Biology

GIUSEPPE FABRINI
ALESSIO VALLETTA

General skills
The teaching covers plant cytology, histology, anatomy, reproduction and systematics. The main objective of the teaching is to allow the students to acquire the fundamental knowledge about the structure and functions of plant cells, tissues and organs. Knowledge and understanding of classification methods. Concept of species, taxonomic ranks and nomenclature. Characters with taxonomic value of plant organisms (Cyanobacteria, Algae, Briophytes, Pteridophytes, Gymnosperms, Angiosperms and Fungi). The teaching requires basic knowledge of chemistry and biochemistry acquired in high school, which is considered ascertained by passing the entrance test. The initial contents of the knowledge on the properties of atoms and molecules acquired during the teaching of General and Inorganic Chemistry (taught in the same semester). The teaching includes lectures and laboratory experiences, dedicated to learning basic histological techniques and the use of the optical microscope for observation of cells and tissues.


Specific objectives

A) Knowledge and understanding
-Knowledge of the structural peculiarities of the plant cell, prokaryotic and eukaryotic, with reference to Cyanobacteria, Algae, Briophytes, Pteridophytes, Gymnosperms, Angiosperms and Fungi
-Knowledge and understanding of the various levels of plant organization: cellular, tissue, organ and organism -
- Knowledge and understanding of the main methods to study plant cytology, histology and organography
- Knowledge and understanding of the classification of flowering plants with a phylogenetic approach

B) Applying knowledge and understanding
- be able to use a specific terminology
- practicing problem solving in Plant Biology
- be able to identify plant cells and tissue types in the histological preparations.
-be able to identify and recognize the main morphological characters and use tools (dichotomous analytical keys) for the recognition of plants
C) Making judgements
- acquire the ability to recognize the interrelations between structure and function at different levels of organization, from the subcellular to the organ level
- learning by questioning
D) Communication skills
- be able to communicate what has been learned during the lectures, the laboratory experiences and during the study
E) Learning skills
- learn the specific terminology of the matter
- logically connect the acquired knowledge
- identify the most relevant topics of the matter