BIOLOGIA

13 CFU - 1° and 2° Semester

Teaching Staff

GIUSEPPINA MESSINA - Module Zoologia Generale - BIO/05 - 7 CFU
CONCETTA FEDERICO - Module Principles of genetics - BIO/18 - 6 CFU

Learning Objectives

Zoologia Generale
GENERAL ZOOLOGY:

Learning objectives: distinction between living and non-living beings, describing the characteristics of living organisms. Provide a framework on the theory of evolution and explain why it is considered a unifying concept in Biology.

Expected learning outcomes: at the end of the course, the student must have acquired knowledge of the biological characteristics of living matter and of its levels of organization; of the chemical composition and organization of the eukaryotic cell; of the functions, the reproductive mechanisms and the evolutionary processes that occur in animals; of the disciplinary lexicon.
Principles of genetics
Main intent of the module of Principles of Genetics is to provide knowledge on the fundamentals of classical genetics, as well as of molecular and population genetics. The proposed training will complement the knowledge given by the other module of the C.I. of Biology and by the other biological courses provided by Bachelor’s Degree in Natural and Environmental Science.

Through the module of Genetics, students in Environmental and Natural Sciences, will acquire knowledge on the analysis of the mechanisms of Mendelian inheritance. They will learn the general principles of population genetics and the methods to analyse alleles’ distribution in natural populations, both in plants and animals ones. Besides, they will acquire basic knowledge concerning DNA structure and organization. Addictionally, they will understand general principles of gene expression. Moreover, they will learn about different types of mutations and their relative phenotypic effects, as well as about ways in which spontaneous mutations arise and their role in the evolution process. Finally, students will acquire the ability of effectively communicating biological themes in a proper scientific language.

Course Structure

Zoologia Generale
- ZOOLOGIA GENERALE
The teaching is divided in to lectures and exercises; the latter provide both recurrent assessment activities and practical laboratories, with observation of microscopic and macroscopic preparations.
Principles of genetics
Teaching is done including interactive classroom lessons, during which powerpoint presentations and scientific videos will be introduced. At the end of each lesson, its effectiveness will be verified through the platform SOCRATIVE and students will be asked to answer 4 or 5 questions, anonymously with their smartphone. Futhermore, Genetics’ exercises classes will take place as well as 2 in itinere examinations. After revision, the in itinere tests will be discussed with the students.

Detailed Course Content

Zoologia Generale
- ZOOLOGIA GENERALE
Chemical composition of living matter: water, mineral salts, carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, nucleic acids. Levels of organization of living beings. The animal cell: plasma membrane, cytoplasm, nucleus. The processes of cell division: mitosis and meiosis. Characteristics of animals, functions and organization: feeding, transport, excretion, interaction with the environment; support and movement; homeostasis (temperature regulation, osmoregulation). Reproduction in Protozoa; sexuality: copulation and conjugation. Asexual and sexual reproduction (amphigonia and parthenogenesis) in the Metazoi; conditions of sexuality (gonochorism, hermaphroditism). Gametogenesis, insemination and fertilization. Hints on embryo development. Post-embryo development and life cycles. Biological evolution: development of evolutionary thought (Lamarck, Darwin, Synthetic theory); natural selection; speciation mechanisms. Origin of life.
Principles of genetics
Classical Genetics: Mendelian principles of inheritanc; genotype and phenotype. Relations between alleles: complete and incomplete dominance, co-dominance and recessivity. Multiple alleles. The Epistasis. The Chromosomal basis of Heredity. Mitosis: chromosome arrangement at different stages of cell cycle. Meiosis: random assortment of chromosomes, crossing-over and gametes formation. Haploidy and diploidy. The Chromosomal theory of heredity: the Morgan experiments. Gene linkage and genetic mapping . The frequency of recombination and the degree of linkage. Probability and statistics to analyze the transmission of Mendelian traits. Expected and observed number in genetic experiments: The chi-square test. The pedigree analysis in the study of inherited traits.

Population Genetics: allele and genotype frequencies. Mendelian populations and Hardy-Weinberg principle for loci with two alleles. Genetic variability and mutations, mechanisms of variation in the genetic structure of populations (outline).

Identification of DNA as molecule of Heredity: Griffith, Avery-McLeod-MacCarty, Hershey and Chase experiments. The structure of DNA and RNA molecules. Complementarity between the base pairs in DNA molecules. The semiconservative DNA replication, general features of DNA replication. Characteristics of the virus, prokaryotes and eukaryotes genomes. Organization of Eukaryotic chromosomes. The human karyotype: main methods to preparation and analysis. The expression of DNA. Organization of prokaryotic and eukaryotic genes. The gene expression. The untranslated genes: the ribosomal and transfer RNAs. The property of the genetic code and the biosynthesis of protein. Analysis of DNA polymorphisms.

Mutations in somatic and germ cells. Molecular basis of mutations: spontaneous mutations and mistakes in DNA replication. Mutagenic environmental factors: physical, chemical and biological agents. Genetic mutations: definition and phenotypic effects. Mutations in the number and in the structure of the chromosome.

Textbook Information

Zoologia Generale
1. De Bernardi ed altri – Zoologia. Parte generale. Ed. Idelson Gnocchi
2. Reece et al. - Campell. Biologia e Genetica. Pearson
3. La Greca M. – Elementi di Biologia e Zoologia Generale. Ed. Ciurca
4. Hickman, Roberts, Keen, Eisenhour, Larson, l’Anson. Fondamenti di Zoologia. McGraw-Hill
Principles of genetics
Russel. GENETICA: UN APPROCCIO MOLECOLARE. Pearson Italia, Milano.

Griffiths e altri. GENETICA: PRINCIPI DI ANALISI FORMALE. Zanichelli, Bologna.

Hartl & Jones. GENETICA IN UNA PROSPETTIVA GENOMICA. Idelson-Gnocchi Editore. Napoli.

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