05095 - Biology

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course students will know the principles of Biology with special attention to cell division, zoology and taxonomy of highly valuable species. Students will be able to recognize main aquatic invertebrates and vertebrates of aquaculture and fishery.

Course contents

1. Biology, general principles -  Living organisms: prokaryota and eukaryote, autotrophic and heterotrophic. Definition of “Animal”. Principles of taxonomy: species concept, speciation, main systematic categories, binomial nomenclature. Principles of cellular biology: prokaryotic cells, eukaryotic cells, nucleic acids, DNA replication, cell replication: mitosis and meiosis, spermatogenesis and oogenesis, biological meaning of meiosis. Animal reproduction. Sexuate and asexuate processes, fecundation, embryogenesis, metagenesis, hermaphroditism, parthenogenesis, heterogony.

2. Zoology - Systematics of the main aquatic groups and their relevance for the economic and health sectors. Animal body architecture. Classification and phylogeny of animals. Porifera, Cnidaria, Ctenophorea, Mollusca, Anellida, Artropoda (with focus on Crustacea), Echinodermata. The Vertebrate origin: Chordata. Cartilaginous Fish, Bony Fish (with insights of the main orders). Amphibians, Marine Reptiles, Marine Birds and Marine Mammals.

3. Elements of botany - Structure of plant cell. Introduction to plant physiology. Classification of algae: general criteria. Of each division will be processed morphology, reproductive mode, classification, ecology and economic and/or importance for human health.

Readings/Bibliography

The course is held in Italian language. All teaching material (mainly ppt slides) is available on line at Virtuale.

Recommended books (any edition):

• CLEVELAND, HICKMAN, ROBERTS, LARSON, L'ANSON - Fondamenti di zoologia - McGraw-Hill
• CLEVELAND, HICHMAN, ROBERTS, LARSON - Diversità animale - McGraw-Hill

Recommended atlas of Marine Fauna and Flora:

• Fauna e flora del Mediterraneo, di Rupert Riedl, Muzzio Ed.;
• Atlante della Fauna e Flora Marina dell'Adriatico nord-occidentale, di Attilio Rinaldi, Editrice la Mandragora;
• Guida della fauna marina costiera del Mediterraneo, di Wolfgang Luther e Kurt Fiedler, Muzzio Ed.;
• Fauna del Mediterraneo. Ediz. illustrata, di G. Nikiforos, Giunti ed.

Further books:

*Biologia / David Sadava, David M. Hillis, H. Craig Heller, Sally Hacker. - 5. ed. italiana sulla 11. ed. americana. - Bologna : Zanichelli, 2019

*La cellula / David Sadava ... [et al.]. - 5. ed. italiana condotta sulla 11. ed. americana. - Bologna : Zanichelli, 2019. ISBN: 9788808338594

*L'ereditarietà e il genoma / David Sadava ... [et al.]. - 5. ed. italiana condotta sulla 11. ed. americana. - Bologna : Zanichelli, 2019. ISBN: 9788808955289

*L'evoluzione e la biodiversità / David Sadava ... [et al.]. - 5. ed. italiana condotta sulla 11. ed. americana. - Bologna : Zanichelli, 2019. ISBN: 9788808289650

*La biologia degli animali / David Sadava ... [et al.]. - 5. ed. italiana condotta sulla 11. ed. americana. - Bologna : Zanichelli, 2019. ISBN: 9788808202529

*L'ecologia / David Sadava ... [et al.]. - 5. ed. it. condotta sulla 11. ed. americana / a cura di Luciana Migliore. - Bologna : Zanichelli, 2019. ISBN: 9788808799647

Teaching methods

Teacher-led lessons, laboratory classes, interactive sessions, educational tours.

During the laboratory classes it is recommendend the lab coat. Additional protective equipmentwill be provided.

All the activities proposed are equally important to pass the final exam.

NB: the attendance of this training activity requires the prior participation of all students to online health and safety course, modules 1 and 2, both in e-learning.

Assessment methods

The final exam aims to assess the achievement of main learning outcomes, which are indicated in the first paragraph.

To this purpose, the candidate's preparation will be assessed by a written test in Italian language on issues covered during lessons (see Course Content paragraph for details). The test will consist in 26 multiple-choice questions (miximum 1 point for each correct answer), and a single opened question to be fulfilled as a short essay (10-15 rows, 0 to 4 points depending on the quality of the essay in terms of language property, knowledge of the subject, connection skills). In 5 strategic multiple-choice questions (mainly general biology subjects), a penalty of 20% will be issued for each wrong answer. The test is passed with at least 18/30. Honors can be awarded in case of achieving the highest score (30/30). 

Students may reject the vote one time and rejection must be communicated within 24 hours. In case of rejection or failure, it took 3 weeks before next test, to ensure the candidates enough time to improve their knowledge. If no rejection are notified by the candidate, the test results will be transfered to the referring Professor for the final verbalization. 

At least 15 days before the examen, special needs students must contact me by email, with the assigned referring staff in cc, explaining which compensatory measure they need. Applications that do not comply with the abovementioned requirement, will be rejected.

Teaching tools

Powerpoint presentations. Lectures will be supplemented by practical laboratory which purpose is to give the students the opportunity to observe the animals that have been described during the teacher-led lessons. Educational visits planned too.

Office hours

See the website of Ilaria Guarniero