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GENERAL BIOLOGY AND BIOLOGY OF MICROORGANISMS M - Z
Module APPLIED BIOLOGY

Academic Year 2022/2023 - Teacher: DAVIDE BARBAGALLO

Expected Learning Outcomes

The course aims to provide information to understand the general principles on which life is based. The main educational purposes of the course are the following:
-a knowledge of chemical and molecular fundaments of life
-the study of cell structure and function
-a knowledge of the basic mechanisms of transmission of the genetic information
-the study of the principles of development and differentiation
-a basic knowledge of the biological Kingdoms and of the most relevant model organisms in biotechnology and biomedicine

The main abilities the students should obtain are the following:
- understanding and learning the chemical and molecular bases of life, applying them to the study
of structures and functions of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells
- acquiring the basic information about the mechanisms of replication, transmission and expression of genetic information
- understanding and learning the basic principles of energy production and transformation in living cells
- understanding the basic mechanisms of development and differentiation, applying them to more advanced studies of cell biology and biotechnology
- acquiring basic information about living Kingdoms and on the most relevant model organisms in biotechnology and biomedicine
- develop an ability to communicate the acquired information using a correct terminology
- develop the ability to synthesize the relevant information and to analyse in a logic and critical way the acquired information

Course Structure

The course is organized in 35 hours of frontal teaching through lectures with the aid of slides and videos and 12 hours of on site exercises

If the teaching will be given in mixed or remote mode, due changes could be introduced with respect to what was previously stated, in order to comply with the planned program reported in the Syllabus.

Information for students with disabilities and / or SLD:

To guarantee equal opportunities and in compliance with the laws in force, interested students can ask for a personal interview in order to plan any compensatory and / or dispensatory measures, based on the teaching objectives and specifications needs. It is also possible to contact the CInAP contact person (Center for Active and Participatory Integration - Services for Disabilities and / or SLD) of the Department of Biomedical and Biotechonological Sciences.

Detailed Course Content

Introduction to biology and methods in the Life Sciences. Origin of life and living kingdoms. Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes. General information on the chemistry of living things: carbohydrates and lipids, amino acids and proteins, nucleotides and nucleic acids. Eubacteria and Archeobacteria. Origin of the eukaryotic cell: the animal and plant cell. Eukaryote compartments and organelles: biological entities of uncertain classification. Cell membranes and membrane transport. The eukaryotic nucleus and the structure of the eukaryotic chromosome. Structure and replication of DNA. Transmission of genetic information: the genetic code and the transcription. Ribosomes, translation and protein synthesis. Control of gene expression: post-transcriptional and post-translational modifications. The cytoskeleton and cellular communication. Cell cycle and mitosis, meiosis and gametogenesis. Embryo development and developmental stages in animals. DNA and RNA viruses, retroviruses and prions. The Protists. Energy, metabolism and energy production in living cells. Mitochondria, oxidative phosphorylation and the mitochondrial genome. Elements of plant biology. Photosynthesis, the chloroplast genome and the plant world. Biological bases of the extreme animal diversity and the main animal phyla. The main model organisms and their genomes. In class exercises

Textbook Information

Hillis et al., Fondamenti di Biologia - Zanichelli

Savada et al., Elementi di Biologia e Genetica

It is important to use last issue/edition of the indicated volumes.

Learning Assessment

Learning Assessment Procedures

Oral exam The test consists of an interview in which 3 questions will be asked that focus on at least 3 different topics of the program. The test allows to verify: i) the level of knowledge of the integrated study of the cell and living organisms, as well as of advanced biomolecular technologies, including recombinant technologies and the use of transgenic animals, and of classical and molecular genetics; ii) the ability to apply this knowledge for the resolution of specific problems inherent in the study of Applied Biology (problem solving and autonomy of judgment); (iii) clarity of presentation; iv) the property of scientific language.   For the assignment of the final grade, the following parameters will be taken into account: Grade 29-30 laude: the student has an in-depth knowledge of Applied Biology, can promptly and correctly integrate and critically analyze the situations presented, independently solving problems even of high complexity; has excellent communication skills and masters scientific language. Grade 26-28: the student has a good knowledge of Applied Biology, manages to integrate and analyze in a critical and linear way the situations presented, manages to solve complex problems quite autonomously and exposes the topics clearly using an appropriate scientific language; Grade 22-25: the student has a good knowledge of Applied Biology, although limited to the main topics; manages to integrate and analyze in a critical but not always linear way the situations presented and exposes the arguments in a fairly clear way with a discrete language property; Grade 18-21: the student has the minimum knowledge of Applied Biology, has a modest ability to integrate and critically analyze the situations presented and exposes the topics in a sufficiently clear way although the property of language is poorly developed; Exam not passed: the student does not have the minimum required knowledge of the main contents of the course. The ability to use the specific language is very little or nothing and is not able to independently apply the acquired knowledge.   The assessment of learning can also be carried out electronically, if the conditions require it.
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