Nutritional Sciences and Toxicology

University of California, Berkeley

This is an archived copy of the 2015-16 guide. To access the most recent version of the guide, please visit http://guide.berkeley.edu.

Overview

The research and curriculum of the Department of Nutritional Sciences and Toxicology addresses the experimental biology of nutrients, phytochemicals, and diet-borne toxicants, using the techniques of modern biology and chemical analyses to understand the relationship among diet, the metabolic genome, and optimal health/chronic disease. Our goals are to determine the molecular mechanisms of dietary affects on health, and the contribution of individual genotype to dietary responses and disease risk. This approach of metabolic biology will provide detailed insight into the impact of diet on human health and chronic disease risk. We seek to translate lab and model systems data to human physiology, and to provide outreach through cooperative extension.

Undergraduate Program

Nutritional Science s : BS (with specializations in Physiology and Metabolism, Dietetics, and Molecular Toxicology), Minor
Toxicology : Minor

Graduate Program

The department does not offer graduate degrees; however, the following related graduate degrees are administered by graduate groups affiliated with the department:
Metabolic Biology : MS, PhD
Molecular Toxicology : PhD

Visit Department Website

Courses

Nutritional Sciences and Toxicology

NUSCTX 10 Introduction to Human Nutrition 3 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Summer 2017 First 6 Week Session, Summer 2017 Second 6 Week Session
This course focuses on relationships between diet and health, and responses of the human body to diet and food components, including macro and micro nutrients, water, phytochemicals, and alcohol. This course also provides an overview of the interplay between nutrients and physiological and behavioral responses. Lectures, which address contributions of diet to optimal health or disease risk, are based on current nutritional, biochemical, and medical knowledge. Goals include enabling students to make informed decisions about their nutritional needs and current issues concerning nutrition.

NUSCTX 11 Introduction to Toxicology 3 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Discussion of principles for the evaluation of toxic hazard of natural and man-made substances present in the environment, the workplace, food, drink, and drugs. The bases for species selectivity, individual variations in sensitivity and resistance, and the combined effects of toxic agents will be addressed. Issues related to the impact of toxic agents in modern society will be emphasized.

NUSCTX 20 Personal Food Security and Wellness 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
The course goal is to develop life-skills and decision-making processes to maintain healthy eating throughout the lifespan. The course will improve students' nutrition-related behaviors by addressing attitudes, knowledge, skills and barriers related to food selection, purchasing and preparation and how these intersect with food security. The course will provide students with the foundation of nutrition knowledge and cooking skills to be able to prepare healthful meals in consideration of limitations such as food availability, food budgeting and time management.

NUSCTX 24 Freshman Seminar 1 Unit

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Spring 2016
The Freshman Seminar Program has been designed to provide new students with the opportunity to explore an intellectual topic with a faculty member in a small-seminar setting. Freshman seminars are offered in all campus departments, and topics vary from department to department and semester to semester.

NUSCTX 98 Directed Group Study 1 - 3 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Study of special topics in nutritional sciences that are not covered in depth in regular courses.

NUSCTX 103 Nutrient Function and Metabolism 3 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Fall 2016, Fall 2015
Delivery of nutrients from foods to mammalian cells; major metabolic pathways; function of nutrients in energy metabolism, nitrogen and lipid metabolism, structural tissues and regulation; essentiality, activation, storage, excretion, and toxicity of nutrients.

NUSCTX 104 Human Food Practices 2 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2017 Second 6 Week Session, Spring 2017, Summer 2016 Second 6 Week Session
This nutrition course with an anthropological perspective examines why we eat what we eat by addressing environmental, socio-economic, political, cultural, and personal components of the human diet. Cuisines from a sampling of countries and regions are discussed.

NUSCTX 104AC Human Food Practices AC 3 Units

Terms offered: Not yet offered
This course will broadly address the historical, ecological, socioeconomic, biological, political, cultural, and personal components of the human diet in addition to nutrition problems, programs, and consumer protection. It is a nutrition course with an anthropological slant that examines why we eat what we eat and contributes to the pursuit of multidisciplinary degrees in nutrition policy and planning. As an American Cultures course, we will also discuss cuisines from a variety of different countries and regions, with a specific focus on those in America, and examine how race and ethnicity affect diet, food access, and relationship with food. Introduction to Human Nutrition (NST10) is recommended as a prerequisite.

NUSCTX 108A Introduction and Application of Food Science 3 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Evaluation of the chemical, physical, functional, and nutritional properities of foods. Emphasis on how these properties, and prepration, processing, and storage, influence quality characteristics of food products.

NUSCTX 108B Application of Food Science Laboratory 1 Unit

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Fall 2016, Fall 2015
Experimental evaluation of the chemical, physical, functional, and nutritional properties of foods, and the changes occuring during preparation that affect quality characteristics of food products.

NUSCTX 110 Toxicology 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Fall 2016, Fall 2015
A comprehensive survey of the principles of modern toxicology and their applications in evaluating the safety of foods, additives and environmental contaminates. Mechanisms of metabolic activation, detoxification, gene regulation, and selective toxicity are emphasized.

NUSCTX C114 Pesticide Chemistry and Toxicology 3 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2017, Spring 2016, Spring 2015
Chemical composition of pesticides and related compounds, their mode of action, resistance mechanisms, and methods of evaluating their safety and activity.

NUSCTX 115 Principles of Drug Action 2 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2017, Spring 2016, Spring 2015
Basic principles and quantitative aspects of drug action and risk/benefit as applied to the discovery, design, and development of human therapeutics. The course will highlight the importance of integrating pharmacology, toxicology, and pharmacokinetics to create effective and safe treatments for human disease. Special emphasis will be placed on pharmacogenomics and variation in individual response.

NUSCTX 121 Computational Toxicology 3 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2017, Spring 2016, Spring 2015
Introducing the use of bioinformatics tools useful in linking the molecular structure of chemicals to the toxicity they induce in biological systems. Discussions on the highly interactive process of collecting, organizing, and assimilating chemistry and toxicology information - and the use of computer programs to visualize, browse, and interpret this information to discover chemical structure-toxicity correlations. The importance of these concepts in drug discovery and development and food safety will be emphasized.

NUSCTX 135 Food Systems Organization and Management 4 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2017, Spring 2016, Spring 2015
Principles of organization and management applied to institutional food service systems: production and delivery systems, management of resources, quality assurance, equipment, layout, marketing, personnel management, fiscal management. Laboratory experiences, projects and field work in institutional situations.

NUSCTX 145 Nutrition Education and Counseling 2 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2017, Spring 2016, Spring 2015
This course will focus on communicating nutrition messages through nutrition education and nutrition counseling. Students will develop and implement theory-based nutrition education interventions and conduct mock counseling sessions for various populations and conditions. Strategies for effective nutrition instruction, counseling, and behavior change will be discussed.

NUSCTX C159 Human Diet 4 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2017, Spring 2016, Spring 2015
Since we eat every day, wouldn't it be useful to learn more about human dietary practices? A broad overview of the complex interrelationship between humans and their foods. Topics include the human dietary niche, biological variation related to diet, diet and disease, domestication of staple crops, food processing techniques and development of regional cuisines, modern diets and their problems, food taboos, human attitudes toward foods, and dietary politics.

NUSCTX 160 Metabolic Bases of Human Health and Diseases 4 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2017, Spring 2016, Spring 2015
The physiological bases of human nutrient homeostasis and common disorders resulting from over and under nutrition will be discussed with a specific focus on macronutrients. Topics related to nutrient deficiency and excess will include adaptation to starvation and the effects of caloric restriction on life-span, obesity and its complications, lipoprotein metabolism and cardiovascular disease, as well as a detailed discussion of the causes, disease mechanisms, and treatment of diabetes mellitus.

NUSCTX 161A Medical Nutrition Therapy 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2015, Fall 2014, Fall 2013
This fall course serves as the first of a two part series that addresses the nutritional component of treating disease. The Nutrition Care Process of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics provides the framework for nutritional status assessment, diagnosis, nutrition intervention, and evaluation. Disease pathophysiology, diagnosis, medical and pharmacological treatments, and nutritional therapies for prevention and treatment are explored for conditions common throughout the lifecycle. The first part focuses on cardiovascular disease. Additional diseases are addressed in 161B in the spring semester. This course will provide an opportunity to apply knowledge of MNT through case studies and various activities.

NUSCTX 161B Medical Nutrition Therapy II 4 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2017, Spring 2016, Spring 2015
This is the second course of a two part series that is a continuation of addressing nutrition as a component of disease treatment. The Nutrition Care Process will be applied and disease pathophysiology, diagnosis, medical and pharmacological treatments and nutritional therapies for prevention and treatment will be explored for various disease states.

NUSCTX 166 Nutrition in the Community 3 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Fall 2016, Fall 2015
This course addresses basic nutrition in the context of the community. It explores nutrition programs that serve various segments of the population and the relationships of these programs to nutrition policy at the local, national, and international levels. Community assessment is used as the basis for program planning, implementation, and evaluation. The specific needs of population groups (infants, children, women, and the elderly) are considered and questions of food security are investigated.

NUSCTX 170 Experimental Nutrition Laboratory 4 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2017, Spring 2016, Spring 2015
Basic principles and techniques used in human and animal nutrition research. Students design, execute, and analyze experiments.

NUSCTX 171 Nutrition and Toxicology Laboratory 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Fall 2016, Fall 2015
Basic principles and techniques used in human and animal nutrition and toxicology research. Students design, execute, and analyze experiments.

NUSCTX 190 Introduction to Research in Nutritional Sciences 1 Unit

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Students will be asked to prepare an oral and written report on a topic selected from the current research literature in nutritional sciences.

NUSCTX 192 Junior Seminar in Dietetics 1 Unit

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Fall 2016, Fall 2015
This seminar course explores the professional roles and responsibilities of dietitians as well as career opportunities within the field. Current issues in the practice of dietetics will be discussed. Students will do research and present an oral report to the class. Each student will begin to develop his or her professional portfolio.

NUSCTX 193 Introduction to Research in Toxicology 1 Unit

Terms offered: Spring 2017, Spring 2016, Spring 2015
Students will be asked to prepare an oral and written report on a topic selected from the current research literature in toxicology.

NUSCTX 194 Senior Seminar in Dietetics 2 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2017, Spring 2016, Spring 2015
This course will cover the changes that are occurring in the field of dietetics. Students will explore revisions of the national nutritional standards and guidelines, issues related to complementary and alternative nutrition practices, the area of genomics as it is expected to affect practice, professional ethics in the changing health care environment, reimbursement for professional services, legislation related to the field of dietetics, and other emerging issues.

NUSCTX H196 Honors Research 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Supervised independent honors research specific to aspects of the Nutritional Science and Toxicology major, followed by an oral presentation, and a written report.

NUSCTX 197 Field Study in Food and Nutritional Sciences 1 - 3 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Summer 2017 8 Week Session, Spring 2017
Supervised experience in off-campus organizations relevant to specific aspects of foods and nutritional sciences. Regular individual meetings with faculty sponsor and written reports required.

NUSCTX 198 Directed Group Study 1 - 3 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Study of special topics in food science or nutrition that are not covered in depth in regular courses.

NUSCTX 199 Supervised Independent Study and Research 1 - 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Summer 2017 8 Week Session, Summer 2017 Second 6 Week Session
Upper division laboratory and independent research under the direction of a faculty supervisor. Written report required upon completion of the project.

NUSCTX 200 Advanced Organismal Nutrition and Metabolism 3 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2011, Spring 2010, Spring 2009
Critical analysis of concepts and research methods relating to nutritional metabolism and its regulation in intact organisms is studied. Areas covered include the basis of nutrient requirements and nutritional assessment, integration of metabolic pathways, research techniques, nutritional diseases, and specific topics such as calcium, vitamins, and trace elements.

NUSCTX 211A Introduction to Research in Nutritional Sciences 4 - 8 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Fall 2016, Fall 2015
Supervised experimental work under the direction of individual faculty members, which introduces experimental methods and research approaches in metabolic biology/nutritional biochemistry.

NUSCTX 211B Introduction to Research in Nutritional Sciences 4 - 8 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2017, Spring 2016, Spring 2015
Closely supervised experimental work under the direction of individual faculty members; an introduction to experimental methods and research approaches in areas of nutritional sciences.

NUSCTX C219 Advanced Toxicology 3 or 4 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2012, Spring 2011, Spring 2010
The application of toxicology to answer questions about safety and risk. Using a case-study approach, participants will learn how to interpret toxicological data and apply their knowledge to evaluating the risk presented by exposures to toxic chemicals, including drugs and environmental contaminants. Discussion of current topics of controversy in the field of toxicology.

NUSCTX 220 Molecular Toxicology 4 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2013, Spring 2012, Spring 2011
Molecular toxicology attempts to understand the mechanisms by which hazardous compounds cause their toxic effects. The course will focus on our understanding of the important tissue and cellular components involved in chemical exposure from entry to effect to exit. Topics include metabolism and mechanisms of toxins, toxicogenomics, toxin effects in individuals and groups, and tools to predict toxicology.

NUSCTX 250 Advanced Topics in Metabolic Biology 3 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2017, Spring 2016, Spring 2015
Overview lectures and discussion of primary literature will be combined in this course to provide a working knowledge of principles, regulation, and experimental approaches in metabolic biology. Select topics ranging from molecular mechanism of metabolite synthesis and cellular signaling to integrative physiology of organismal metabolic homeostasis will be discussed with a particular emphasis on their connection to human diseases.

NUSCTX 260 Metabolic Bases of Human Health and Diseases Graduate Level 4 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2017, Spring 2016
The physiological bases of human nutrient homeostasis and common disorders resulting from over and under nutrition will be discussed with a specific focus on macronutrients. Topics related to nutrient deficiency and excess will include adaptation to starvation and the effects of caloric restriction on life-span, obesity and its complications, lipoprotein metabolism and cardiovascular disease, as well as a detailed discussion of the causes, disease mechanisms, and treatment of diabetes mellitus.

NUSCTX 290 Advanced Seminars in Nutritional Sciences 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Fall 2016, Spring 2016
Advanced study of topics in nutritional sciences. More than one section may be taken simultaneously.

NUSCTX 292 Graduate Research Colloquium 1 Unit

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Presentations by graduate students of research proposals and results of their research. Participation in discussion and evaluation of others' presentations is required.

NUSCTX 293 Research Seminar 1 Unit

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Fall 2016, Fall 2015
Presentation and discussion of faculty research projects and experimental techniques in metabolic biology/nutritional biochemistry. Intended primarily for first year graduate students.

NUSCTX 296 Research Review in Nutritional Sciences and Toxicology 0.0 Units

Terms offered: Not yet offered
Review of current literature and discussion of original research.

NUSCTX 296A Research Review in Nutritional Sciences and Toxicology 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Review of current literature and discussion of original research.

NUSCTX 296B Research Review in Nutritional Sciences and Toxicology 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Review of current literature and discussion of original research.

NUSCTX 296C Research Review in Nutritional Sciences and Toxicology 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Review of current literature and discussion of original research.

NUSCTX 296D Research Review in Nutritional Sciences and Toxicology 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Review of current literature and discussion of original research.

NUSCTX 296E Research Review in Nutritional Sciences and Toxicology 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Review of current literature and discussion of original research.

NUSCTX 296F Research Review in Nutritional Sciences and Toxicology 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Review of current literature and discussion of original research.

NUSCTX 296G Research Review in Nutritional Sciences and Toxicology 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Review of current literature and discussion of original research.

NUSCTX 296H Research Review in Nutritional Sciences and Toxicology 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Review of current literature and discussion of original research.

NUSCTX 296I Research Review in Nutritional Sciences and Toxicology 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Review of current literature and discussion of original research.

NUSCTX 296J Research Review in Nutritional Sciences and Toxicology 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Review of current literature and discussion of original research.

NUSCTX 296K Research Review in Nutritional Sciences and Toxicology 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Fall 2016, Fall 2015
Review of current literature and discussion of original research.

NUSCTX 296L Research Review in Nutritional Sciences and Toxicology 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Review of current literature and discussion of original research.

NUSCTX 298 Directed Group Studies 1 - 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Special study in various fields of metabolic biology. Topics vary depending on interests of graduate students and availability of staff.

NUSCTX 299 Nutritional Sciences and Toxicology Research 1 - 12 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Summer 2017 8 Week Session, Summer 2017 Second 6 Week Session

NUSCTX 301 Professional Preparation: Teaching in Nutritional Sciences 1 - 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Fall 2016, Fall 2015
Creative approaches to teaching nutrition to diverse audiences are emphasized. Participants will identify needs of target populations, formulate educational objectives, design and/or use motivational teaching strategies, and evaluate the impact of their teaching on knowledge, attitudes, and behavior. Undergraduates may teach nutrition to elementary school children. Graduates may become teaching assistants.

NUSCTX 302 Professional Preparation: Supervised Teaching Experience in Nutrition 1 - 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Practical supervised experience in teaching nutrition and food science at the university level; planning, presentation, and evaluation of instructional units.

NUSCTX 602 Individual Study for Doctoral Students 1 - 8 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Fall 2016, Fall 2015
Individual study in consultation with the major field adviser intended to provide an opportunity for qualified students to prepare themselves for the various examinations required for candidates for the Ph.D.

Faculty and Instructors

Faculty

Gregory W. Aponte, Professor. Health and nutrition, nutritional sciences, signaling between the gut and the brain, neuropeptides, G-protein coupled receptors.
Research Profile

Danica Chen, Associate Professor. Aging, stem cell, diseases of aging.
Research Profile

Marc Hellerstein, Professor. Plant biology, health and nutrition.
Research Profile

Dale E. Johnson, Adjunct Professor.

Sona Kang, Assistant Professor.

Ronald M. Krauss, Adjunct Professor. Lipid metabolism, diet, genetics.
Research Profile

Isao Kubo, Professor. Agriculture, insect biology, pest management.
Research Profile

Dale Leitman, Adjunct Professor.

Joseph L. Napoli, Professor. Metabolism, nutritional biochemistry, fat-soluble vitamins, retinoids, retinoic acid, retinol, vitamin A, vitamin D, analytical biochemistry.
Research Profile

Daniel K. Nomura, Associate Professor. Chemical biology, metabolism, toxicology, cancer.
Research Profile

James Olzmann, Assistant Professor. Ubiquitin, proteasome, lipid droplet, ER-associated degradation, ERAD, metabolism, metabolic disease.
Research Profile

Robert Ryan, Adjunct Professor.

Barry Shane, Professor. Plant biology, health and nutrition, nutritional sciences and toxicology.
Research Profile

Andreas Stahl, Associate Professor. Metabolism, obesity, adipose tissue, brown fat, thermogenesis, tissue engineering, diabetes, fatty acid transport, fatty acid, stem cells.
Research Profile

Hei Sook Sul, Professor. Plant biology, health and nutrition, nutritional sciences & toxicology.
Research Profile

Christopher D. Vulpe, Adjunct Professor. Genetics, genomics, ecotoxicology, gene expression, water quality, copper, iron, toxicology, susceptibility, environmental, ecotoxicogenomics.
Research Profile

Jen-Chywan (Wally) Wang, Associate Professor. Steroid hormones, glucocorticoids, molecular physiology, Metabolic Diseases.
Research Profile

Lecturers

Mary Henderson, Lecturer.

Mikelle McCoin, Lecturer.

Kristen Rasmussen, Lecturer.

Emeritus Faculty

Nancy Amy, Professor Emeritus. Nutritional science and toxicology, nutrition, cell metabolism, trace elements.
Research Profile

Leonard F. Bjeldanes, Professor Emeritus. Nutritional science and toxicology, diet and cancer, metabolic regulation.
Research Profile

Kenneth J. Carpenter, Professor Emeritus.

George W. Chang, Professor Emeritus. Microbial biology, health and nutrition, food safety.
Research Profile

Ben De Lumen, Professor Emeritus. Cancer prevention, academic enterpreneurship.
Research Profile

Sharon E. Fleming, Professor Emeritus. Plant biology, health and nutrition.
Research Profile

Janet King, Professor Emeritus.

Angela C. Little, Professor Emeritus.

Susan M. Oace, Professor Emeritus.

Fernando E. Viteri, Professor Emeritus. Plant biology, health and nutrition, nutritional sciences & toxicology.
Research Profile

Mary Ann Williams, Professor Emeritus.

Contact Information

Department of Nutritional Sciences and Technology

119 Morgan Hall

Phone: 510-642-6490

Fax: 510-642-0535

Visit Department Website

Department Chair

Joseph Napoli, PhD

119, 150, or 208 Morgan Hall

Phone: 510-642-0809

jna@berkeley.edu

Department Manager

Holli Griffin

119 Morgan Hall

Phone: 510-642-6490

holligriffin@berkeley.edu

Graduate Student Affairs Officer

Faith Enemark

115 Morgan Hall

Phone: 510-643-2863

faith@berkeley.edu

Undergraduate Advisor

Nicole Lowy

260 Mulford Hall

Phone: 510-642-0542

nlowy@berkeley.edu

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