BIOLOGIA VEGETALE E BIOLOGIA ANIMALE A - L

Gain the ability to:

• describe structures and the fundamental biological processes of the cell and of living organisms using appropriate scientific terminology;
• understand the importance of variability so that we can distinguish and motivate the difference between living organisms;
• critically evaluate the implications and results of innovative discoveries in cell biology and living organisms;
• use the knowledge about the basic mechanisms that regulate the living matter and living organisms (animals and plants) as a substrate for the study of other biological materials of their degree course;
• follow the innovative discoveries in cell biology and living organisms by consulting the scientific literature.

The course will be structured in frontal teaching with power point projection and/or short films. During the course there will be exercises and problem based learning.

Principles of classification of living organisms.

Autotrophy and heterotrophy organisms.

Virus: organization, morphology, main features and the relationship with the ecosystem.

DNA virus and RNA virus. Virus-virus interactions.

Organization of the plant body.

Classification of plants.

Morphology of the animal and plant cells: prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms.

Structure and function of the cell: cell wall, cell membrane structure and function, cell permeability, transport, exocytosis and endocytosis.

Growth of the cell wall. Changes in the cell wall: lignification, mineralization, gelation, pigmentation.

Intracellular structures

Chloroplasts, chromoplasts, leucoplasts: structure and functions. Pigments. Biochemical mechanism of photosynthetic light reactions, photorespiration.

Vacuolar system: origin, development and functions.

Composition of the vacuolar constituents of pharmaceutical interest.

Metabolism: primary metabolites, intermediate metabolites and secondary metabolites.

Characters tissue. Systems of tissues and their classification.

Meristematic tissues or cells.

Adult tissues or definitive: system parenchyma, tegument system, conducting system, secretory system and mechanical system.

Cell cycle. DNA replication, mitosis, meiosis, mutations in the DNA.

Heterozygous, homozygous and hemizygous, dominant and recessive characters, genotype, phenotype and karyotype, Mendel's laws.

Genetic code, transcription, translation.

Part 1: 1 CFU - 7h

The chemical composition of the cell: water, minerals, cellular macromolecules: amino acids, proteins, lipids, carbohydrates. Principles of classification of living organisms: virus, prokaryotes, eukaryotes and their relationship.
Autotrophy and heterotrophy organisms.

Part 2: 2 CFU - 14h

Difference between eukaryotic cell and prokaryotic cell, Structure and transport in the biological membrane. Organelles: endoplasmic reticulum; Golgi apparatus, mitochondria; Lysosomes, Peroxisomes; Ribosomes, Cytoskeleton; Core, Chromatin and chromosome

Part 3: 2 CFU - 14h

Difference between plant cell and animal cell: Plastids. Overview of Photosynthesis; photorespiration; C3 plants and C4 plants; vacuoles. Primary metabolites, intermediate metabolites and secondary metabolites. Cell wall. Growth of the cell wall. Modifications of the cell wall: lignification, cutinization, suberification, mineralization, gelification, pigmentation. Vegetable tissues: meristematic tissues; Parenchymal tissues and tegumental tissues; conducting tissues; secretory tissues and mechanical tissues.

Part 4: 2 CFU - 14h

Overview of genetics: Heterozygous, homozygous and hemizygous, dominant and recessive characters, genotype, phenotype and karyotype, Mendel's laws. Cell cycle. DNA replication, mitosis, meiosis, mutations in the DNA. Genetic code, transcription, translation.

1. Solomon, Berg, Martin -Biologia- Ed. Edises
2. D. Sadava, D.V. Hillis, H.C. Heller, M.R. Berenbaum-Biologia-Ed.Zainichelli
3. N.L. Campbell. -Biologia- Ed. Zanichelli
4. Solomon, Berg, Martin -Struttura e processi vitali nelle piante- Ed. Edises
5. Curtis, Barnes, Schnek, Massarini- Invito alla Biologia- Ed Zanichelli