Teaching code

4S000166

Teacher

Elisabetta Trabetti

Credits

2

Language

Italian

Scientific Disciplinary Sector (SSD)

BIO/13 - EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY

Period

1 SEMESTRE PROFESSIONI SANITARIE dal Oct 1, 2021 al Dec 23, 2021.

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 purposes are:
• to provide basic knowledge about structural, functional and molecular principles of living organisms, in an evolutionary view of life
• to provide basic knowledge on the fundamental concepts of genetics and transmission of hereditary characters in humans, even through specific examples of genetic defects.
At the end of the course, students should demonstrate to have acquired the knowledge for basic mechanisms which regulate intra/intercellular activities, cellular interactions and reproduction, and cause mutations. They should also demonstrate to be familiar with Mendelian genetics and particularly with pathologic trait in humans. Moreover, students should demonstrate their capability to expose reasoning in a critical and precise manner using appropriate scientific language.

Program

• Characteristics of the living beings, their hierarchical organization and classification into Kingdoms and Domains. Origin of life on earth and cell theory.
• The properties of water. Comparison between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell and viral agents. The endosymbiotic theory, the evolution from prokaryotes to eukaryotes up to multicellular organisms. Darwinian concept of evolution, neo-Darwinism and scientific evidence of the continuity of life on earth.
• Main structural and functional characteristics of the cell, organelles and cytoskeleton, with particular attention to the roles of the different cell compartments and their interconnections.
• Biological membranes: structure and proposed models; passage of materials across cell membranes: passive transport (facilitated diffusion and simple), osmosis, directly and indirectly active transport, co-transport. Exocytosis and endocytosis. Anchoring, tight and gap cell junctions in animal and plant cells.
• Cell communication: types of cellular communication: endocrine, paracrine, autocrine and iuxtacrine. Different ligand molecules and receptors. Signal amplification and second messengers. Sending and receiving the signal, cellular response.
• Organization of DNA in chromosomes, mitosis and meiosis. DNA and proteins, nucleosomes, heterochromatin, euchromatin, chromosome condensation. The cell cycle and its regulation. Mitosis, meiosis and sexual reproduction
• DNA and its role in heredity. DNA structure and replication.
• Gene expression: transcription, genetic code and translation. Gene definition.
• DNA mutations and mutagenesis
• Hereditary character transmission and Mendel’s laws; definition of phenotype, genotype, locus, gene, dominant and recessive allele, homozygosity and heterozygosity. Segregation and independent assortment. Chromosomal basis of heredity. Independence and association. Crossing-over and recombination. Genetic determination of sex. Dosage compensation in Mammals. Gene interactions. Incomplete dominance, codominance, multiple alleles, epistasis and polygenic inheritance, variable expressivity and penetrance.
• The human genome: karyotype analysis and pedigrees; autosomal recessive, autosomal dominant, X-linked diseases.

DIDACTIC METHOD
Attendance to lessons is mandatory.
Teaching methods consist of frontal lessons. In addition to the suggested texts, additional didactic supports are offered on the e-learning platform of the course.
Students can make an appointment directly with the teacher every time they need it throughout the academic year, by email.
Students are invited to choose a book among those indicated.

Bibliography

Examination Methods

To pass the Biology module the students must demonstrate they acquired the comprehension and the knowledge of the program topics. Furthermore, they must show the capability to expose their reasoning in a critical and precise manner and using appropriate scientific language.
6 examinations are foreseen in the whole Academic Year: 2 in the Winter Session after the Course ending, 2 in the Summer Session, and 2 in the Autumn session.
In order to gain access to the biology test, students must have first discharged any training debts relating to the minimum biology knowledge.
The Biology module exam is a written test based on the topics of the entire course. In particular, it consists of multiple choice questions, plus open questions.
In relation to the exceptionality of the Pandemic situation, the test will be carried out in oral form, if the situation during the exam session makes it difficult to carry out a written test.
The Biology module exam is considered passed if the vote is at least 18/30. It remains valid only within the extra winter session of the next Academic Year. Students can retire or refuse the proposed mark.