BIOLOGIA VEGETALE E BIOLOGIA ANIMALE - BIOLOGIA MOLECOLARE M - Z

13 CFU - 1° and 2° Semester

Teaching Staff

ROSARIA ACQUAVIVA - Module Plant and animal biology - BIO/15 - 7 CFU
NUNZIO IRACI - Module Molecular Biology - BIO/11 - 6 CFU

Learning Objectives

Plant and animal biology
Knowledge and understanding: the course provides the tools to describe the fundamental biological structures and processes of the cell and living organisms using appropriate scientific terminology;

Ability to apply knowledge and understanding: the student acquires the skills necessary to understand the importance of variability so that we can distinguish and motivate the difference between living organisms;

Learning skills: the student becomes able to use the knowledge on the basic mechanisms that regulate living matter and living organisms (animals and plants) as a substrate for the study of Molecula Biology and other biological subjects in their Degree Course;

Making judgments: the student develops his critical ability to evaluate the implications and results of innovative discoveries in the field of cell biology and living organisms. The student is encouraged to follow innovative discoveries in cell biology and living organisms by consulting the scientific literature.
Molecular Biology
The students of the course will learn the basic concepts concerning the nature of genetic material, the meaning of the flow of genetic information and the mechanisms that control its maintenance. Students will also be able to discuss simple issues related to the structure of macromolecules that carry genetic information, the mechanisms that allow the maintenance, continuity and quality of genetic information. In addition, students will be able to understand and discuss the principles on which the simplest techniques of biomolecule analysis are based.

Course Structure

Plant and animal biology
The course will be structured in frontal teaching with power point projection and/or short films. During the course there will be exercises and problem based learning. Should teaching be carried out in mixed mode or remotely, it may be necessary to introduce changes with respect to previous statements, in line with the programme planned and outlined in the syllabus.

Information for students with disabilities and / or SLD:
To guarantee equal opportunities and in compliance with the laws in force, interested students can ask for a personal interview in order to plan any compensatory and / or dispensatory measures, based on the teaching objectives and specifications needs. It is also possible to contact the CInAP contact person (Center for Active and Participatory Integration - Services for Disabilities and / or SLD) of the Department, prof.ssa Teresa Musumeci.
Molecular Biology
Frontal lectures.

Should teaching be carried out in mixed mode or remotely, it may be necessary to introduce changes with respect to previous statements, in line with the programme planned and outlined in the syllabus. Learning assessment may also be carried out on line, should the conditions require it.

Information for students with disabilities and / or SLD:
To guarantee equal opportunities and in compliance with the laws in force, interested students can ask for a personal interview in order to plan any compensatory and / or dispensatory measures, based on the teaching objectives and specifications needs. It is also possible to contact the CInAP contact person (Center for Active and Participatory Integration - Services for Disabilities and / or SLD) of the Department, prof.ssa Teresa Musumeci.

Detailed Course Content

Plant and animal biology
Principles of classification of living organisms.

Autotrophy and heterotrophy organisms.

Virus: organization, morphology, main features and the relationship with the ecosystem.

DNA virus and RNA virus. Virus-virus interactions.

Organization of the plant body.

Classification of plants.

Morphology of the animal and plant cells: prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms.

Structure and function of the cell: cell wall, cell membrane structure and function, cell permeability, transport, exocytosis and endocytosis.

Growth of the cell wall. Changes in the cell wall: lignification, mineralization, gelation, pigmentation.

Intracellular structures

Chloroplasts, chromoplasts, leucoplasts: structure and functions. Pigments. Biochemical mechanism of photosynthetic light reactions, photorespiration.

Vacuolar system: origin, development and functions.

Composition of the vacuolar constituents of pharmaceutical interest.

Metabolism: primary metabolites, intermediate metabolites and secondary metabolites.

Characters tissue. Systems of tissues and their classification.

Meristematic tissues or cells.

Adult tissues or definitive: system parenchyma, tegument system, conducting system, segregators system and mechanical system.

Form and structure of the leaf; transpiration, guttation, abscission. Modifications of the leaves.
Form and structure of the flower. Form and structure of the stem. transport function: Xylem and phloem. Form and structure of the root. Secondary growth.

Cell cycle. DNA replication, mitosis, meiosis, mutations in the DNA.

Eterozygous, homozygous and hemizygous, dominant and recessive characters, genotype, phenotype and karyotype, Mendel's laws.

Genetic code, transcription, translation.

Part 1: 1 CFU - 7h

The chemical composition of the cell: water, minerals, cellular macromolecules: amino acids, proteins, lipids, carbohydrates. Principles of classification of living organisms: virus, prokaryotes, eukaryotes and their relationship.

Autotrophy and heterotrophy organisms.

Part 2: 2 CFU - 14h

Difference between eukaryotic cell and prokaryotic cell, Structure and transport in the biological membrane. Organelles: endoplasmic reticulum; Golgi apparatus, mitochondria; Lysosomes, Peroxisomes; Ribosomes, Cytoskeleton; Core, Chromatin and chromosome

Part 3: 2 CFU - 14h

Difference between plant cell and animal cell: Plastids. Overview of Photosynthesis; photorespiration; C3 plants and C4 plants; vacuoles. Primary metabolites, intermediate metabolites and secondary metabolites. Cell wall. Growth of the cell wall. Modifications of the cell wall: lignification, cutinization, suberification, mineralization, gelification, pigmentation. Vegetable tissues: meristematic tissues; Parenchymal tissues and tegumental tissues; conducting tissues; secretory tissues and mechanical tissues.

Part 4: 1 CFU - 7h

Cell division: cell growth, cell cycle and mitosis.Reproduction: asexual reproduction, sexual reproduction and meiosis, gametogenesis, ontogenetic cycles, metagenetic cycle. Overview of genetics: Heterozygous, homozygous and hemizygous, dominant and recessive characters, genotype, phenotype and karyotype, Mendel's laws. Cell cycle. DNA replication, mutations in the DNA. Genetic code, transcription, translation.

Part 5: 1 CFU - 7h

Vegetable organography: Shape and structure of the leaf; stomata, transpiration, guttation, abscission. Modifications of the leaves.
Shape and structure of the flower. Shape and structure of the stem. Transport function: Xilema and Floema. Shape and structure of the root. Secondary growth.
Molecular Biology
The structure of DNA - tautomeric conformations of the bases - the conformations of the double helix - the topology of DNA. The structure of the RNA - classes of RNA. DNA organization in the cell - prokaryotic and eukaryotic genomes - structural elements of chromosomes - nucleosome - histones - molecular aspects of chromosomal duplication and segregation. DNA replication in prokaryotes and eukaryotes - bacterial and eukaryotic DNA polymerases. Mutation and repair of DNA. Transcription into bacteria and eukaryotes - RNA polymerases. RNA maturation - splicing - hints of alternative splicing. The genetic code. Protein synthesis in prokaryotes and eukaryotes - classes of RNA involved in translation - ribosome - stages of translation - hints of egolation of gene expression in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Main molecular biology techniques: electrophoresis of biological macromolecules - hybridization probes - gene cloning - libraries: genomics and DNA - PCR - sequencing.

Textbook Information

Plant and animal biology
1. Solomon, Berg, Martin -Biologia- Ed. Edises
2. D. Sadava, D.V. Hillis, H.C. Heller, M.R. Berenbaum-Biologia-Ed.Zainichelli
3. N.L. Campbell. -Biologia- Ed. Zanichelli
4. Solomon, Berg, Martin -Struttura e processi vitali nelle piante- Ed. Edises
5. Poli F. - Biologia Farmaceutica - II Ed. - Pearson 2019
Molecular Biology
1) "Fondamenti di biologia molecolare", Lizabeth A. Allison, Zanichelli editore;; 2) "Genomi 4", T.A. Brown, ed. Edises

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