13520 - Animal Biology

Learning outcomes

After completing this module, the student will have knowledge on general biology of animal organisms (evolutionary biology, reproduction, embryonic development, nutrition, exercise, breathing and transport, excretion) through the study of model groups. In particular, the student acquires: - a critical and comparative knowledge on biodiversity in the animal field, - a general overview of the adaptations of animals to the plurality environment.

Course contents

STRUCTURAL AND FUNCTIONAL ORGANIZATION OF THE CELL.
Prokaryotes: structure. The Eukaryotic cell. Cell membrane. Active, passive, mediated transport, etc. Exocytosis, endocytosis, phagocytosis, pinocytosis. Golgi apparatus, peroxisomes. Mitochondrion. Glycolysis, cellular respiration. Krebs cycle, electron transport chain, oxidative phosphorylation. Cytoskeleton, microfilaments, microtubules, intermediate filaments. Actine, Tubuline. Structure of cilia and flagella. Nucleus. Structure of the nuclear membrane. Chromatine structure. Nucleosomes. Ribosomal DNA organization. Nucleolus. Genome. Genome size. Gene duplications. Repetitive sequences. Transcription. Translation. Messenger RNA. Transfer RNA. Ribosomal RNA. Ribosomes. Protein synthesis. Genetic code.
Cell cycle. Mitosis, Meiosis. Somatic and germ line. Asexual reproductions. Sexual reproduction. Gametogenesis. Fecundation. Parthenogenesis, Gynogenesis, Hybridogenesis.

HEREDITY AND EVOLUTION

Mendel. Codominace, incomplete dominance. Recombination. Gene maps. Sex linked heredity. Gene interactions. Pleiotrophy, Quantitative heredity. Lethal alleles. Penetrance. Expressivity. Point mutations. Chromosome mutations. Genomic mutations. Human aneuploidies. Evidences of Evolution. Darwin. Natural selection. Modern synthesis. Non-adaptative evolution. Gradualism in evolution. Speciation.

THE ORIGIN OF LIFE
Origin of life. Prebiotic synthesis of organic molecules. Miller. Life history on Earth.

Readings/Bibliography

- Morris, J.M., Hertl, D.L., Knoll, A. H., Lue R. A. & Michael, M. - BIOLOGIA - COME FUNZIONA LA VITA. Ed. Zanichelli

- Donati, Stefani, Taddei - BIOLOGIA & GENETICA - Anno 2019 Ed. Zanichelli

- D.E.Sadava. D. M. Hillis H. C. Heller. M. R. Berenbaum -ELEMENTI DI BIOLOGIA E GENETICA Ed. Zanichelli

- Curtis, Barnes, Schnek, Massarini - INVITO ALLA BIOLOGIA Ed. Zanichelli

- Solomon-Berg-Martin FONDAMENTI DI BIOLOGIA Ed. Edises

-Campbell-Reece et al. PRINCIPI DI BIOLOGIA Ed. Pearson

- Solomon P.S. - Berg L.R. - Martin D.W. BIOLOGIA Ed. Edises

Teaching methods

Front lessons

Assessment methods

The examination focuses on the achievement of the formative purpose. The grade is determined on the basis of a written test and an oral examination.

Teaching tools

Videoprojector - Power Point

Office hours

See the website of Antonio Bonfitto