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13520 - Animal Biology

Academic Year 2019/2020

                
                        Docente:
                        Fabrizio Ghiselli
                    
                        Credits:
                        6
                    
                        SSD:
                        BIO/05
                    
                        Language:
                        Italian
                    
                        Teaching Mode:
                        Traditional lectures
                        
                            Campus:
                            Bologna
                        
                            Corso:
                            First cycle degree programme (L) in
                            Natural Sciences (cod. 8016)

                            Teaching resources on Virtuale

Learning outcomes

After completing this module, the student will have knowledge on general biology of animal organisms (evolutionary biology, reproduction, embryonic development, nutrition, locomotion, breathing and transport, excretion) through the study of model groups. In particular, the student acquires: - a critical and comparative knowledge on biodiversity in the animal field, - a general overview of the adaptations of animals to the plurality environment.

Course contents

INTRODUCTION
Science and Biology in the social context. Brief history of Biology. Modern Biology. The scientific method.

THE ORGANIZATION OF LIFE
The chemical basis of life. Organic compounds: proteins, carbohydrates, lipids and nucleic acids. The organization of the cell. Biological membranes. Cellular communication.

THE FLUX OF ENERGY THROUGH THE ORGANISMS
Energy and metabolism: biological work, free energy, ATP, energy transfer in REDOX reactions, enzymes. ATP synthesis in the cells: the processes of chemical energy extraction.

CONTINUITY OF LIFE
Chromosomes, cell cycle, mitosis and meiosis. DNA replication. From DNA to proteins: gene espression. Mutations. Regulation of gene expression. Genomes. Gene expression and development.

EVOLUTION
Introduction to the Darwinian concept of evolution. Mechanisms of evolution: evolutionary change in populations. Speciation. Marcoevoluton. Evolution od genes and genomes. Development and evolution (Evo-Devo).

BIODIVERSITY
Understand biodiversity: sistematics and phylogeny. Viruses and subviral agents. Bacteria. Archaea. The origin of eukaryotes. Protists.

ANIMAL REPRODUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT
Asexual and sexual reproduction. Oogenesis and spermatogenesis. Fertilization. Segmentation. Gastrulation.

Readings/Bibliography

E.P. Solomon, C.E. Martin, D.W. Martin, L.R. Berg
FONDAMENTI DI BIOLOGIA (Edizione VII/2017)
(Volume unico)
Ed. EdiSES

D. Sadava, D.M. Hillis, H.C. Heller, S. Hacker
BIOLOGIA (Edizione V/2019)
(Volumi 1, 2, 3)
Ed. Zanichelli

H. Curtis, N.S. Barnes, A. Schnek, A. Massarini
INVITO ALLA BIOLOGIA (Edizione I/2017)
(Volume unico)
Ed. Zanichelli

Teaching methods

Lectures

Assessment methods

Written test with both multiple choice and open questions, followed by oral discussion.

Teaching tools

Slides, dedicated group on Microsoft Teams, follow-up material and readings, online contents.

Office hours

See the website of Fabrizio Ghiselli