Studying at the University of Verona

Here you can find information on the organisational aspects of the Programme, lecture timetables, learning activities and useful contact details for your time at the University, from enrolment to graduation.

Study Plan

The Study Plan includes all modules, teaching and learning activities that each student will need to undertake during their time at the University.
Please select your Study Plan based on your enrollment year.

CURRICULUM TIPO:

1° Year 

ModulesCreditsTAFSSD
12
B
BIO/04
9
A
CHIM/03
9
A
CHIM/06
6
A
FIS/07
6
A
INF/01
12
A
MAT/05
English language competence-complete b1 level
6
E
-

2° Year   activated in the A.Y. 2018/2019

ModulesCreditsTAFSSD
12
A
BIO/10
6
B
BIO/10
12
B
BIO/11
6
C
CHIM/02
6
B
M-FIL/02
6
B
BIO/18
6
A
BIO/19

3° Year   activated in the A.Y. 2019/2020

ModulesCreditsTAFSSD
6
A
FIS/07
6
B
AGR/15
6
C
BIO/04
6
C
BIO/04
One course to be chosen among the following
12
B
AGR/07
12
B
AGR/07
One course to be chosen among the following
6
B
ING-IND/25
6
B
CHIM/10
12
D
-
Training
9
F
-
Final exam
3
E
-
ModulesCreditsTAFSSD
12
B
BIO/04
9
A
CHIM/03
9
A
CHIM/06
6
A
FIS/07
6
A
INF/01
12
A
MAT/05
English language competence-complete b1 level
6
E
-
activated in the A.Y. 2019/2020
ModulesCreditsTAFSSD
6
A
FIS/07
6
B
AGR/15
6
C
BIO/04
6
C
BIO/04
One course to be chosen among the following
12
B
AGR/07
12
B
AGR/07
One course to be chosen among the following
6
B
ING-IND/25
6
B
CHIM/10
12
D
-
Training
9
F
-
Final exam
3
E
-

Legend | Type of training activity (TTA)

TAF (Type of Educational Activity) All courses and activities are classified into different types of educational activities, indicated by a letter.

A Basic activities
B Characterizing activities
C Related or complementary activities
D Activities to be chosen by the student
E Final examination
F Other training activities
S Placements in companies, public or private institutions and professional associations

Molecular biology (2018/2019)

Teaching code

4S00800

Credits

12

Coordinator

Daniele Guardavaccaro

Language

Italian

Scientific Disciplinary Sector (SSD)

BIO/11 - MOLECULAR BIOLOGY

Seminars 0

The teaching is organized as follows:

teoria

Credits

9

Period

II semestre

Academic staff

Daniele Guardavaccaro

Lessons timetable
laboratorio [laboratorio 1° turno]

Credits

3

Period

II semestre

Academic staff

Daniele Guardavaccaro

Lessons timetable
laboratorio [laboratorio 2° turno]

Credits

3

Period

II semestre

Academic staff

Massimiliano Perduca

Lessons timetable

Learning outcomes

The main goal of this course is to provide the students with the basic knowledge of the composition, structure and interactions of cellular molecules, such as nucleic acids and proteins, that carry out essential biological processes in eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells.

Program

THEORY
DNA AND CHROMSOMES
The structure and function of DNA
Chromosomal DNA and its packaging in the chromatin fiber
Chromatin structure and function
The global structure of chromosomes
DNA REPLICATION, REPAIR AND RECOMBINATION
DNA replication mechanisms
The initiation and completion of DNA replication in chromosomes
DNA repair
Homologous recombination
Transposition and conservative site-specific recombination
HOW CELLS READ THE GENOME: FROM DNA TO PROTEIN
From DNA to RNA
From RNA to protein
Protein degradation and the ubiquitin-proteasome system
CONTROL OF GENE EXPRESSION
Control of transcription by sequence specific DNA-binding proteins
Transcription regulators
Molecular genetic mechanisms that create and maintain specialized cell types
Mechanisms reinforcing cell memory in plants and animals
Post-transcriptional controls
Regulation of gene expression by non-coding RNAs
ANALYZING CELLS AND MOLECULES
Isolating cells and growing them in culture
Analyzing and manipulating DNA
Studying gene expression and function
MEMBRANE STRUCTURE
The lipid bilayer
Membrane proteins
TRANSPORT OF SMALL MOLECULES ACROSS MEMBRANES
Principles of membrane transport
Transporters and active membrane transport
INTRACELLULAR COMPARTMENTS AND PROTEINS SORTING
The compartmentalization of cells
The transport of molecules between the nucleus and cytosol
The endoplasmic reticulum
Molecular mechanisms of protein translocation across the ER membrane
INTRACELLULAR MEMBRANE TRAFFIC
Molecular mechanisms of membrane transport
Transport from the ER through the Golgi apparatus
Transport from the trans-Golgi network to lysosomes
Transport into the cell from the plasma membrane: endocytosis
Transport from the trans-Golgi network to lysosomes
Transport from the trans-Golgi network to the cell exterior: exocytosis
CELL SIGNALING
Principles of cell signaling
Signaling through G-protein-coupled receptors
Signaling through enzyme-coupled receptors
Alternative signalling routes in gene regulation
THE CYTOSKELETON
Function of the cytoskeleton
Actin and actin-binding proteins
Myosin and actin
Microtubules
Intermediate filaments and septins
Cell polarization and migration
THE CELL CYCLE
Overview of the cell cycle
The cell cycle control system
S-phase
Mitosis
Cytokinesis
Meiosis
Control of cell division and cell growth
CELL JUNCTIONS AND THE EXTRACELLULAR MATRIX
Cell-cell junctions
The extracellular matrix of animals
Cell-matrix junctions
CANCER
Cancer as a microevolutionary process
Cancer-critical genes: oncogenes and tumor suppressors
Cancer therapy

One credit of the course (corresponding to 8 hours) will be kept for the students to discuss a topic chosen from the research literature in molecular biology.

PRACTICAL:
Subcloning and protein expression:
PCR
Electrophoresis and DNA gel extraction
Plasmid DNA purification
Digestion with restriction enzymes and ligation
Transformation and colony PCR
Heterologous expression of a recombinant protein in E. coli and analysis by SDS-PAGE and Western Blotting.

Bibliography

Reference texts
Activity Author Title Publishing house Year ISBN Notes
teoria Jocelyn E. Krebs, Elliott S. Goldstein, Stephen T. Kilpatrick Lewin's Genes XII (Edizione 12) Jones & Bartlett Pub 2017 1284104494
teoria Bruce Alberts, Alexander Johnson, Julian Lewis, David Morgan, Martin Raff Molecular Biology of the Cell (Edizione 7) Garland Science 2017 0815344643
teoria Nancy Craig, Rachel Green, Carol Greider, Gisela Storz, Cynthia Wolberger, Orna Cohen-Fix Molecular Biology: Principles of Genome Function (Edizione 2) OUP Oxford 2014 0199658579
teoria Harvey Lodish, Arnold Berk, Chris A. Kaiser, Monty Krieger, Anthony Bretscher, Hidde Ploegh, Angelika Amon, Kelsey C. Martin Molecular Cell Biology (Edizione 8) Macmillan 2016 9781464187445
teoria Erik Pierre Molecular Cloning (Edizione 1) Ml Books International 2015 1632394685
teoria Michael R. Green e Joseph Sambrook Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Fourth Edition (Edizione 4) CSHL Press 2012 978-1-936113-42-2
teoria Geoffrey M. Cooper, Robert E. Hausman The cell: a molecular approach (Edizione 6) Sinauer Associates, Inc 2013 978-1-60535-155-1

Examination Methods

Oral examination. The final exam consists of three questions concerning any of the topics treated during the course. It is passed if all answers are positive.

Students with disabilities or specific learning disorders (SLD), who intend to request the adaptation of the exam, must follow the instructions given HERE

Teaching materials e documents