57113 - Applied Biology

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student should know: the organization and the main molecular mechanisms of eukariotic cells; the organization of genetic information, its transmission and expression; the reproduction of cells and organisms; the bases of inheritance in man and living beeings and the relationship between ambient and organisms. Moreover the student shoud aquire a scientific language and the concept of scientific method.

Course contents

THE STUDY OF LIFE

Concept of living being and properties; the cellular doctrine; the scientific method; outlines of evolution.

THE CHEMISTRY OF LIFE

Biological role of elements, molecules and macromolecules; structure and properties of water; proteins, nucleic acids, ATP.

THE EUKARYOTIC CELL

Shape, size and structure of the eukaryotic cell; the plasma membrane: the cytoplasm; intracellular membrane system: rough and smooth endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, lysosome, peroxisome; the nucleus: DNA, chromatine and chromosomes; the mitochondria; the ribosomes; the cytoskeleton: actin filaments, intermediate filaments and microtubules; cellular junctions; cell-cell communication.

The skeletal fiber, the cardiac and smooth muscle cell.

THE GENETIC INFORMATION

DNA structure; the human genome; the eukaryotic gene; the DNA replication; the gene expression: transcription, genetic code and traslation.

Mendelian inheritance; complete and incomplete dominance; codominance; multiple alleles; Sex-Determining Genes; mutations.

THE REPRODUCTION

The cell reproduction: cell cycle, necrosis, apoptosys and mitosis.

The organisms reproduction: meiosis, spermatogenesis, ovogenesis, ovarian cycle, uterine cycle, fertilization.

HABITAT
Physical, chemical and biotic factors that define habitat; relationship between genes and habitat.

Teaching methods

Lessons and Laboratory.

Assessment methods

Written (multiple choice and/or open questions) and oral examination.

Office hours

See the website of Raffaella Casadei