13520 - Animal Biology

Learning outcomes

Students acquire basic skills in animal biology with emphasis toward on the eukaryotic cell composition, structure and function and on the basic anatomical, biochemical, physiological knowledge of animal structure and function.

Course contents

Unit 1. Eukaryotic cell: morpho-functional unit of life and living-environment interaction

1. Biological macromolecules: form and function for new emerging properties of life.
2. The animal eukaryotic cell: specialized forms and functions for a highly efficient response to environmental changes and treatments. Biological endomembrane system: form and function of membranes for intra- and inter-cellular compartmentalization and communication; functional districts and organelles: structure and functions of the nucleus, ribosomes, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, lysosomes, peroxisomes; mitochondria, cytoplasm, cytoskeleton; cell junctions and extracellular matrix.

Unit 2. Diversity of animal life: mechanisms of heredity and evolution of life

1. Evolution, Unity and Diversity of living beings. Animal phyla.
2. Molecular and cellular processes that generate the diversity of living beings: DNA duplication; point mutations; cell division and differentiation; mechanisms controlling cell division; mitosis, cell proliferation, cloning and stem cells; meiosis, genetic diversity, evolution; somatic and germ lines; life cycles; sexual, asexual and unisexual reproduction.
3. Gene, chromosomal and genomic mutations: origin and consequences.
4. Heredity and genetics: gene, allele, trait, genotype and phenotype; simple models of heredity: Mendelian genetics. Deviations from Mendelian genetics: incomplete dominance and codominance; multiple alleles; gene interaction and epistasis, quantitative inheritance; pleiotropy. Molecular bases of heredity: sex-linked inheritance; gene linkage or association; gene maps; genomic imprinting.

Readings/Bibliography

Ed. Pearson. Campbell. Biology and Genetics 12/Ed. • With MyLab, Authors L. A. Urry - M. L. Cain - S. A. Wasserman - P. V. Minorsky - R. B. Orr (print version ISBN 9788891905567; digital version ISBN 9788891905567B)

Teaching methods

Traditional teaching: lectures

Flipped classroom: classroom discussion and ongoing assessment of learning

Self-study on the MyLab platform with self-assessment exercises, videos (Bioflix), quizzes and audio.

Assessment methods

Written test.

VERY IMPORTANT: Students with learning disorders and\or temporary or permanent disabilities: please, contact the office responsible (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students) [(https:/site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students)] as soon as possible so that they can propose acceptable adjustments. The request for adaptation must be submitted in advance (15 days before the exam date) to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of the adjustments, taking into account the teaching objectives.

Teaching tools

Slides to support the cultural and scientific background of the course (SLIDES ALONE ARE NOT SUFFICIENT FOR UNIVERSITY PREPARATION).

Supplementary teaching materials provided by the MyLab platform (exercises, videos, quizzes, audio) and by the lecturer for self-study.

Office hours

See the website of Martina Rossi