BIOLOGIA FARMACEUTICA - MICROBIOLOGIA A - L
Module BIOLOGIA FARMACEUTICA

Academic Year 2023/2024 - Teacher: ROSARIA ACQUAVIVA

Expected Learning Outcomes

Knowledge and understanding: the course provides the tools to describe the fundamental biological structures and processes of the cell and living organisms using appropriate scientific terminology;

Ability to apply knowledge and understanding: the student acquires the skills necessary to understand the importance of variability so that we can distinguish and motivate the difference between living organisms;

Learning skills: the student becomes able to use the knowledge on the basic mechanisms that regulate living matter and living organisms (animals and plants) as a substrate for the study of Molecular Biology and of other biological subjects in their Degree Course;

Making judgments: the student develops his critical ability to evaluate the implications and results of innovative discoveries in the field of cell biology and living organisms. The student is encouraged to follow innovative discoveries in cell biology and living organisms by consulting the scientific literature.

Course Structure

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. Should teaching be carried out in mixed mode or remotely, it may be necessary to introduce changes with respect to previous statements, in line with the programme planned and outlined 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, prof.ssa Teresa Musumeci.

Required Prerequisites

No minimum prerequisites

Attendance of Lessons

Attendance is compulsory according to the regulations of the teaching regulations of the Degree Course in CTF as indicated in the link: http://www.dsf.unict.it/corsi/lm-13_ctf

Detailed Course Content

Principles of classification of living organisms.
Autotrophy and heterotrophy organisms.
Classification and organization 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.
Cell cycle. DNA replication, mitosis, meiosis, mutations in the DNA.
Eterozygous, homozygous and hemizygous, dominant and recessive characters, genotype, phenotype and karyotype, Mendel's laws.
Genetic code, transcription, translation.
Part 1: 2.5 CFU - 17.5h  
The chemical composition of the cell: water, minerals, cellular macromolecules: amino acids, proteins, lipids, carbohydrates. Principles of classification of living organisms:   prokaryotes, eukaryotes and their relationship. Autotrophy and heterotrophy organisms. 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. Difference between plant cell and animal cell.
Part 2: 2 CFU - 14h 
Metabolism: primary metabolites, intermediate metabolites and secondary metabolites.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 organography:  leaf, flower, root.
Part 3: 1.5  CFU - 10.5h 
Cell division: cell growth, cell cycle and mitosis.Reproduction: asexual reproduction, sexual reproduction and meiosis, gametogenesis, ontogenetic cycles, metagenetic cycle. Overview of genetics: Heterozygous, homozygous and hemizygous, dominant and recessive characters, genotype, phenotype and karyotype, Mendel's laws. Cell cycle. DNA replication,  mutations in the DNA. Genetic code, transcription, translation. 

Textbook Information

  1. Solomon, Berg, Martin -Biologia- Ed. Edises
  2. D. Sadava, D.V. Hillis, H.C. Heller, M.R. Berenbaum-Biologia-Ed.Zainichelli
  3. Solomon, Berg, Martin -Struttura e processi vitali nelle piante- Ed. Edises
  4. Poli F. - Biologia Farmaceutica - II Ed. - Pearson 2019

Course Planning

 SubjectsText References
1 Composizione materia vivente. Acqua e Sali minerali, Amminoacidi e Proteine, Carboidrati e Lipidi, Acidi NucleiciTesti 1, 2
2Organismi viventi, Procarioti, Eucarioti e loro rapporto Testi 1, 2
3Differenza tra cellula eucariotica e cellula procariotica, Struttura e trasporto della membrana biologica.Testi 1, 2
4Organelli: Reticolo endoplasmatico; Apparato di Golgi, Mitocondri; Lisosomi, Perossisomi; Ribosomi, Citoscheletro; Nucleo, Cromatina e cromosomiTesti 1, 2
5Differenza tra cellula vegetale e cellula animale: Plastidi. Cloroplasti. Cenni sulla Fotosintesi; Fotorespirazione; Piante C3 e piante C4; Vacuoli; Metaboliti secondari.Testi 1, 2, 4
6Parete cellulare. Accrescimento della parete cellulare. Modificazioni della parete cellulare: lignificazione, cutinizzazione, suberificazione, mineralizzazione, gelificazione, pigmentazioneTesti 1, 3, 4
7Cenni di organografia vegetale: foglie, fiore, frutto. Testi 1, 3
8Cenni di genetica: concetti di eterozigote, omozigote ed emizigote, dominanza e recessività dei caratteri, genotipo, fenotipo e cariotipo, Difetti congeniti; leggi di Mendel.Testi 1, 2
9Ciclo cellulare. Duplicazione del DNA, mitosi, meiosi, mutazioni a carico del DNA;Testi 1, 2
10Codice genetico, trascrizione, traduzione.Testi 1, 2

Learning Assessment

Learning Assessment Procedures

The exam dates are published on the website of the Department of Drug Science: http://www.dsf.unict.it/sites/default/files/files/ESAMI%20CDLM%20CTF(12).pdf. Learning assessment may also be carried out on line, should the conditions require it. 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, Prof.ssa Teresa Musumeci. 

Examples of frequently asked questions and / or exercises

1) A eukaryotic cell and a prokaryotic cell differentiate because.    
A) The eukaryotic cell has a plasma membrane    
B) The prokaryotic cell lacks a nucleus    
C) The eukaryotic cell can have flagella    
D) The eukaryotic cell can have cell wall    
E) The prokaryotic cell cannot synthesize proteins    
 
2) Which of these characteristics is NOT characteristic of the Golgi complex?    
A) In plant cells, production of cell wall polysaccharides    
B) Processing of proteins    
C) Formation of secretory vesicles containing glycoproteins    
D) Reception of materials from the RE    
E) Accumulation of products of cell digestion