15950 - Biology and Genetics (LZ-A)

Academic Year 2018/2019

  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
  • Campus: Bologna
  • Corso: Single cycle degree programme (LMCU) in Medicine and Surgery (cod. 8415)

Course contents

Modern Biology introduction

The cellular and molecular biology.
Properties of living organisms; relationship between organisms and their environment.
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 prokarotic and the eukariotic cells and their properties. The viruses.

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.

Reproduction and Cell differentiation

Human reproduction and fertilization. Differentiation and gene expression during the early organisms development.
Cells interactions and communication. 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.
The two main strategies: sexual and asexual reproduction.
Gamets and their production. Human fertilization phases and molecules.

Cancer biology

Aberrations on cellular functions and pathology.Cancer stem cell. Tumor heterogeneity and cancer cell plasticity.
Cancer genetics. Oncogenes, oncosoppressors and caretaker genes.
New molecular targets in therapy: the translational medicine.

Readings/Bibliography

The book should be of University level and it should take only after the lessons are going to begin. Some suggestions:

Ginelli E, Malcovati M et al. Molecole, Cellule e Organismi. EdiSES, 2016.

Becker WM, Kleinsmith LJ, Hardin J, Bertoni GP. Il mondo della cellula. Pearson Bnjamin Cummings IX edizione/2018.

De Leo G, Ginelli E, Fasano S. Biologia e genetica. Edises III edizione/2013.

or in alternative:

Karp G. Biologia cellulare e molecolare. Edises V edizione/2015.

Fantoni A, Bozzaro S, Del Sal G, Ferrari S, Tripodi M. Biologia cellulare e genetica: parte prima - Biologia Cellulare .Piccin, 2009.

Alberts B, Bray D, Hopkin K, Johnson A, Lewis J, Raff M, Roberts K, Walter P. L'essenziale di biologia molecolare della cellula. Zanichelli IV edizione/2015.

For more details:

Alberts B, Johnson A, Lewis J, Raff M, Roberts K, Walter P. Biologia molecolare della cellula. Zanichelli V edizione/2009.

Lodish H, Berk A, Kaiser CA, Krieger M, Scott MP, Bretscher A, Ploegh H, Matsudaira P. Biologia molecolare della cellula . III Edizione. Zanichelli, 2009.

Modifica

Teaching methods

Frontal lessons, video and discussion of some topics and scientific paper.

Assessment methods

The student must face an oral examination about Biology and Genetics in the same day.

The topics of the exam will be the master argument treated during the lessons and specified in class at the end of the course.

The degree will be the average of the two evaluations.

An interim evaluation could be proposed by the teacher.

Teaching tools

Books, reviews, full paper, video and digital platform for teacher's original schemes and notes.

Office hours

See the website of Flavia Frabetti