Corso di laurea in Ortottica ed Assistenza Oftalmologica

In terms of content, the course aims to provide students with a basic knowledge on the structural and functional organization of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, on the molecular mechanisms underlying the expression and transmission of genetic information, and on the methods of communication cell-cell and cell-microenvironment within the different levels of biological organization. In terms of motivation, the course aims to inspire students in the interest in a deep knowledge of biological processes and the scientific method of investigation.

KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING

At the end of the Module the student must:

• understand the structure / function relationship of the various cellular components and the social organization of cells within the various levels of biological organization;
• acquire basic knowledge on the main mechanisms of molecular regulation of cellular functions and on the main technical-scientific methods for molecular and cellular biology studies.

Written exam: open questions on course topics.

N.B.: Based on the current spacing rules related to the health emergency, and due to the limited availability and capacity of classrooms, each student will have the opportunity to register only for one of the two Biology exams scheduled for the January/February and June/July sessions.

Cell Biology

• The biological macromolecules
• Amino acids - Proteins - Lipids - Carbohydrates - Nucleic acids
• The structure of proteins
• The levels of biological organization
• Prokaryotic cells - eukaryotic cells
• Structural and functional organization of cells
• The structure and functions of biological membranes
• The membrane transport
• The transport proteins and the active membrane transport
• Ionic channels
• Intracellular compartments
• The nucleus - The endoplasmic reticulum - The Golgi apparatus - The mitochondria - The lysosomes - The peroxisomes
• The cytoskeleton
• The sorting of proteins
• Vesicular transport - endocytosis and exocytosis
• Cell communication
• Signal molecules and their receptors
• Cell adhesion
• Cell-cell junctions - Cell-extracellular matrix junctions
• The flow of energy through living matter - Cellular respiration (outline)
• The cell cycle - Mitosis - Meiosis
• The expression of genetic information
  Transcription: from DNA to RNA
  Translation: from RNA to proteins

Exercises
Online group work / activities

• Textbooks (chosen by the student).

Texts for a basic knowledge:
1) Hardin et al. - Becker, THE WORLD OF CELLS. 8a / Ed. - Pearson
2) Cooper: Cell biology. Ed. Zanichelli
3) Solomon, Berg, Martin - ELEMENTS OF BIOLOGY - EdiSES
4) Donati, Stefani, Taddei - Biologia & Genetica. Ed. Zanichelli

Texts for a thorough knowledge:
4) Alberts et al. - The Essential of Molecular Biology of the Cell - Zanichelli
5) Fantoni et al. - Biology and Genetics - Piccin

• Teaching material provided by the teacher (the teaching material presented in class is made available on the course website in PDF format).

• Internet sites suggested by the teacher for in-depth studies and biology videos.