Biology

The Plant Cell module is designed to provide the bases for establishing in vitro cultures for the improvement of vegetal species, for understanding the best biotechnological strategies to create plants for agro-industrial purposes and for genetic engineering as a means to create genetically modified plants. Moreover, the module will provide the knowledge and abilities to use the plant cell as a factory for bioactive compounds of pharmacological, agri-food and cosmetic interest. The specific aims, including those in common and those peculiar to each module, are as follows: Acquisition of knowledge and understanding (acquired knowledge) about: - The main techniques and requirements for establishing animal and plant cell cultures, in terms of laboratory, environmental and feeding conditions for keeping cells in vitro, aimed to basic and applied research. - The main techniques for genetic engineering to modify animal and plant cells in vitro and for obtaining genetically modified plants. - The different types of animal cell cultures, including how to establish primary cultures, how to generate hybridoma cells for monoclonal antibody production and the particular characteristics and needs of stem cells. The different phases of animal and plant cell growth, with a reference to the kinetic laws that describe them and to the methodologies to evaluate viability, proliferation and differentiation of cells in culture. The different types of matrices for animal cell culture, and how these relate to tissue engineering. The main productive systems based on vegetative plant propagation and the use of plants as bioreactors for chemical and pharmaceutical products. The strategies for the improvement of plants with for agro-industrial applications. - How to use biotechnological methods for ex situ preservation of plant germplasms. Developing the ability to apply the knowledge and understanding (acquired skills) to: - Use the correct terminology. Consider the biological phenomena in a multi-scale and multi-factorial context. Identify the right methodologies to solve basic problems dealing with cellular biotechnologies. Identify and develop cell culture systems for research and biotechnological applications. Analyse and solve, in original ways, novel scientific problems, including those that are not exactly within their own experience. Analyse cell growth data relative to cultured cells. Critical thinking Acquire the ability to think critically, through the study of different methodologies and applications of animal and plant cell cultures, including those for the improvement of plants of agro-industrial and gardening interest. To learn how to interrogate one’s own knowledge and so progress in the study of the discipline. To critically analyse the application of animal cell cultures as an alternative to the use of experimental animals. To critically analyse the technological aspects of therapies based on the use of stem cells and monoclonal antibodies. Communication skills - To learn to communicate the required knowledge during the oral examination. E) Learning abilities - To learn the specific terminology. - To connect the new knowledge in a logical way. - To identify the main notions in the arguments studied during the course.