15950 - Biology and Genetics (B)

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.

Course contents

Modern Biology introduction

The cellular and molecular biology.
Properties of living organisms; relationship between organisms and their ambient.
The Biology Science evolution from cellular theory and microscopy to System Biology.
Genome, transcriptome, proteome, metabolome: new topics in medical science.
Genomics and post-genomics methods of the translational Medicine.

The eukariotic cells and their properties

The cell theory. Shape, size and structure of eukaryotic cells. Theories on the origin of life. Genes and genomes evolution. The origin of cellular organels and pluricellularity. Criteria of classification of the organisms.

The genome information structure and the gene expression controls

The nucleus: DNA, chromatin, chromosomes. The ipothesis of chromosomal territories. New informative codes: histone code and nucleosome code. Epigenetic: a new frontier in the cellular information knowledge. Mechanisms of gene expression regulation. Levels of control: transcriptional, post-transcriptional, translational and post-translational events. The non coding genes: ncRNAs. Function in silencing of human genes.

Cell differentiation

Differentiation and gene expression during the early organisms development.
Cells interactions and comunication. Cell-cell interactions (induction and lateral inhibition) and cytosolic determinants.

Cell division and cell death

The cell cycle: phases and mechanisms of control.
Cycline dependent kinase and their function.
The brakes of cell cycle: p53.
The induction of cell division: growth factors. EGF signalling.
Apoptosis: role in the organisms's omeostasis.
Different pathways and functions between necrosis and apoptosis.

Cancer biology

Aberrations on cellular functions and pathology.
Cancer genetics. Oncogenes, oncosoppressors and caretaker genes.
New molecular targets in therapy: the translational medicine.

Reproduction

The two main strategies: sexual and asexual reproduction.
Gamets and their production. Human fertilization phases and molecules.

Readings/Bibliography

Teaching methods

Assessment methods

Teaching tools

Links to further information

http://apollo11.isto.unibo.it/

Office hours

See the website of Flavia Frabetti