90917 - Elements of Animal Biology

Academic Year 2026/2027

  • Teaching Mode: In-person learning (entirely or partially)
  • Campus: Rimini
  • Corso: Single cycle degree programme (LMCU) in Pharmacy (cod. 6342)

Learning outcomes

The course will provide basic knowledge of biology, with particular emphasis on structure, function, reproduction and evolution of the eukaryotic cell, as well as on structure and evolution of selected animal phyla.

Course contents

CHEMISTRY OF LIFE
Ions and molecules of biological interest. Carbohydrates. Lipids. Aminoacids and protein. Nucleic acids.

CELL STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION
Cell theory. Prokaryotic cell. Eukaryotic cell. Plasma membrane. Cytoplasm: cytoskeleton, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, peroxisomes. lysosomes, ribosomes, mitochondria. Nucleus.

MEMBRANE TRANSPORT
Fluid mosaic model. Active, passive, mediated transport. Exocytosis, endocytosis, phagocytosis, pinocytosis.

ENERGY AND METABOLISM
Metabolic pathways. Enzymes. Glycolysis, cellular respiration. Krebs cycle, electron transport chain, oxidative phosphorylation. Fermentation

CELL DIVISION
The genome. Cell cycle. Mitosis, Meiosis. Prokaryotic cell division

GENE EXPRESSION
Structure of DNA. DNA replication. Transcription. Translation. Genetic code.

REPRODUCTION
Asexual reproduction. Sexual reproduction. Parthenogenesis, Gynogenesis, Hybridogenesis.

BIODIVERSITY
Overview on the main animal phyla.

Readings/Bibliography

Slides used for lessons

Any university level text of Biology

Teaching methods

Public lectures

Assessment methods

Oral exam

Teaching tools

Presentations used during the lessons will be available to students

Office hours

See the website of Marco Passamonti

SDGs

Quality education Life on land

This teaching activity contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN 2030 Agenda.