65927 - Animal Biology

Learning outcomes

Knowledge on animal biology and diversity, evolutionary mechanisms and processes, adaptation will be learned by analysing: • the functional morphology of the eukaryotic cell; • the systematics, biology and ecology of animal phyla • the conceptual background and patterns of animal evolution and adaptation. Students will get abilities in: • the morpho-functional description of the eukaryotic cell; • the identification and classification of animal taxa; • the reconstruction of evolutionary relationships among main animal phyla; • the description of conceptual backgrounds, mechanisms and experimental evidence of animal evolution and adaptation.

Course contents

Animal evolution: processes and mechanisms. Eukaryotic chromosomes, mitosis and meiosis, reproduction. Inheritance models. Theories and evidence of evolution. Population genetics and speciation.

Animal diversity. Taxonomy and systematics. Animal body architecture. Classification and phylogeny of animals. Porifera, Cnidaria, Platyhelminthes, Mollusca, Anellida, Echinodermata. The Vertebrate origin: Chordata, Fish, ancient tetrapods and Amphibians, Reptiles, Birds and Mammals.

Exercises on Environmental Animal Diversity:
Through the observation of preserved and taxidermized animals in the teaching laboratory and in the Zoology and Comparative Anatomy museums, the main adaptations of animal taxa to the environments in which they live will be illustrated and understood.

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NEW!!!

The module "Structure and Function of the Animal Cell" will be offered this academic year through 12 hours of recorded video lessons, alongside the twin module "Plant Cell" for the teaching of Vegetal Biology in the second semester.

This module is aimed at students who are enrolled but have weak or incomplete knowledge of the basic elements of eukaryotic cellular biology and need to reinforce them.

The module's objective is to provide skills and general understanding of the functioning and evolution of the eukaryotic cell in relation to the functions carried out by animals in the environments in which they live.

The video lessons for the module are available on the teaching materials website of the course: https://virtuale.unibo.it/course/view.php?id=68805 (Panopto sidebar menu > Completed recordings).

Note: The module "Structure and Function of the Animal Cell" is NOT part of the exam syllabus, but the skills provided are necessary for a full and thorough understanding of the other exam topics.

 

Program of the Module on Structure and Function of the Animal Cell

• Macromolecules: the chemical basis of living beings.

• Animal eukaryotic cell: a functional unit, simple in structure but complex in animal life.

• General characteristics and cellular organization in the biology of systems: compartmentalization, specificity, functional relationships and interactions.

• Cellular and membrane structure, cytosol, nucleus, and endomembrane systems, semiautonomous organelles (mitochondria).

• Principles of cellular organization.

• The dogma of biology: from base sequences to proteins: transcription and translation.

Readings/Bibliography

Genetics and Evolution: Robert J. Brooker, Eric P. Widmaier, Linda E. Graham, Peter D. Stiling. Biologia 2 - Genetica (2011) Ed. McGraw-Hill. ISBN: 9788838660597 e Biologia 3 - Evoluzione (2011) Ed. McGraw-Hill. ISBN: 9788838660733
Animal Diversity: Cleveland P. Hickman, Jr., Larry S. Roberts, Susan L. Keen, Allan Larson, David J. Eisenhour. Diversità animale 18/ed, (2020), Ed. McGraw-Hill. ISBN: 9788838697036

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For the Module on Structure and Function of the Animal Cell, I recommend:

Robert J. Brooker, Eric P. Widmaier, Linda E. Graham, Peter D. Stiling. Biologia 1 - Cellula (2011), McGraw-Hill Edition. ISBN: 9788838660559.

However, any university-level textbook on General Biology or Cell Biology is suitable for the student's independent preparation on the specified competencies.

Teaching methods

Lectures

(practicals will be given in the teaching module held by Prof. Cariani)

Assessment methods

Written test: 10 queries with open answers and conclusive oral examination (not obligatory).

Students with learning disorders and\or temporary or permanent disabilities: please, contact the office responsible as soon as possible so that they can propose acceptable adjustments. The request for adaptation must be submitted in advance (15 days before the exam date) to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of the adjustments, taking into account the teaching objectives.

Teaching tools

Lectures (5 ECTS)
Practicals and visit to evolutionary museums  with specimen observation (1 ECTS)

 

Students who are affected by a learning disability (DSA) and in need of special strategies to compensate for it are kindly requested to contact the Teacher, to be referred to the colleagues in charge and get proper advice and instructions.

Office hours

See the website of Fausto Tinti