15950 - Biology and Genetics

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

BIOLOGY MODULE (MODULE 1 - 2CFU):

STUDY OF LIFE

Properties of living organisms; cellular theory; prokaryotes and eukaryotes.

EUKARYOTIC CELL

Shape, size and structure of eukaryotic cells; plasma membrane: structure and permeability; the cytoplasm; the nucleus: DNA, chromatin, chromosomes; ribosomes: structure and function, the system of intracellular membranes: structure and function of smooth and rough endoplasmic reticulum, the Golgi apparatus, the lysosome; mitochondria: structure and inheritance; the cytoskeleton and its ability to define the cell shape and movement.

GENETIC INFORMATION

The structure of DNA; the eukaryotic gene; DNA replication; gene expression information: DNA transcription, maturation of primary transcripts, the genetic code, translation, post-translational modifications and final destination of proteins.

CELL DIVISION AND REPRODUCTION

The cell division: cell cycle and mitosis. Meiosis and reproduction of human organisms.

 

GENETICS MODULE (MODULE 2 - 1 CFU)

Introduction to genetics, gene and genome

Concept of gene, allele and chromosome;  human genome.

Hereditary transmission of characters

Mendel's laws. Mode of transmission of monogenic characters: Autosomal dominant inheritance and autosomal recessive inheritance. Interactions between alleles: incomplete dominance, codominance. Inheritance of the ABO system. Heredity of the Rh system. X-linked recessive inheritance.

Mutations

Definition, causes and types of mutations. Gene mutations: types and effects on the gene product.

Readings/Bibliography

Suggested books:

- Campbell Biologia e Genetica

Jane B. Reece - Lisa A. Urry - Michael L. Cain - Steven A. Wasserman - Peter V. Minorsky - Robert B. Jackson

decima edizione (con e-Text)

Pearson

- Elementi di biologia

Eldra P. Solomon, Linda R. Berg, Diana W. Martin

settima edizione italiana

EdiSES

- Elementi di biologia e genetica

David Sadava, David M. Hillis, H. Craig Heller, May R. Berenbaum

quinta edizione italiana (libro multimediale)

Zanichelli

Teaching methods

Lectures using schemes, figures and educational videos

Assessment methods

At the end of course there will be a written test with exercises and open questions on the teachings of Biology and Genetics,  Biochemistry and Medical Genetics. The student to pass the examination will be sufficient (minimal score 18/30) in all subjects. The final score will be the weighted average of the results obtained in the individual modules of the course.

Teaching tools

Universitarian books
Additional teaching materials will be available in the teacher's web site (https://www.unibo.it/sitoweb/federica.facchin2).

Office hours

See the website of Federica Facchin