Learning outcomes

To provide a general and updated perspective of General, Cellular, Developmental and Aging Biology, with a particular emphasis on biomedical problems.
To train students to evaluate critically experimental data, through the description and discussion of historical and current relevant experiments.
To introduce students to instruments and techniques employed for the investigation of biological molecules.

Program

Macromolecules common to living organisms: basic characteristics. Life’s origin: the chemical evolution hypothesis (Urey & & Miller experiment).
The evolutionary theory proposed by Darwin. The modern vision of evolutionism. “Nothing in biology makes sense but in
the light of evolution”. The evolution of human species. Model organisms in biology
Three major groups of living organisms: Eubacteria, Archea, Eukarya.
Main characteristics of Prokaryotes: cell structure, cell wall structure, genome, reproduction, habitats, interactions with other living organisms. Cyanobacteria: how they changed the terrestrial athmosphere.
Evolution of eukaryotes, the endosymbiontic theory. Brief recall of organelles structure and functions (from the Citology
module); roles and functions of the cell memebrane. From unicellular to multicellular eukaryotes.
Cell communication, signal molecules. Cell growth and energetic metabolism in brief.
Cell cycle and its regulation. Cell division (mitosis). The nucleus; DNA, chromatin, chromosomes.
Cell death: apoptosis and necrosis.
Ploidy and reproductive strategies; sexual reproduction. Meiosis and human gametogenesis.
Nomal and pathological human karyotype. Methods of prenatal and post natal analysis . Cytogenetic anomalies and
syndromes.
Molecular biology: the historical experiments that led to the discovery of DNA as the genetic material (F.Miescher; Griffith, di Avery, McLeod e McCarty, Hershey e Chase) . The structure of the double helix (R.Franklin, M. Wilkins, J Watson &
F Crick); DNA replication (Meselson & Stahl). Also RNA is an informational molecule (Fraenkel- Conrat)..
DNA polymerase and DNA replication “in vivo”( in prokaryotes and eukaryotes) and “in vitro” (the PCR technique).
Telomerase and telomeres replication. Denaturation, renaturation, hybridization of DNA molecules; molecular probes ,
applications (FISH).
The informational flow: from DNA to proteins. A. Garrod’s studies, the “one gene-one enzyme hypothesis by Beedle &
Tatum, the central dogma of molecular biology. Roles of various RNA species in the informational flow. Gene expression in prokaryotes, polycistronic RNAs, the operons. Gene transcription in eukaryotes, promoters, RNA polymerase II, RNA
processing (splicing mechanism), alternative splicing and its evolutionary significance.
mRNA translation, the genetic code, codons and anticodons, the “wobbling” theory. Protein synthesis in the eukaryotic cell
post-translational modifications, protein sorting and secretion. The regulation of gene expression in eukaryotes.
Chromatin structure and modifications. X chromosome inactivation in female somatic cells. DNA binding proteins which
act as activators/repressors of transcription, DNA binding motives. The role of non-coding RNAs (nc-RNAs)
The beta globin genes cluster: a paradigm of space/time regulation of gene expression
Developmental biology. Master genes (e.g. the HOX selector genes) ; model organisms (Drosophila)
Master genes which act in tooth development
Cell reprogramming: from the beginning to nowadays (the experiments of Briggs, Wilmut and Dolly sheep, S. Yamanaka)
Gene expression and sex determination (SRY and DAX1 genes).
The human genome and its plasticity. Transposable elements, gene families, repeated sequences, pseudogenes. Genome
evolution.
Mutations: pre-adactativity (the replica-plating test by J &E Lederberg); mutations and selection, m. and fitness.
Spontaneous mutations: how do they occur; induced mutations , types of mutagens , mode of action.
DNA repair systems: Proof-read repair, MMR; DSB repair, BER, NER. Ames’ test for the identification of mutagens.
Ionizing radiations, definition of LET and EBR.
Somatic mutations and cancer: target genes in tumorigenesis (proto-oncogenes, oncosuppressor genes, DNA repair genes)
The process of cell ageing: causes, consequences, antidotes.

Examination Methods

Written test (multiple choice quizzes plus open questions) followed by an oral examination. Students can retire from the examination or refuse the prosed score at any time. In both cases they shall enroll again for the whole examination (written and oral)

Teaching materials e documents

•   Programma dettagliato   (pdf, it, 27 KB, 8/2/16)