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 and physioterapic interest will be highlighted.
By the end of the course, students will be able to understand the basic mechanisms that regulates cell activities, reproduction, interactions and to distinguish the different mode of transmission of human genetic diseases. Essential knowledge to address the subsequent courses that the student will encounter during the study.

Program

- Characteristics of the living beings. Organization levels of living organisms. Symbiosis. Autotrophy and heterotrophy.
- Water: characteristics and biological importance.
- Structure, function, replication of the eukaryotic and prokaryotic cell. Role of the cell compartmentalisation.
- Biological membrane: structure, properties and function. Passage of materials across cell membranes. Cell junctions.
- Cell communication.
- Cell cycle and its regulation, mitosis, meiosis, cell death. Sexual and asexual reproduction.
- The human genome. Organisation of DNA in chromosome. Chromatin structure and composition.
- DNA: structure, function, replication. DNA and its role in heredity. Definition of gene. Informational pathway: transcription, RNA maturation, genetic code, translation and protein synthesis.
- DNA mutation and repair.
- Chromosomal bases of inheritance: Normal and pathological human karyotype.
- Hereditary character transmission and Mendel’s laws. Mode of genetic information transmission: autosomal and sex-linked heredity. Introduction to transmission of complex characters.
- Hereditary and genetic diseases. Examples. Somatic mutations and cancer.

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 course objectives.
Besides the reference texts, 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.

Examination Methods

Students will be examined on the range of topics listed in the syllabus. The assessment involves a written test, consisting of both multiple-choice and open-ended questions. 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 exam, 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 score of 18/30. Students can retire or refuse the proposed score.

Bibliography

Teaching materials

•   programma biologia 2016-2017   (pdf, it, 123 KB, 26/09/16)