Teaching code

4S000089

Teacher

Cristina Bombieri

Credits

2

Language

Italian

Scientific Disciplinary Sector (SSD)

BIO/13 - EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY

Period

INF VR 1° ANNO 1° SEM dal Oct 5, 2020 al Dec 18, 2020.

Location

VERONA

Lessons timetable Moodle Seminars 0

To show the organization of the course that includes this module, follow this link:  Course organization

Learning outcomes

The course aims at provide the basic knowledge of cell biology and human genetics, through the acquisition of the fundamental concepts of biology, functional and molecular principles of cellular processes common to all living organisms, mode of transmission of hereditary characters and molecular basis of genetic diseases, while developing an appropriate language. During the course, human biology aspects of particular biomedical interest will be highlighted.
Upon successful completion, students will have acquired the necessary skills to understand the basic mechanisms that regulates cell activities, reproduction, interactions and to distinguish the different mode of transmission of human genetic diseases.

Program

- Characteristics of the living beings. Origin of life and evolution. Cell Theory.
- Water: characteristics and biological importance.
- Eukaryotic and prokaryotic cell and virus. Structure, function and organization of the cell. Endosymbiotic theory.
- Biological membrane. Cell junctions.
- Cell signaling: stimuli, receptors, signal transduction, cellular responses.
-The human genome: Organisation of DNA in chromosome. Structure and composition of chromosomes; Euchromatin and Heterochromatin.
- Cell cycle and its regulation. Asexual reproduction and Mitosis. Sexual reproduction and meiosis.
- Chromosomal bases of inheritance: Autosome andsexual chromosomes. X inactivation. Normal and pathological human karyotype.
- Molecular bases of inheritance. DNA: structure, function, replication and its role in heredity. Definition of gene. DNA mutation and repair.
- Informational pathway: transcription, RNA processing, genetic code, mRNA translation and protein synthesis.
- Modes of transmission of hereditary characters and Mendel’s laws. Exceptions to Mendelian inheritance. Genetics of AB0 and Rh blood groups.
- Hereditary and genetic diseases. Examples. Somatic mutations and cancer.
- Genomics in medicine. Pedigree drawing and interpretation. Genetic risk. PCR and molecular diagnosis.

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 webpage, dedicated to this teaching, 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.

Examination Methods

Students will be examined on the range of topics listed in the syllabus. The assessment usually involves a written test, to be performed simultaneously to the biochemistry test, consisting of both multiple-choice and open-ended questions. Anyway, the test will be carried out as an oral interview, if the situation during the exam periods makes it difficult to perform a written test. In order to gain access to the biology test, students must have first discharged any training debts relating to the minimum biology knowledge.
To pass the Biology test, students shall demonstrate to possess the comprehension and the knowledge of the topics covered in the course, skills of reasoning and personal re-elaboration of notions, accuracy and ability to focus the argument posed by the open-ended questions responding synthetically, exposing their arguments accurately, with clarity, critical evaluation and using the appropriate scientific language. The test will be considered passed if the student gain a minimum of 18/30. The result of the test remains valid only for a single exam and will not be kept for the subsequent exams.