last 4 Terms Offered (None)

Learning Outcomes

• Upon completion of this course, students will be able to: Molecular and Conceptual Understanding
• Describe how nutrients regulate gene expression at the molecular level
• Explain key nutrigenomic mechanisms, including transcription factor signaling and epigenetic regulation
• Data Interpretation and Scientific Literacy
• Interpret basic transcriptomic figures (e.g., heatmaps, volcano plots)
• Precision Nutrition Context
• Discuss how nutrigenomics contributes to metabolic health and precision nutrition
• Communicate scientific concepts clearly

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