Science and Technology for the Conservation of Cultural Heritage

Activity type

Discipline delle scienze della terra e della natura

SSD

BIOS-01/B

Year

1st year

Semester

2nd semester

CFU

3

Hours distribution

16 classroom hours, 12 laboratory hours

Lecturers

LAURA PARDUCCI

Activity type

Discipline delle scienze della terra e della natura

SSD

BIOS-05/A

Year

1st year

Semester

2nd semester

CFU

3

Hours distribution

24 classroom hours

Lecturers

LAURA PARDUCCI

The course aims to provide students with the conceptual and methodologicaltools for the application of biological analyses to Cultural Heritage.By the end of this course students will have the knowledge to identify biological materials of which an artwork is made as well as biological agents deterioranting artworks and strategies to control them for Cultural Heritage conservation.

Second module:
Students will be able to reconstruct past cultural landscapesand the impact of human populations on the environment, through advanced techniques.

A - Knowledge and understanding
OF 1) Provide students with a solid theoretical and methodological foundation for applying biological sciences to the study and preservation of cultural heritage.
OF 2) Identify main biological agents responsible for the biodeterioration of artworks, and understand mechanisms of action to develop appropriate conservation and prevention strategies.
OF 3) Gain familiarity with biological analysis techniques, from traditional methods to advanced approaches such as metabarcoding and metagenomics, applied to both modern and ancient DNA.
OF 4) Understand advanced methods used to study biodeterioration with a focus on the impact of human activities on cultural heritage.
OF 5) Deepen knowledge of genetic diversity, molecular markers, and bioinformatic tools for the identification of organisms involved in deterioration processes.


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B - Application skills
OF 7) Apply DNA analysis methods to cultural heritage, with a specific focus on diagnostics and the conservation of artworks.
OF 8) Perform basic laboratory techniques, such as DNA extraction, PCR amplification, DNA fingerprinting and sequencing.
OF 9) Develop practical skills in laboratory work, write short scientific reports, and present research findings in the form of seminars.
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C - Autonomy of judgment
OF 10) Assess the extent of biodeterioration in cultural heritage items, identifying the main biological agents responsible for the damage using molecular approaches.
OF 11) Integrate theoretical and practical knowledge to propose scientifically grounded conservation strategies.
OF 12) Be able to scientifically assess the level of biological deterioration in cultural heritage, considering the type of material and its conservation environment.
OF 13) Develop the ability to design and plan a laboratory dedicated to ancient DNA analysis, taking into account technical, logistical, and biosafety considerations.
D - Communication skills
OF 14) Be able to effectively communicate the results of biological analyses applied to cultural heritage, using terminology appropriate to scientific and multidisciplinary contexts.
OF 15) Develop oral and written presentation skills in English, to convey findings to diverse audiences, such as specialists, conservators, and non-academic stakeholders.


E - Ability to learn
OF 16) Develop the ability to stay updated in the field of biological methods applied to cultural heritage, including through the use of international scientific databases such as GenBank and BOLD.
OF 17) Acquire project and critical thinking skills to design and organize research activities, such as the setup of a laboratory for DNA analysis.
OF 18) Strengthen the capacity for interdisciplinary learning for effectively addressing the evolving technologies and challenges in cultural heritage conservation.

By the end of the course, students will be able to understand and apply the principles of molecular techniques in the context of cultural heritage, acquiring knowledge of the main methods for analyzing biological materials and the organisms responsible for the biodeterioration of artworks. Based on this knowledge, they will be able to identify the primary biological agents and understand their mechanisms of action in order to propose appropriate conservation and prevention strategies, and will be familiar with methodologies ranging from traditional techniques to more advanced approaches, such as metabarcoding and metagenomics, applicable to both modern and ancient DNA.

Students will also be able to perform basic laboratory techniques, including DNA extraction, PCR, and DNA fingerprinting, developing practical skills in laboratory work, in writing scientific notes, and in presenting results through oral and written seminars in English. They will be able to critically assess the level of biodeterioration in cultural heritage, integrating theoretical and practical knowledge to propose conservation strategies, plan laboratories dedicated to the analysis of modern and ancient DNA while considering technical and biosafety aspects, and contextualize results according to the type of material and the preservation environment.

Basic knowledge in Archaeology, Geography, Geology, Genetics, and Biology is required for enrollment in the course.

Module: GENETIC MARKERS FOR CONSERVATION OF CULTURAL HERITAGE
The course is composed of two modules, each worth three ECTS credits.

The first module focuses on the application of ancient DNA methodologies for the study of animal and plant remains and for the reconstruction of past environments. These approaches are complemented by traditional non-molecular techniques used for the analysis of fossilized animal and plant remains from paleoecological and archaeological contexts, thus integrating advanced and conventional methods to achieve a comprehensive understanding of past environments.

The second module concentrates on the application of DNA analysis to cultural heritage, with particular emphasis on the use of molecular markers. Topics covered include organismal genetic diversity, evolution, tools for identifying living organisms, genetic markers, phylogenetic inference, and key DNA-based laboratory techniques such as DNA extraction, fragment amplification via PCR, DNA fingerprinting, and sequencing.

The order of the modules is not necessarily sequential, as they cover complementary topics and can be presented in a different order.

The practical activities include visits to molecular biology, palynology, and digital microscopy (SEM and 3D) laboratories, the preparation of scientific reports, and hands-on bioinformatic sessions on the use of computational tools for DNA sequence data analysis. The course also features virtual visits to ancient DNA laboratories, providing insights into the methods used to extract and analyze DNA from fossil remains.


Module: ANCIENT DNA AND METABARCODING
The course is composed of two modules, each worth three ECTS credits.

The first module focuses on the application of ancient DNA methodologies for the study of animal and plant remains and for the reconstruction of past environments. These approaches are complemented by traditional non-molecular techniques used for the analysis of fossilized animal and plant remains from paleoecological and archaeological contexts, thus integrating advanced and conventional methods to achieve a comprehensive understanding of past environments.

The second module concentrates on the application of DNA analysis to cultural heritage, with particular emphasis on the use of molecular markers. Topics covered include organismal genetic diversity, evolution, tools for identifying living organisms, genetic markers, phylogenetic inference, and key DNA-based laboratory techniques such as DNA extraction, fragment amplification via PCR, DNA fingerprinting, and sequencing.

The order of the modules is not necessarily sequential, as they cover complementary topics and can be presented in a different order.

The practical activities include visits to molecular biology, palynology, and digital microscopy (SEM and 3D) laboratories, the preparation of scientific reports, and hands-on bioinformatic sessions on the use of computational tools for DNA sequence data analysis. The course also features virtual visits to ancient DNA laboratories, providing insights into the methods used to extract and analyze DNA from fossil remains.

Module: GENETIC MARKERS FOR CONSERVATION OF CULTURAL HERITAGE
Material available during the course on the e-learning Moodle platform.


Module: ANCIENT DNA AND METABARCODING
Material available during the course on the e-learning Moodle platform.

Module: GENETIC MARKERS FOR CONSERVATION OF CULTURAL HERITAGE
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Module: ANCIENT DNA AND METABARCODING
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The course consists of approximately 48 hours of lectures, with around 24 hours dedicated to practical exercises, including seminars with oral presentations conducted in the classroom and hands-on laboratory work. Laboratory activities related to ancient DNA, where direct access is restricted due to the high risk of contamination, will be conducted virtually.

The lessons and the practical part of the course provide an overview of the main topics. Attendance at lessons is not compulsory but it is desirable: frequent absences result in a lesser ability to answer exam questions.

An intermediate project, consisting of a short (15-minute) oral presentation of a selected scientific paper (25%), and a final oral examination (75%), assess the student’s understanding of the course topics.

Explain the main characteristics of ancient DNA and discuss its role in the study of environmental and evolutionary changes that occurred during the Quaternary.

Describe the main steps involved in extracting DNA from ancient sediments. What specific precautions must be taken in an ancient DNA laboratory compared to a modern laboratory?

Explain how DNA-based techniques can be applied to the study of cultural heritage. Which molecular markers and bioinformatic tools can be used, for example, to identify organisms such as fungi responsible for the biodeterioration of an artwork?

Compare traditional non-molecular methods with advanced DNA-based techniques for the study of ancient biological materials. What are the advantages and limitations of each approach?

Describe how to conduct a complete analysis on an archaeological specimen (for example, lichens attacking an ancient wall) or on an artistic material, from sample collection to the generation and interpretation of genetic data. What are the main steps to follow, and which challenges should be considered?

Module: GENETIC MARKERS FOR CONSERVATION OF CULTURAL HERITAGE

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