Catalogo dei Corsi di studio

Students acquire the knowledge and thinking skills necessary to understand biological problems in a evolutionary perspective. The course will provide students with understanding of the basic mechanisms that operate in eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells, with a focus on gene expression and genetic inheritance.

Programme

Darwinian evolution. Origin of life.
Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.
Biological macromolecules: proteins, nucleic acids, lipids.
Bio-membranes: structural organization and functions.
Energy for cellular activities: glycolysis, structure and function of mitochondria
DNA: structure and replication.
The flow of genetic information: genetic code, transcription and translation.
Regulation of gene expression.
Cell-to-Cell signaling: receptors and signal transduction.

Adopted texts

G. De Leo et al. Biologia e Genetica. EdiSES.
D.M. Hillis. Elementi di Biologia e Genetica. ZANICHELLI.
P. Bonaldo et al. Biologia e Genetica. EdiSES

Exam modes

The final exam is an oral colloquium. Students may be required to write chemical formulas and to solve simple genetics problems. Students are evaluated on the basis of their knowledge and comprehension of the topics of the discipline and as well on the acquisition of critical thinking skills applied to molecular biology and genetics.