Teaching code

4S000031

Credits

6

Coordinatore

Cristina Bombieri

Language

Italian

Moodle Seminars

The teaching is organized as follows:

Learning outcomes

L’insegnamento si propone di fornire le conoscenze di scienze di base quali biologia, genetica, bio-chimica e fisica, pre-requisito per ulteriori approfondimenti specialistici che saranno oggetto degli in-segnamenti successivi. Verrà fornita una preparazione culturale rispetto alla biologia cellulare (caratte-ristiche strutturali, funzionali e molecolari dei processi cellulari comuni a tutti gli organismi viventi e loro interazioni), alla biochimica (dalle basi di chimica organica ai principali processi biochimici), alla fisica applicata (meccanica e fluidodinamica) e alla genetica medica (tipi di ereditarietà mendeliana e tra-smissione delle malattie genetiche nell’uomo)

Program

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MM: BIOCHIMICA
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- Organic chemistry: nomenclature of organic compounds and recognition of functional groups. - Carbohydrates: monosaccharides, disaccharides, polysaccharides, glycogen, starch, cellulose, glycosaminoglycans, proteoglycans and glycoproteins. - Proteins: amino acids, protein structure levels, peptide bond, alpha-helix, beta-sheet, globular protein, myoglobin and hemoglobin, allosteric regulation. - Enzymes: Classification of enzymes, active site, specificity and isoenzymes, cofactors and coenzymes, vitamins, regulation of enzyme activity, allosteric enzymes. - Lipids: lipids and their functions, acylglycerols fatty acids, phospholipids, terpenes, steroids, cholesterol, fat-soluble vitamins, eicosanoids, lipoproteins. - Introduction to metabolism: catabolism and anabolism, ATP and phosphocreatine, coenzymes redox (NAD+ and FAD), redox reactions, metabolic pathways, metabolic intermediates, regulating metabolism, coupled reactions, signs of genetic defects of metabolism. - Carbohydrate metabolism: glycolysis and its regulation, pentose phosphate pathway, alcoholic and lactic fermentation, synthesis of acetyl-coenzyme A, oxidative decarboxylation of pyruvate, Krebs cycle and its regulation, gluconeogenesis and its regulation, Cori cycle, glycogenolysis and glycogen synthesis, hormone regulation (glucagon, insulin and adrenaline), diabetes mellitus. - Oxidative phosphorylation: mitochondrial respiratory chain, standard reduction potential, electron transport and proton pumps, mitochondrial ATP synthase. - Lipid metabolism: beta-oxidation of fatty acids, ketones, lipid biosynthesis, acid synthase-fat, cholesterol metabolism. - Metabolism of proteins and amino acids: transamination, glucose-alanine cycle, urea cycle, biosynthesis of amino acids, branched chain amino acids. The frontal teaching is the method adopted in this Course.
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MM: FISICA APPLICATA
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Program Physical quantities, vectors, exercises. Derivative of a function, calculation, examples and exercises. Fermat's theorem and Rolle’s theorem. MECHANICS : Position , displacement , various dimensional motion , rectilinear motion. Average speed and instantaneous speed . Exercises. Acceleration , rectilinear motion uniformly accelerated . Exercises. Laws of Motion ( I, II , III ) .. inertial mass . Weight force . Exercises. Work of a force . Kinetic energy. Kinetic energy theorem . Conservative forces . Potential energy. Gravitational potential energy . Theorem of mechanical energy. Exercises Power . FLUID DYNAMICS : Pressure , density , specific gravity , the law of Stevin , hydraulic press , barometer Torricelli tube manometer open , Archimedes' principle . Exercises. Ideal fluid , stationary bike , motorcycle not turbulent flow . Continuity equation . Venturi . Exercises. Theorem of Torricelli (tank) . Applications . Exercises. Stokes force . Friction in fluids .
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MM: BIOLOGIA APPLICATA
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Characteristics of the living beings. Major themes and fundamental concepts of biology. Origin of life. Cell Theory. Biological kingdoms and domains. Evolution and Natural Selection. Water: characteristics and biological importance. Eukaryotic and prokaryotic cell and viruses: common features and differences. Endosymbiotic theory and evolution from prokaryotes to eukaryotes to multicellular organisms. Structure, function and organization of the cell: main characteristics and functions of organelles and cytoskeleton. Role of internal compartmentalization. The human genome: Organisation of DNA in chromosomes. Structure and organisation of chromosomes. Nucleosomes and packed chromosome. Euchromatin and Heterochromatin. Cell cycle: definition, significance of the phases and regulation. Hints about cell death and staminal cells. Cell division. Asexual reproduction and Mitosis. Sexual reproduction and meiosis. Crossing-over. Human gametogenesis. Chromosomal bases of inheritance: Autosome and sexual chromosomes. Dosage compensation and X inactivation in Mammals. Molecular bases of inheritance. DNA: structure, function, replication and its role in heredity. Definition of gene. Informational pathway: transcription, RNA processing (splicing), genetic code, RNA translation and protein synthesis. Hints about regulation of gene expression in eukaryotes. DNA mutation. Different classes of mutations. Spontanous mutations. Mutations induced by chemicals or physical agents. Mendelian genetics and Heredity. Definition of phenotype, genotype, locus, gene, allele, domin ant, rtecessive, homozygote and heterozygote. Mendel’s laws. Allele segregation and independent assortment of genes. Gene – chromosome relationship: independence and association; genetic recombiantion. Genetics of AB0 and Rh blood groups. Attendance to lessons is mandatory, as specified on the teaching regulation. The course will be delivered through frontal lessons covering the whole exam program and aimed at achieving the learning outcomes of the course. Students can use one of the recommended text-books, at their own choice. Further insights may be added to the teaching webpage on the university e-Learning platform, throughout the course. During the whole Academic Year, students may request personal reception to the teachers, by e mail or phone.
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MM: GENETICA MEDICA
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Genomics, Genetics, Epigenetics The human genome. Pedigrees. Mendelian inheritance. Non traditional inheritance. Cytogenetics Standard human karyotype. Anatomy of human chromosomes. Molecular cytogenetics (FISH, aCGH). Numerical and structural chromosome anomalies. Clinical genetics and bioethics Genetic counseling. Prenatal diagnosis. Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD). Genetic testing. Stem cells and regenerative medicine. Bioethic and social issues. Goals Basic knowledge of human genetics. Understanding of the principles of hereditary transmission of normal and abnormal traits, as well as the origin of biological hereditary variation.

Bibliography

Examination Methods

The exam consists of 4 written tests, one for each module, based on all the issues covered throughout the course. Tests can be passed separately as long as they are within the same academic year.
For each academic year, 5 periods are available to take the exams: 2 in the Winter Session at the end of the course, 2 in the Summer Session and 1 in the Autumn Session.
Students must have first discharged their training debts, before taking the exam.
To pass the exam, students must get a score of not less than 18/30 in each test. The final mark (/out of 30) willl derive from the weighted average over credits of each single test score. Students can retire or refuse the proposed score: in such case, any partial credit will be canceled and the students shall enroll again for the whole examination (all the 4 tests).
See the forms of each single module for more details.