The program focuses on major themes of Biological Evolution of animal and plant organisms.

Probability and its role in the evolution (natural selection vs genetic drift)
Logistic models and their application in conservation biology
How to read and write a scientific article

No textbook indicated -The student can ask the teacher for PDFs of the Power Point presentations

The program focuses on major themes of Biological Evolution of animal and plant organisms.
Light and Life, Evolution of photomorphogenesis, Secondary metabolites of plants, The conquest of emerged lands, plants-insect co-evolution.

PLANT PHYSIOLOGY, Lincoln Taiz and Eduardo Zeiger, editor SINAUER ASSOCIATES (Sixth EDITION; in english language)

- The real field R and its subsets N, Z and Q. Intervals: upper a and lower bounds.
- Inf and Sup, min and max. Theorem of completeness of R. The absolute value of a real number.
- Real function in one real variable. Image and pre-image. Lecture of a graph.
- Composition, translation and absolute value. Injective, surjective, bijective, inverse functions. Symmetries.
- monotonicity, injectivity and related theorems. Lower and upper bounds of functions, local and global extrema.
- basic functions and their inverse (power, exp, logarithm, trigonometric)
- R^2 as a vector space. The scalar product and euclidean plane
- sequences in R: theorems of uniqueness of limit, sign permanence, limit of monotonic sequences, Bolzano-Weierstrass theorem
- equivalence of sequences and properties
- proof of sin(a_n)/a_n —1 when a_n–0.
- o and O
- limit of a functions and related theorems
- continuous functions, theroem of existence of seros, Darboux, sign permanence
- derivative of a function and geometric interpretation. Derivation rules
- characterization of monotonic and convex functions through their derivatives
- primitives and integration
- Riemann integral: construction and example of integrable functions. The fundamental theorem of calculus
- bascs of ODE

Recommended Texts (in italian)

- Elementi di Matematica, Marcellini-Sbordone, Luguori ed. (ATTENZIONE: questo testo non copre tutto il programma)
– Elementi di Calcolo, Marcellini-Sbordone, Luguori ed. (più completo)

Ontherwise any book of Basic Calculus will be fine.

Notes of the project Matematica Assistita - Ariel (Univeristà degli Studi di Milano) download at URL : matematicaassistita.ariel.ctu.unimi.it/ : register as Utente Esterno -- Contenuti -- scegliere l'Argomento

Knowledge and understanding: Knowledge of the principles of cell biology and tissue organization. Acquisition of conscious judgment autonomy with reference to: evaluation, interpretation and contextualization of photographs acquired with microscopic techniques. Ability to communicate effectively and with the correct terminology;
Applied skills: The basic knowledge acquired through the study of cytology will allow students to apply them to the study of tissues. In addition, students will be able to recognize and comment on a preparation or photograph acquired with a microscopic instrument. Finally, this knowledge will allow students to understand the disciplinary insights that will be carried out in the following years.

Cytology.
Cell theory. Methods of studying the cell: the microscope.
Macromolecules: The main carbohydrates of biological interest and their polymers. Notes on glycolysis. The main lipids of biological interest. Amino acids and proteins. Notes on the structure and function of proteins. Enzymes.
Nucleic acids. DNA and RNA structure. DNA replication, messenger transcription and RNA, genetic code, ribosomes and protein synthesis.
Cell membranes: chemical composition, The fluid mosaic model. Intrinsic and extrinsic proteins. Permeability and active transport. Ionic channels. Intercellular junctions: zonula occludens, zonula adherens and desmosomes.
Cytoplasmic and secretory pathway, The endoplasmic reticulum, Origin and sorting of secretory and membrane proteins. Golgi apparatus. Lysosomes, peroxisomes, endocytosis, phagocytosis, exocytosis.
Structure of mitochondria, Probable origin of mitochondria and plastids, DNA in mitochondria, Notes on energy metabolism: respiration.
The cytoskeleton: Microtubules, microfilaments and intermediate filaments. Eyelashes and flagella. centrioles. Cell movement.
The nucleus of eukaryotes, nuclear envelope and nuclear pores, histones and nucleosomes. Euchromatin and heterochromatin. The nucleolus. Chromosome structure.
The cell cycle: the interphase (phases G1, S and G2), Cell division. Haploid, diploid and polyploid cells. Mitosis in animal cells. Meiosis. Phases and sub-phases of meiosis. The meaning of meiosis and crossing over. Recombination. Outline of gametogenesis.
Properties of Stem Cells. Cell death: necrosis and apoptosis

Histology
Epithelial tissue. General characteristics. Coating epithelia. Classification and functions. The basal surface of the epithelia: relationships with the connective tissue and the basal lamina. Renewal of the covering epithelia: the germinative layer.
Connective tissue. The different connective tissues: general characteristics and specific characteristics of the different connective tissues. The connective proper. Classification of connectives.
Fundamental substance. Collagen, reticular and elastic fibers. Connective glycoproteins. Connective cells and their function.
Blood and signs of cellular immunology. The plasma: composition and functions. Erythrocytes and white blood cells: morphological and functional characteristics. Migration of cells between blood and connective tissue.
Lymphocytes and the immune response: role of T and B lymphocytes, antibodies.
Supportive connectives. Bone tissue. Spongy bone and compact bone. Microscopic structure of the bone: the osteone. Osteoblasts, osteocytes, osteoclasts. Histogenesis of bone: intramembranous or cartilaginous ossification (encondral ossification).
Muscle tissue. Smooth muscle tissue. Skeletal muscle tissue. Structure and ultrastructure of muscle fiber. Myofibrils and myofilaments: the sarcomere. Muscle contraction. Heart muscle tissue.
Nervous tissue. The central and peripheral nervous system. Morphology of the neuron. Cytoskeleton and axoplasmic flow: neurotubules and neurofilaments. The axon and the nerve fiber. Myelinated fibers and unmyelinated fibers. Notes on nerve impulse conduction. The synapse. Neurotransmitters. Neuroglia. The blood-brain barrier.

Cytology
Essential Cell Biology, Bruce Alberts, Karen Hopkin, Alexander D. Johnson, David Morgan, Martin Raff. Garland Science. Last edition
Histology
Junqueira's Basic Histology: Text and Atlas, Anthony Mescher. Lange. Last edition
Cytology and Istology
Citologia ed Istologia
Biologia Cellula e Tessuti, various authors , edi-ermes

ATOMIC THEORY OF THE MATTER. HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE ATOMIC THEORY OF MATTER. CHEMICAL EQUATIONS. FUNDAMENTAL SUBATOMIC PARTICLES. ATOMIC NUMBER, MASS NUMBER. ISOTOPES. ATOMIC WEIGHTS AND ATOMIC MASS UNIT. THE CONCEPT OF MOLE. AVOGADRO'S NUMBER. ABSOLUTE ATOMIC (OR MOLECULAR) MASSES. ELECTRONIC STRUCTURE OF THE ATOMS. PLANETARY ATOMIC MODEL AND ATOMIC SPECTRA. BOHR'S ATOMIC MODEL. DE BROGLIE'S EQUATION. HEISENBERG'S UNCERTANTY PRINCIPLE. QUANTUM OR WAVE MECHANICS. POLYELECTRONIC ATOMS. PERIODIC PROPERTIES. ATOMIC STRUCTURE: ELECTRONIC ATOMIC CONFIGURATIONS AND PERIODIC TABLE.

CHEMICAL BOND. BOND ENERGY. IONIC BOND. COVALENT BOND: LEWIS' THEORY, VALENCE BOND (VB) THEORY. MULTIPLE BONDS. MOLECULAR GEOMETRY, ELECTRON DELOCALIZATION AND RESONANCE. HYBRID ORBITALS. METALLIC BONDING. WEAK BONDINGS: DIPOLAR INTERACTIONS, HYDROGEN BONDING.

NOMENCLATURE OF INORGANIC COMPOUNDS AND CHEMICAL REACTIONS. OXIDATION NUMBER. OXIDATION-REDUCTION (REDOX) REACTIONS.

GAS PHASE. PROPERTIES OF THE IDEAL AND REAL GASES. IDEAL GAS LAW. LIQUID PHASE. PROPERTIES OF LIQUIDS. EVAPORATION, CONDENSATION AND VAPOR PRESSURE. BOILING POINT OF A LIQUID. SUBLIMATION. MELTING AND FREEZING POINTS OF A LIQUID. STATE DIAGRAMS OF H2O AND CO2. SOLID STATE. AMORPHOUS AND CRYSTALLINE SOLIDS AND THEIR PROPERTIES.

SOLUTIONS. NATURE OF THE SOLUTIONS. CONCENTRATIONS OF THE SOLUTIONS. COLLIGATIVE PROPERTIES.

CHEMICAL THERMODYNAMICS. STATE FUNCTIONS. HEAT AND WORK. THE FIRST LAW OF THERMODYNAMICS. THERMOCHEMISTRY: HESS LAW. THE SECOND LAW OF THERMODYNAMICS. ENTROPY. VARIATION OF FREE ENERGY AND SPONTANEITY. CHEMICAL EQUILIBRIUM. USE OF THE EQUILIBRIUM CONSTANT. RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FREE ENERGY AND THE EQUILIBRIUM CONSTANT OF A REACTION. LE CHATELIER'S PRINCIPLE. TEMPERATURE DEPENDANCE OF EQUILIBRIUM CONSTANT.

SOLUTION EQUILIBRIA. SOLUBILITY EQUILIBRIA. ACID-BASE EQUILIBRIA. THE PH AND POH SCALE. HYDROLYSIS. BUFFER SOLUTIONS.

ELECTROCHEMISTRY. GALVANIC AND ELECTROLYTIC CELLS. FARADAY'S LAWS. ELECTRICAL AND CHEMICAL WORK. ELECTROMOTIVE FORCE (EMF) OF A GALVANIC CELL. NERNST EQUATION. ELECTROLYSIS.

ELEMENTS OF CHEMICAL KINETICS. RATE LAW. INFLUENCE OF THE REAGENTS CONCENTRATION. INFLUENCE OF TEMPERATURE ON THE REACTION RATE.

ELEMENTS OF INORGANIC CHEMISTRY. MAIN CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CHEMICAL ELEMENTS. PERIODIC PROPERTIES OF THE ELEMENTS.

- NIVALDO J. TRO "Chemistry: A Molecular Approach";
- A.M. MANOTTI LANFREDI. A. TIRIPICCHIO; "FONDAMENTI DI CHIMICA", CASA EDITRICE AMBROSIANA, MILANO;
- F. CACACE E M. SCHIAVELLO "STECHIOMETRIA" BULZONI EDITORE, ROMA;
- SLIDES CAN BE FOUND IN THE MOODLE PAGE OF "GENERAL ANS INORGANIC CHEMISTRY" COURSE https://scienze.el.uniroma3.it/course/index.php?categoryid=32

INTRODUCTION TO THE HISTORY OF BOTANY. THE FUNDAMENTAL CHARACTERISTICS OF PLANTS. PLANT CELLS; CELLULAR WALLS, VACUOLES. PLASTIDS AND PHOTOSYNTHESIS. ONTOGENETICAL CYCLES AND REPRODUCTION. INTRODUCTION TO THE TAXONOMY. THALLUS AND CORMUS. MERISTEMS AND CELLULAR DIFFERANTIATION. DEFINITIVE TISSUES: PARENCHIMATIC, TEGUMENTAL, MECCANICAL, VASCULAR, AND SECRETORY TISSUES. PLANT ORGANS: ROOTS, STEM, LEAVES, FLOWERS, FRUITS, SEEDS- CHARACTERISTICS AND DEVELOPMENT.
DIVERSITY OF PLANTS IN A PHYLOGENETIC POINT OF VIEW.

EXERCISES: HISTOLOGICAL PREPARATION OF PLANTS TISSUES. MORPHOLOGICAL ANALYSES. IDENTIFICATIONS.
HERBARIUM EXERCISES. INTRODUCTION TO PLANT ECOLOGY AND TO BIODIVERSITY ASSESSMENT.

RAVEN, EVERT, EICHHORN- BIOLOGIA DELLE PIANTE- ED. ZANICHELLI, ED. VARIE
-PASQUA. ABBATE, FORNI- BOTANICA GENERALE E DIVERSITÀ VEGETALE- ED. PICCIN, PADOVA. I ED. 2008.
- pdf OF THE LESSONS
- EXERCISES PROTOCOLS

Biodiversity, systematic and plant evolution. Morpho-structural characteristics of cyanobacteria, algae, fungi, bryophytes, pteridophytes, gimnosperms, angiosperms, with examples of the main families. Ontogenetic cycles from algae to fanerogams.

Pdfs of the lessons performed during the course and the following books:
RAVEN, EVERT, EICHHORN- BIOLOGIA DELLE PIANTE- ED. ZANICHELLI, VI ED. 2002.
Pasqua, Abbate, Forni. Botanica generale e Diversità vegetale. PICCIN

Teaching program
The course aims to provide the student with the basic knowledge (cultural skills) and the statistical, mathematical and computer tools (methodological skills) needed to:
- conduct an experiment,
- process, process and synthesize experimental data,
- assess the uncertainty and confidence intervals of the experimental results,
- evaluate the statistical parameters of a population starting from a sample (inference),
- quantitatively compare data and models through hypothesis rejection tests.

Detailed plan
1. Tools of a spreadsheet (EXCEL, CALC) for the synthesis and presentation of experimental data and statistical calculation.
a. table construction,
b. functions, functions in matrix form,
c. histograms and bar charts,
d. scatter charts.
2. Statistical summary:
to. the main statistical indexes for a set of data also in aggregate form,
b. frequency distributions for a data set,
c. frequency histograms,
d. present the relationship between quantities using scatter plots,
is. evaluate the linear relationship between quantities by evaluating the correlation and / or the parameters of the linear regression.
3. Calculation of probabilities:
to. definitions of probability of an event and symbolism for calculating probabilities,
b. dependent / independent, compatible / incompatible events
c. probability of events: and, or and conditional probabilities,
d. Bayes theorem,
is. model probability distributions (binomial, uniform, Gauss).
4. Evaluation of experimental uncertainties
to. the uncertainty of experimental quantities (data, histogram frequencies, etc.)
b. uncertainties on regression line parameters,
c. uncertainty about linear correlation
d. evaluate the measurement uncertainties on derived quantities
5. Statistical inference
to. Calculate and interpret the confidence intervals for: mean values, distributions, linear correlation, linear regression parameters,
b. hypothesis rejection test (Z, T, and chi ^ 2),
c. test chi ^ 2 for contingency tables or distributions,
d. Calculate a p-value for a hypothesis test,
is. Construct and / or correctly interpret a screening test (Bayes theorem)

M. C. WHITLOCK, D. SCHLUTER - ANALISI STATISTICA DEI DATI BIOLOGICI, ZANICHELLI.
Notes and exercises are available at the web site of the course:
https://sites.google.com/a/personale.uniroma3.it/meneghini-did/statistica

ATOMIC THEORY OF THE MATTER. HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE ATOMIC THEORY OF MATTER. CHEMICAL EQUATIONS. FUNDAMENTAL SUBATOMIC PARTICLES. ATOMIC NUMBER, MASS NUMBER. ISOTOPES. ATOMIC WEIGHTS AND ATOMIC MASS UNIT. THE CONCEPT OF MOLE. AVOGADRO'S NUMBER. ABSOLUTE ATOMIC (OR MOLECULAR) MASSES. ELECTRONIC STRUCTURE OF THE ATOMS. PLANETARY ATOMIC MODEL AND ATOMIC SPECTRA. BOHR'S ATOMIC MODEL. DE BROGLIE'S EQUATION. HEISENBERG'S UNCERTANTY PRINCIPLE. QUANTUM OR WAVE MECHANICS. POLYELECTRONIC ATOMS. PERIODIC PROPERTIES. ATOMIC STRUCTURE: ELECTRONIC ATOMIC CONFIGURATIONS AND PERIODIC TABLE.

CHEMICAL BOND. BOND ENERGY. IONIC BOND. COVALENT BOND: LEWIS' THEORY, VALENCE BOND (VB) THEORY. MULTIPLE BONDS. MOLECULAR GEOMETRY, ELECTRON DELOCALIZATION AND RESONANCE. HYBRID ORBITALS. METALLIC BONDING. WEAK BONDINGS: DIPOLAR INTERACTIONS, HYDROGEN BONDING.

NOMENCLATURE OF INORGANIC COMPOUNDS AND CHEMICAL REACTIONS. OXIDATION NUMBER. OXIDATION-REDUCTION (REDOX) REACTIONS.

GAS PHASE. PROPERTIES OF THE IDEAL AND REAL GASES. IDEAL GAS LAW. LIQUID PHASE. PROPERTIES OF LIQUIDS. EVAPORATION, CONDENSATION AND VAPOR PRESSURE. BOILING POINT OF A LIQUID. SUBLIMATION. MELTING AND FREEZING POINTS OF A LIQUID. STATE DIAGRAMS OF H2O AND CO2. SOLID STATE. AMORPHOUS AND CRYSTALLINE SOLIDS AND THEIR PROPERTIES.

SOLUTIONS. NATURE OF THE SOLUTIONS. CONCENTRATIONS OF THE SOLUTIONS. COLLIGATIVE PROPERTIES.

CHEMICAL THERMODYNAMICS. STATE FUNCTIONS. HEAT AND WORK. THE FIRST LAW OF THERMODYNAMICS. THERMOCHEMISTRY: HESS LAW. THE SECOND LAW OF THERMODYNAMICS. ENTROPY. VARIATION OF FREE ENERGY AND SPONTANEITY. CHEMICAL EQUILIBRIUM. USE OF THE EQUILIBRIUM CONSTANT. RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FREE ENERGY AND THE EQUILIBRIUM CONSTANT OF A REACTION. LE CHATELIER'S PRINCIPLE. TEMPERATURE DEPENDANCE OF EQUILIBRIUM CONSTANT.

SOLUTION EQUILIBRIA. SOLUBILITY EQUILIBRIA. ACID-BASE EQUILIBRIA. THE PH AND POH SCALE. HYDROLYSIS. BUFFER SOLUTIONS.

ELECTROCHEMISTRY. GALVANIC AND ELECTROLYTIC CELLS. FARADAY'S LAWS. ELECTRICAL AND CHEMICAL WORK. ELECTROMOTIVE FORCE (EMF) OF A GALVANIC CELL. NERNST EQUATION. ELECTROLYSIS.

ELEMENTS OF CHEMICAL KINETICS. RATE LAW. INFLUENCE OF THE REAGENTS CONCENTRATION. INFLUENCE OF TEMPERATURE ON THE REACTION RATE.

ELEMENTS OF INORGANIC CHEMISTRY. MAIN CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CHEMICAL ELEMENTS. PERIODIC PROPERTIES OF THE ELEMENTS.

- NIVALDO J. TRO "Chemistry: A Molecular Approach";
- A.M. MANOTTI LANFREDI. A. TIRIPICCHIO; "FONDAMENTI DI CHIMICA", CASA EDITRICE AMBROSIANA, MILANO;
- F. CACACE E M. SCHIAVELLO "STECHIOMETRIA" BULZONI EDITORE, ROMA;
- SLIDES CAN BE FOUND IN THE MOODLE PAGE OF "GENERAL ANS INORGANIC CHEMISTRY" COURSE https://scienze.el.uniroma3.it/course/index.php?categoryid=32

Hybridization of carbon. Functional groups: structure, nomenclature (IUPAC and use) and chemical-physical properties of alkanes, cycloalkanes, alkenes, alkynes, arenes, halides, alcohols, thiols, ethers, sulphides, amines, aldehydes, ketones, imines, phenols, carboxylic acids, esters, lactones, amides, imides and nitriles.
Stereochemistry: isomers and stereoisomers. Inductive and Resonance effects.
The main reaction mechanisms: electrophilic addition to alkenes, dienes and alkynes. Polymerizations. Electrophilic aromatic substitution on benzene and heteroatoms present in biological molecules. Addition to carbonyls and nucleophilic substitution of acyls. Enolates and their condensations. Bi- and polyfunctional molecules: hydroxy acids, enonic systems, ketoacids. Physico-chemical properties of amino acids (structures and isoelectric point). Carbohydrates (classification, hemiacetal structures, glucosides, polysaccharides).
Nucleophilic substitution (SN1, SN2) and elimination (E1 and E 2) at sp3 carbon. Acetacetic and malonic synthesis. Redox reactions on organic compounds. Radical reactions of hydrocarbons (combustion and radical oxidation) using model reaction (halogenation).

W. H. Brown, B.L. Iverson, E.V. Anslyn, C.S. Foote Organic Chemistry
J. Mc Murry Organic Chemistry
pdf version of the slides of the course will be made available to students

Part 1: structural theory. isomers and stereoisomers. resonance and electronic effects. functional groups: structure, nomenclature (IUPAC and common names) and chemical-physic properties for alkanes, cycloalkanes, alkenes, alkynes, arenes, halides, alcohols, thiols, ethers, sulfides, amines, aldehydes, ketones, acetals, imines, phenols, carboxylic acids, esters, lactones, amides, imides and nitriles. homo- and hetero-aromatic compounds. main reaction mechanisms: radical substitution and addition, electrophilic addition; polymerization; nucleophilic substitution (SN1, SN2) and elimination (E1, E2) at sp3 carbon; aromatic electrophilic substitution; nucleophilic addition and substitution at carbonyl carbon. synthesis and reactivity of functional groups in view of reaction mechanisms. enolates and their inter-, intra-molecular and cross condensations. di- and poly-functional molecules: acetoacetic and malonic synthesis, hydroxy acids, enonic systems

Part 2: an introduction to organic chemistry laboratory. purification and separation techniques: crystallization, extraction, distillation and chromatography (adsorption, distribution, ionic exchange, affinity); mention of HPLC gas-chromatography. practical experiences in the laboratory: polarimetry, maleic to fumaric acid isomerization, separations by extraction, nucleophilic substitution, TLC and column chromatography, esterification

T.W. Graham Solomons; Craig B. Fryhle in “Organic Chemistry”, 10th Edition, Wiley.
John McMurry in “Chimica Organica”, Piccin-Nuova Libreria
Bruno Botta in “Chimica Organica” Edi-ermes


Lecture notes and bibliographical references will be provided

Mechanics
Forces:
• Static and dynamic definition of strength
• Equilibrium:
or composition and decomposition of forces.
o Definition of moment of a force
o Balance of extended bodies: forces and moments
o Applications: inclined plane, levers, pulleys, winch.
• Specific Forces:
o Force of gravity,
or force weight,
or elastic force, stress and deformation, elastic constant and Young's modulus
o friction forces (static and dynamic)
o Coulomb force
o Archimedes' push
• Newton's laws: in-depth analysis
o Inertia Principle (I Newton's law) inertial and non-inertial reference systems.
or II Newton's law: applications
or III Newton's law: applications
o Applications: Reaction forces, Apparent forces
• Power:
o Work of a force
o Kinetic energy (translation and rotation), the moment of Inertia
o Potential gravitational energy,
o Potential elastic energy.
or principle of conservation of mechanical energy.
o Non-conservative forces.
• The momentum
or momentum and impulse
o Angular moment and moment of a force.
o Momentum conservation principle.
o Center of mass.
o Elastic and inelastic collisions.

Fluids
• Characteristic dimensions
o Density, pressure
• Static
o The hydraulic press
o Thrust of hydrostatics (thrust of Archimedes).
o Law of Stevino-Pascal
• Dynamics
o Flow and Flow
o Bernoulli equation
o Laminar and turbulent flow

waves
• Properties of waves and characteristic quantities:
or wavelength,
or period,
or Frequency,
or speed.
• Harmonics and sine waves.
• Elastic waves, acoustic waves.
• Energy and power
• Wave and stationary wave interference
• Reflection / transmission
• Doppler effect

Electromagnetism
• From the Coulomb force to the electrostatic field
o Gauss law and fields of classical charge distributions
• From electrostatic energy to the electrostatic potential V
o Relationship between potential and electric field
o Equipotential surfaces and flow lines
• Capacities and capacitors
or energy stored in a capacitor.
o Capacitors in series or in parallel.
• Electric current
o Resistance and resistivity, Ohm's laws
o Electric current: intensity, current density.
o Electromotive force and real generators
o Energy and power in an electrical circuit (Joule Effect)
o Series and parallel resistances.

Alternatively
Serway & Jewett Principi di fisica (Edises) (V ed. - ISBN: 9788879598644)
J. Walker: Fondamenti di Fisica (V ed.) (Pearson) (ISBN: 978-88-6518-928-3)

BASIC AND APPLIED ZOOLOGY. EVOLUTION AND EVOLUTIONARY THEORIES. STRUCTURAL LEVELS OF THE ANIMAL DIVERSITY. POPULATION AND SPECIES; PHENETIC, GENETIC AND GEOGRAPHIC VARIATION; NATURAL SELECTION AND EVOLUTION; MICRO- AND MACROEVOLUTION; REPRODUCTIVE ISOLATION. ANAGENESIS AND CLADOGENESIS; “CLASSIC” EVOLUTION MODEL AND PUNCTUATED EQULIBRIUM THEORY. ADAPTATION AS RESULT OF EVOLUTIONARY PROCESSES; ADAPTIVE STRATEGIES IN MARINE, FRESHWATER AND TERRESTRIAL HABITATS; CRYPTIC COLOURATION AND CAMOUFLAGE; APOSEMATISM AND MIMICRY; ADAPTIVE RADIATION. MORPHOLOGY AD ADAPTATION OF THE FOLLOWING FUNCTIONAL SYSTEMS: FEEDING, RESPIRATION, LOCOMOTION AND DISPERSAL. ADAPTIVE CONVERGENCE, HOMOLOGY AND ANALOGY. SEXUAL AND ASEXUAL REPRODUCTION; FERTILIZATION; POSTEMBRIONIC DEVELOPMENT; DEVELOPMENTAL CYCLES. PRINCIPLES OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY: AUTOECOLOGY: ECOLOGICAL NICHE; SYNECOLOGY: STRUCTURE AND DYNAMICS OF ANIMAL COMMUNITIES; INTERSPECIFIC (COMPETITION, PREDATION, PARASITISM) AND INTRASPECIFIC RELATIONSHIPS. DYNAMICS OF ANIMAL POPULATIONS. ANIMAL COLONIES AND SOCIETIES. PRINCIPLES OF ETHOLOGY: INNATE AND LEARNED BEHAVIOUR, ANIMAL COMMUNICATION, SEXUAL BEHAVIOUR, PARENTAL BEHAVIOUR; HOME RANGE AND TERRITORIALITY, ORIENTATION BEHAVIOUR. PRINCIPLES OF ZOOGEOGRAPHY: HISTORICAL AND DYNAMIC CAUSES OF ANIMAL DISTRIBUTION; SPECIES RANGE; DISPERSION AND DISPERSAL, BARRIERS AND COLONIZATION. ANIMAL PHYLOGENY: METHODS AND RULES OF TAXONOMY AND SYSTEMATICS. CRITICAL ISSUES IN METAZOAN PHYLOGENY. OVERRVIEW ON BAUPLAN, FUNCTIONAL MORPHOLOGY AND BIOLOGY OF THE MAIN PROTOZOAN AND METAZOAN TAXA.
DEEPENING OF MAIN MORPHOLOGIC AND ECOLOGIC TRAITS (MODULE 1) AT CLASS LEVEL OR AT ORDER LEVEL FOR ARTHROPODA): PROTOZOA; PORIFERA AND NOTES ON PLACOZOA AND MESOZOA; CNIDARIA; CTENOPHORA; PLATHYELMINTHES; NEMERTEA; MOLLUSCA; ANELLIDA; NOTES ON MINOR TAXA OF “ASCHELMINTES”; ONYCOPHORA AND RELATED TAXA; NEMATODA; NEMATOMORPHA; ARTHROPODA; LOPHOPHORATA; ECHINODERMATA; CHORDATA

ANY UPDATED BOOK OF ZOOLOGY CAN POTENTIALLY BE USED, IF PREVIOUSLY AGREED WITH TEACHER. A VALID TEXTBOOK CAN BE THE FOLLOWING: GEAR R. ET AL. ZOOLOGY , VOL . 1: EVOLUTION AND ADAPTATION; VOL . 2: DIVERSITY ' ANIMAL ). MONDUZZI ED.
ANOTHER ADVICE: HICKMAN ET AL. ZOOLOGY. McGraw-Hill Education ED.
The power point files may be downloaded from the website: https://www.scienze.uniroma3.it/courses/2/details/2018/didactic_activities/1677
The professor receives every monday 11:00 to 13:00 by appointment via email: marcoalberto.bologna@uniroma3.it
IT’S RECOMMENDED FOR EXERCISES: SABELLI, 2009. ATLANTE DI DIVERSITA’ E MORFOLOGIA DEGLI INVERTEBRATI, PICCIN ED. (IN THIS TEXT ARE EXCLUDED PROTOZOA, PRESENT IN THE PREVIOUS EDITIONS THAT YOU CAN FOUND IN LIBRARY)

DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
From a single cell to a multicellular organism: differentiation and morphogenesis. Models in developmental biology. Sexual reproduction. Gametogenesis. Structural differences between egg and sperm cell. Fertilization: recognition and interaction of gametes. Sperm activation. Gamete fusion. Egg activation. Prevention of polispermy. Partenogenesis. Overview on the different developmental stages: cleavage, gastrulation, organogenesis. Egg types and respective cleavage patterns. Protostomes e deuterostomes. First stages of development of drosophila melanogaster, caenorhabditis elegans, paracentrotus lividus. Development of tunicates and cephalochordates. Development of the amphyoxus: radial cleavage, cellular mechanisms of gastrulation. Early organogenesis: neurulation. Amphibian development. Radial cleavage: macromeres e micromeres. Gastrulation: role of the gray crescent. First stages of organogenesis: primary and secondary neurulation. Fish development: discoidal segmentation. Gastrulation and first stages of organogenesis. Development in birds. Discoidal cleavage: epiblast and hypoblast. Gastrulation: primitive streak and hensen’s node. Neurulation and fate of neural crests. Formation of encephalic vescicles. Mesoderm and fate of its regions. Somatopleure and splanchnopleure. The coelom. Extraembryonic membranes: amnion, chorion, allantois and vitelline envelope. Mammalian development. Rotational cleavage. The blastocyst: trophoblast and inner cell mass. Epiblast and amniogenesis. Gastrulation: the primitive streak and node.placental types and their evolution. Neurulation and early differentiation of the neural tube. Examples of organogenetic processes. Development of the urogenital tract. Limb development in tetrapods. Regeneration. Embryonic and adult stem cells: general properties and features. Plant development: principal ontogenetic stages and regeneration of missing parts.

Gilbert: "Developmental Biology", 9th Edition, Sinauer Associates

Basic knowledges on the Genetics of eucaryotes and procariotes.
Knowledges on the methodology used in genetics, experimental model and experimental design.

DNA AS GENETIC MATERIAL; SEMICONSERVATIVE DNA REPLICATION IN PROKARYOTES (MESELSON AND STAHL EXPERIMENT) AND EUKARYOTES (TAYLOR’S EXPERIMENT); MENDELIAN GENETICS; GENOTYPE AND PHENOTYPE;PRINCIPLES OF SEGREGATION AND INDEPENDENT ASSORTMENT; DOMINANT AND RECESSIVE TRAITS; CHROMOSOMAL BASIS OF INHERITANCE; MEIOSIS AND MENDELIAN PRINCIPLES; SEX CHROMOSOME AND SEX DETERMINATION; EXTENTIONS OF AND DEVIATIONS FROM MENDELIAN GENETIC PRINCIPLES; MULTIPLE ALLELES; MODIFICATIONS OF DOMINANCE RELATIONSHIP; RICOMBINATION; GENETIC MAPPING IN EUKARYOTES.
GENE MAPPING IN BACTERIA AND BACTERIOPHAGES; BENZER’S EXPERIMENTS; COMPLEMENTATION; TRANSLATION; THE GENETIC CODE; GENE FUNCTION; REGULATION OF GENE EXPRESSION IN BACTERIA; DNA MUTATIONS; VARIATIONS IN CHROMOSOME STRUCTURE AND NUMBER;QUANTITATIVE GENETICS; POPULATION GENETICS: THE HARDY WEINNBERG LAW; FORCES THAT CHANGE GENE FREQUENCIES IN POPULATIONS; EVOLUTION

Practical work in the lab, with dedicated slides on mitoses; Genetics association and genetic map of 3 genes

- P.J. RUSSEL GENETICA: UN APPROCCIO MOLECOLARE (PEARSONS )
- R.J. BROOKER. GENETICA, ANALISI E PRINCIPI. ( ZANICHELLI )
- D.P.SNUSTAD,M.J.SIMMONS PRINCIPI DI GENETICA

Students are received on fridays: 14.00-16.00

In order to deeply involve the students, during the lessons they are invited to solve easy exercises alone or in small groups

Basic knowledges on the Genetics of eucaryotes and procariotes.
Knowledges on the methodology used in genetics, experimental model and experimental design.

DNA AS GENETIC MATERIAL; SEMICONSERVATIVE DNA REPLICATION IN PROKARYOTES (MESELSON AND STAHL EXPERIMENT) AND EUKARYOTES (TAYLOR’S EXPERIMENT); MENDELIAN GENETICS; GENOTYPE AND PHENOTYPE;PRINCIPLES OF SEGREGATION AND INDEPENDENT ASSORTMENT; DOMINANT AND RECESSIVE TRAITS; CHROMOSOMAL BASIS OF INHERITANCE; MEIOSIS AND MENDELIAN PRINCIPLES; SEX CHROMOSOME AND SEX DETERMINATION; EXTENTIONS OF AND DEVIATIONS FROM MENDELIAN GENETIC PRINCIPLES; MULTIPLE ALLELES; MODIFICATIONS OF DOMINANCE RELATIONSHIP; RICOMBINATION; GENETIC MAPPING IN EUKARYOTES.
GENE MAPPING IN BACTERIA AND BACTERIOPHAGES; BENZER’S EXPERIMENTS; COMPLEMENTATION; TRANSLATION; THE GENETIC CODE; GENE FUNCTION; REGULATION OF GENE EXPRESSION IN BACTERIA; DNA MUTATIONS; VARIATIONS IN CHROMOSOME STRUCTURE AND NUMBER;QUANTITATIVE GENETICS; POPULATION GENETICS: THE HARDY WEINNBERG LAW; FORCES THAT CHANGE GENE FREQUENCIES IN POPULATIONS; EVOLUTION

Practical work in the lab, with dedicated slides on mitoses; Genetics association and genetic map of 3 genes

- P.J. RUSSEL GENETICA: UN APPROCCIO MOLECOLARE (PEARSONS )
- R.J. BROOKER. GENETICA, ANALISI E PRINCIPI. ( ZANICHELLI )
- D.P.SNUSTAD,M.J.SIMMONS PRINCIPI DI GENETICA

Students are received on fridays: 14.00-16.00

In order to deeply involve the students, during the lessons they are invited to solve easy exercises alone or in small groups

STRUCTURE-FUNCTION RELATIONSHIPS OF PROTEINS. FROM AMINOACIDS to MYOGLOBIN AND HEMOGLOBIN.
STRUCTURAL AND FUNCTIONAL PROPERTIES OF THE ENZYMES. FROM THE MICHAELIS-MENTEN EQUATION TO THE PRE-STEADY-STATE AND THE INHIBITION MECHANISMS.
MOST IMPORTANT CYCLES AND METABOLIC PATHWAYS OF CARBS, LIPIDS AND PROTEINS.

RECEPTION: MONDAY, FROM 3 TO 4 AM.

MCKEE, BIOCHIMICA, MCGRAW - HILL
NELSON, COX, I PRINCIPI DI BIOCHIMICA DI LEHININGER, ZANICHELLI
VOET, VOET, PRATT, FONDAMENTI DI BIOCHIMICA, ZANICHELLI
STRYER, BIOCHIMICA, ZANICHELLI
RAWN, BIOCHIMICA MCGRAW-HILL
MORAN ET AL., BIOCHIMICA MCGRAW-HILL
GARRET, GRISHAM, BIOCHIMICA, ZANICHELLI

The practice module of the course of Biochemistry includes three laboratory experiences, each lasting 2 hours. The topics of the experiences are:
1. Separation of blood in its cellular and plasma component. Fractionation of blood proteins by saline and ethanol precipitation.
2. Quantification of plasma proteins by the Bradford method. Preparation of samples to be loaded on SDS-PAGE. Loading on polyacrylamide gel of fractionated proteins.
3. Characterization of the enzymatic activity of lactate dehydrogenase.

MCKEE, BIOCHIMICA, MCGRAW - HILL. ALTRI TESTI: NELSON, COX, I PRINCIPI DI BIOCHIMICA DI LEHININGER, ZANICHELLI VOET, VOET, PRATT, FONDAMENTI DI BIOCHIMICA, ZANICHELLI STRYER, BIOCHIMICA, ZANICHELLI RAWN, BIOCHIMICA, MCGRAW-HILLMORAN ET AL., BIOCHIMICA, MCGRAW-HILL GARRET, GRISHAM, BIOCHIMICA, ZANICHELLI


RECEPTION TIME: Monday 10 am

COMPARATIVE ANATOMY
Origin of vertebrates. Agnatha and origin of gnathostomata. Diversity and evolutionary success of aquatic vertebrates by both anatomic and reproductive viewpoints. Tetrapoda origin and the colonization of terrestrial habitats. Advent of the amniotic egg and definitive colonization of terrestrial habitats by reptiles. Birds and adaptation to flight. Mammal diversity: natural plasticity and evolutive processes. Comparative anatomy of vertebrate organic systems. Origin, organization and function of systems used for predation, respiration, and blood and lymph circulation. Food strategies in vertebrates. Respiratory, digestive and circulatory systems in vertebrates. Uro-genital system evolution in vertebrates. Renal system organization. Modes and types of excretion. Sex differentiation and determination. Reproductive strategies in vertebrates.

T. Zavanella: "Anatomia dei Vertebrati", Antonio Delfino editore.

THE COURSE CONCERNS THE GENERAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE MOLECULAR MECHANISMS WHICH REGULATE THE BIOLOGICAL PROCESSES OCCURRING WITHIN A CELL, WITH PARTICULAR EMPHASYS ON GENETIC STRUCTURE, ORGANIZATION AND EXPRESSION OF PROKARYOTIC AND EUKARYOTIC ORGANISMS. FURTHERMORE, THE SUBJECT TAKES INTO CONSIDERATION THE MOST UPDATED MOLECULAR BIOLOGY EXPERIMENTAL PROCEUDURES UTILIZED IN BASIC AND APPLIED RESEARCH. THE TEACHING PROGRAM IS ORGANIZED AS FOLLOWS: GENOME ANATOMY, TRANSCRIPTOMES AND PROTEOMES; GENOME ACCESSIBILITY; TRANSCRIPTION INITIATION COMPLEX; RNA SYNTHESES AND MATURATION; PROTEOME SYNTHESES AND MATURATION; GENOME SEQUENCING; GENOME REPLICATION; REPAIR SYSTEMS; GENETIC RECOMBINATION; GENETIC ENGINEERING AND DNA RECOMBINANT TECHNIQUES.

REFERENCE TEXTBOOK: BIOLOGIA MOLECOLARE, AMALDI ET AL., TERZA EDIZIONE, CASA EDITRICE ZANICHELLI.

THE COURSE CONCERNS THE GENERAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE MOLECULAR MECHANISMS WHICH REGULATE THE BIOLOGICAL PROCESSES OCCURRING WITHIN A CELL, WITH PARTICULAR EMPHASYS ON GENETIC STRUCTURE, ORGANIZATION AND EXPRESSION OF PROKARYOTIC AND EUKARYOTIC ORGANISMS. FURTHERMORE, THE SUBJECT TAKES INTO CONSIDERATION THE MOST UPDATED MOLECULAR BIOLOGY EXPERIMENTAL PROCEUDURES UTILIZED IN BASIC AND APPLIED RESEARCH. THE TEACHING PROGRAM IS ORGANIZED AS FOLLOWS: GENOME ANATOMY, TRANSCRIPTOMES AND PROTEOMES; GENOME ACCESSIBILITY; TRANSCRIPTION INITIATION COMPLEX; RNA SYNTHESES AND MATURATION; PROTEOME SYNTHESES AND MATURATION; GENOME SEQUENCING; GENOME REPLICATION; REPAIR SYSTEMS; GENETIC RECOMBINATION; GENETIC ENGINEERING AND DNA RECOMBINANT TECHNIQUES.

REFERENCE TEXTBOOK: BIOLOGIA MOLECOLARE, AMALDI ET AL., TERZA EDIZIONE, CASA EDITRICE ZANICHELLI.

The professor receives every day from 10.00 to 11.00 by appointment via e-mail: manuela.cervelli@uniroma3.it

Looking at nature through different perspectives: ecological principles from ecosystems to populations, origin and development of ecology as a science. Ecology as a group of subdisciplines.

Ecosystem ecology: factors related to distribution of biomes. The main terrestrial biomes. Biomes and climate change. Ecology of ecosystems. Energy in ecosystems. Thermodynamic aspects of energy flows. Trophic structure. Production and productivity. Primary and secondary production. Methods for measuring primary productivity. Ecological pyramids. Biogeochemical cycles. Main biogeochemical cycles. Changes to biogeochemical cycles related to anthropic activities.

Community ecology: Community structure. Community analysis methods. Community dynamics. Ecological successions. Methods for studying succession. Diversity. Meaning and calculation of diversity. The factors that regulate diversity. Diversity in different ecosystems. Threats to biodiversity. Red lists of endangered species. The exotic species. Examples in Italian flora and fauna. Bioindicators.

Population ecology. Population structure and dynamics. Selection r and k. Inter-specific relationship interactions. Interspecific competition and ecological niche. Physical environment and organism-environment relations. Ecological factors. Response of organisms to environmental factors. Stress-Disturbance. The C-S-R strategies.

Ecosystems conservation and management. Biodiversity Conservation. Introduction to conservation ecology. Protected areas.

Introduction to landscape ecology. Landscape structure and landscape dynamics, landscape and ecosystem management.

Introduction to urban ecology. Major features of urban ecosystems.

SMITH, T. & SMITH, R. 2017. ELEMENTI DI ECOLOGIA. PEARSON-B. CUMMINGS

CAIN, M. BOWMAN, W. & HACKER, S. 2017. ECOLOGIA. PICCIN

The material will be indicated by the teacher during the lessons

Cultural competences (Knowledge of:) The teaching aims to provide students with basic knowledge related to the evolution of the different ecological components, to assess the degree of functional adaptation to the habitat.
Methodological skills (Know how to perform:) acquire and use experimental data related to the population status assessment
Teaching program:
Among the specific fields of the population ecology module are population astructure and dynamics, distribution strategies and models, evolutionary ecology, principles ecological genetics and genetic flow, theoretical models, conservation biology, and bioresource management.

Smith & Smith. Elements of Ecology. Pearson, Benjamin Cummings

Learning tasks
To increase knowledge concerning fundamental processes underlying plant life as well as provide students with basic expertise in experimental plant physiology. Plant Physiology has a primary importance in many scientific areas and applicative contexts such as plant molecular biology, plant breeding, pharmacology, plant pathology, agro-industrial biotechnology.

Expected learning outcomes: to describe theoretical aspects, in-depth knowledge, clarity of exposition, ability to apply the acquired knowledge to complex problems, language properties.

Course program
THE PLANT CELL (INCLUDING STRUCTURE, BIOGENESIS AND EXPANSION OF THE CELL WALL) - WATER AND PLANT CELLS (STRUCTURE AND PROPERTIES OF WATER, DIFFUSION AND OSMOSIS, WATER POTENTIAL) - WATER BALANCE OF THE PLANT (WATER IN THE SOIL, ABSORPTION OF THE 'WATER FROM THE ROOTS, WATER TRANSPORT THROUGH THE XYLEM, ACCLIMATION TO WATER DEFICIT IN THE SOIL, LAPLACE'S LAW, JURIN'S LAW, TRANSPIRATION, STOMATA: MORPHOLOGY, OPENING AND CLOSING MECHANISMS - SOLUTE TRANSPORT (ELECTROCHEMICAL POTENTIAL, NERNST'S EQUATION, TRANSPORT PROCESSES, TRANSPORT PROTEINS) - PHOTOSYNTHESIS (GENERAL CONCEPTS, ORGANIZATION OF THE PHOTOSYNTHETIC APPARATUS, ANTENNA SYSTEMS, EXCITATION OF PHOTOSYNTHETIC PIGMENTS, PHOTOSYNTHETIC ELECTRON TRANSPORT CHAIN, Z SCHEME, REDOX POTENTIAL, WATER PHOTOLYSIS, PLASTOQUINONE: STRUCTURE/FUNCTION RELATIONSHIP, PROTON TRANSPORT AND ATP SYNTHESIS, PHOTOSYNTHETIC SYSTEM REGULATION, DISSIPATION MECHANISMS, REACTIVE OXYGEN SPECIES AND DEFENSE SYSTEMS) - PHOTOSYNTHESIS: CARBON REACTIONS (CALVIN-BENSON CYCLE AND ITS REGULATION, PHOTORESPIRATION, C4 CYCLE , CAM CYCLE , ACCUMULATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF PHOTOSYNTHATES, STARCH AND SACCHAROSE BIOSYNTHESIS) - CELLULAR RESPIRATION (GLYCOLYSIS, PHOSPHATE PENTOSE PATHWAY, CITRIC ACID CYCLE, MITOCHONDRIAL ELECTRONIC TRANSPORT, CYANIDE RESISTANT RESPIRATION, ALTERNATIVE OXIDASE) - METABOLISM OF LIPIDS - TRANSLOCATION IN FLOEMA (WAYS OF TRANSLOCATION, MODEL OF PRESSURE FLOW, LOADING, DRAINING AND ALLOCATION) 'NITROGEN AND SULFUR, ASSIMILATION OF NITRATE AND AMMONIUM, BIOLOGICAL FIXATION OF NITROGEN, ASSIMILATION OF SULFUR AND PHOSPHATE, NUTRITIONAL DEFICIT- GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT - AUXIN: GENERALITIES AND SIGNAL TRANSDUCTION (POLAR TRANSPORT, EXTENSION GROWTH , PHOTOTROPISM, GRAVITROPISM) - GIBBERELLINES, CYTOKININES, ETHYLENE, ABSCISSIC ACID, BRASSINOSTEROIDS: GENERALITIES AND SIGNAL TRANSDUCTION- PHOTOMORPHOGENESIS, PHOTORECEPTORS AND RESPONSES TO VARIATIONS OF THE SPECTRAL QUALITY OF LIGHT - PHOTOPERIODISM - CONTROL OF FLOWERING.

PLANT PHYSIOLOGY (IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE)
LINCOLN TAIZ- EDUARDO ZEIGER
SINAUER ASSOCIATES (FIFTH EDITION)

FISIOLOGIA VEGETALE (IN LINGUA ITALIANA)
LINCOLN TAIZ- EDUARDO ZEIGER
PICCIN EDITORE IV EDIZIONE (TRADOTTO DALLA QUINTA EDIZIONE IN LINGUA INGLESE)

Rascio et al. Elementi di Fisiologia Vegetale EdiSES

The teacher receives every day (Monday-Friday) by appointment by institutional e-mai

Learning tasks
To increase knowledge concerning fundamental processes underlying plant life as well as provide students with basic expertise in experimental plant physiology. Plant Physiology has a primary importance in many scientific areas and applicative contexts such as plant molecular biology, plant breeding, pharmacology, plant pathology, agro-industrial biotechnology.

Expected learning outcomes: to describe theoretical aspects, in-depth knowledge, clarity of exposition, ability to apply the acquired knowledge to complex problems, language properties.

Program of the lessons
THE PLANT CELL (INCLUDING STRUCTURE, BIOGENESIS AND EXPANSION OF THE CELL WALL) - WATER AND PLANT CELLS (STRUCTURE AND PROPERTIES OF WATER, DIFFUSION AND OSMOSIS, WATER POTENTIAL) - WATER BALANCE OF THE PLANT (WATER IN THE SOIL, ABSORPTION OF THE 'WATER FROM THE ROOTS, WATER TRANSPORT THROUGH THE XYLEM, ACCLIMATION TO WATER DEFICIT IN THE SOIL, LAPLACE'S LAW, JURIN'S LAW, TRANSPIRATION, STOMATA: MORPHOLOGY, OPENING AND CLOSING MECHANISMS - SOLUTE TRANSPORT (ELECTROCHEMICAL POTENTIAL, NERNST'S EQUATION, TRANSPORT PROCESSES, TRANSPORT PROTEINS) - PHOTOSYNTHESIS (GENERAL CONCEPTS, ORGANIZATION OF THE PHOTOSYNTHETIC APPARATUS, ANTENNA SYSTEMS, EXCITATION OF PHOTOSYNTHETIC PIGMENTS, PHOTOSYNTHETIC ELECTRON TRANSPORT CHAIN, Z SCHEME, REDOX POTENTIAL, WATER PHOTOLYSIS, PLASTOQUINONE: STRUCTURE/FUNCTION RELATIONSHIP, PROTON TRANSPORT AND ATP SYNTHESIS, PHOTOSYNTHETIC SYSTEM REGULATION, DISSIPATION MECHANISMS, REACTIVE OXYGEN SPECIES AND DEFENSE SYSTEMS) - PHOTOSYNTHESIS: CARBON REACTIONS (CALVIN-BENSON CYCLE AND ITS REGULATION, PHOTORESPIRATION, C4 CYCLE , CAM CYCLE, ACCUMULATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF PHOTOSYNTHATES, STARCH AND SACCHAROSE BIOSYNTHESIS) - CELLULAR RESPIRATION (GLYCOLYSIS, PHOSPHATE PENTOSE PATHWAY, CITRIC ACID CYCLE, MITOCHONDRIAL ELECTRONIC TRANSPORT, CYANIDE RESISTANT RESPIRATION, ALTERNATIVE OXIDASE) - METABOLISM OF LIPIDS - TRANSLOCATION IN FLOEMA (WAYS OF TRANSLOCATION, MODEL OF PRESSURE FLOW, LOADING, DRAINING AND ALLOCATION) 'NITROGEN AND SULFUR, ASSIMILATION OF NITRATE AND AMMONIUM, BIOLOGICAL FIXATION OF NITROGEN, ASSIMILATION OF SULFUR AND PHOSPHATE, NUTRITIONAL DEFICIT- GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT - AUXIN: GENERALITIES AND SIGNAL TRANSDUCTION (POLAR TRANSPORT, EXTENSION GROWTH , PHOTOTROPISM, GRAVITROPISM) - GIBBERELLINES, CYTOKININES, ETHYLENE, ABSCISSIC ACID, BRASSINOSTEROIDS: GENERALITIES AND SIGNAL TRANSDUCTION- PHOTOMORPHOGENESIS, PHOTORECEPTORS AND RESPONSES TO VARIATIONS OF THE SPECTRAL QUALITY OF LIGHT - PHOTOPERIODISM - CONTROL OF FLOWERING.

Laboratory exercises:
1) Determination of water potential in glycophytes and halophytes, weight gain / loss method;
2) Quantum phenomena: Chlorophyll fluorescence;
3) Photosynthesis: preparation of thylakoid vesicles and their use in the Hill reaction;
4) Surface tension and capillarity: physical mathematical derivation of the law ofJurin and realization of a variable radius capillary that highlights the characteristics of a branch of equilateral hyperbole.
5) Determination of peroxidase enzymatic activity in pea epicotyl extracts: problems concerning the protein content in different portions of the organ.

PLANT PHYSIOLOGY, Lincoln Taiz and Eduardo Zeiger, editor SINAUER ASSOCIATES (Sixth EDITION; in english language)


FISIOLOGIA VEGETALE, Lincoln Taiz e Eduardo Zeiger, editore PICCIN, QUARTA EDIZIONE ITALIANA (dalla Quinta edizione in lingua Inglese)

Laboratory practice exercise:
Practice 1: Osmosis
Practice 2: Globular Resistance
Practice 3: Arterial Pressure
Practice 4: Spirometry

D.U. Silverthorn Human Physiology 2020 PEARSON, MILANO –TORINO, ITALIA.

BACTERIOLOGY UNIT

Introduction to and history of Microbiology
Functional diversity and distribution of microorganisms, main discoveries in the microbiology field, present and future biotechnological applications of microorganisms.

Structure and functions of bacterial cells
Structure of the prokaryotic cell. Cell division: binary fission. Cytoplasm, cytoplasmic inclusions and sub-cellular organelles. Cytoplasmic membrane and cell wall in Bacteria and Archaea. Mechanisms involved in protein secretion and cell wall biogenesis. Surface appendages: flagella and pili. Bacterial motility and chemotaxis. Cell differentiation in bacteria and sporulation. Microbial communities: biofilms. Bacterial metabolism: chemoorganotrophs, chemolithotrophs and phototrophs. Bacterial cultures and methods for bacterial cell count. Antibiotics: activity and mechanisms of action. Evolution and mechanisms of antibiotic resistance.

Bacterial genetics and regulation of gene expression
Structure of the bacterial genome. Operons. Pangenome of bacterial species. Mobile genetic elements: plasmids and transposable elements. Horizontal gene transfer: transformation, conjugation, transduction. Structure-function of bacterial RNA polymerase. Transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression. Examples of global regulators: catabolite repression and quorum sensing.

Bacteriophages
Structures and life cycles of bacteriophages. Genomes and replication strategies of bacteriophages. Regulation of viral genes.

Principles of bacterial taxonomy
The concept of bacterial species. Bacterial identification: culture- and molecular-based approaches. Molecular clocks and phylogenetic analysis. Characterization of complex microbial communities.

Laboratory practice
- Gram staining
- Viable cell count by plating assays
- Determination of the minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration of antibiotics
- Antibiogram (Kirby-Bauer assays)

Brock. Biology of microorganisms. Madigan, Martinko, Stahl, Bender, Buckley. Pearson.

The textbook must be integrated with the slides of the lessons and the protocols of the exercises that will be provided by the teacher.

Program of the Virology and antimicrobial immunity unit.
What are viruses and how do they replicate. Types of capsids and their function, types of genomes and phases of the viral multiplication cycle.
Definition of viral species and quasi-species and introduction to viral taxonomy
Acute, latent and persistent infections: definition and examples
David Baltimore's breakdown of viruses into 7 replication classes and the differences between classes.
Virus titration, cultivation and isolation methodologies
Attack mechanisms and viral penetration.
The size of the viral genomes and their distinctive characteristics compared to the cellular genomes
Genetic variability in DNA and RNA viruses in comparison.
Antibodies: structure and function, monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies, use in microbiology
The definition of serotype and genotype and methods used to define them (neutralization test and genome sequencing)
Introduction to innate antimicrobial immunity and PAMPs, induction of type I interferons and introduction to their mechanism of action.
Notes on the humoral and cellular adaptive immune response against microbial infections (role of B, Tc and Th lymphocytes). Differences between primary and secondary immune response to infections.
SV40 and human papillomaviruses, two small dsDNA animal viruses of Baltimore class I viruses: replication cycle, definition of host and permissive and non-permissive cells, promotion of oncogenesis.
Replicative cycle of three different positive ssRNA viruses in comparison (i.e., poliovirus, hepatitis C virus, phage Qβ or MS2) as examples of Baltimore class IV viruses). Introduction to coronaviruses and viral pandemics.
The Vesicular Stomatitis Virus and the flu virus in comparison (examples of Baltimore class V viruses).
Retroviruses as example of Baltimore class VI viruses (oncogenic retroviruses and the AIDS virus). The hepatitis B virus (Baltimore class VII) an upside down retrovirus.
Antimicrobial vaccines (the origin: Jenner and smallpox, Pasteur and rabies; examples of anti-viral and antibacterial vaccines used today)
Practical laboratory exercises:
1. introduction to animal cell cultures
2. hemagglutination test as a titration or serological identification test

For the Virology and antimicrobial immunity Unit use the PDF files of lessons and exercise present in the Moodle platform and the following textbook: N. J. Dimmock, A. J. Easton, K. N. Leppard - Introduction to Modern Virology - Seventh edition 2016 -Wiley Blackwell - ISBN 978-1-119-97810-7 or later editions.
Consult the web site viralzone.expasy.org.