Introduction to the methods of biological research, intended as a systematic, controlled, empirical and critical study of natural phenomenology, which is developed from the formulation of an hypothesis until the construction of the explanation.
Setting the basic skills relative to the processing of experimental results and the communication in the written form.
Also, a lessons cycle will be dedicated to the most profitable study methods

The objective of this course is to give students an understanding of basic calculus as well as to enable them to approach problems from a mathematical perspective.

The course aims to teach the general aspects of the structure and function of the mammalian cell and tissues.
The goal of this course is to enable students to recognize the cell and tissue structure under the optical microscope.

The aim of this course is to provide a basic knowledge of the general and inorganic chemistry principles, as well as the ability to apply the acquired competences to solve stoichiometry problems.

Purpose of the course is to give the knowledge of the fundamental principles of the General and Inorganic Chemistry and also the ability to apply the acquired knowledge to the solution of simple problems of General Chemistry.

Get the basic knowledges on the morpho-functional organization of the plants.
Introduction to the taxonomy and evolution of algae, bryophytes, pteridophytes, gimnosperms and angiosperms.
Identication of the main taxonomic plant groups.

This course is aimed to provide statistical, mathematical and computer competences needed to collect experimental data, synthesizing the quantitative information, compare the results and make previsions evaluating the risk of failure.
Practicals will mainly addressed to biological phenomena also concerning day-life aspects lessons (9 cfu) and practicals (3 cfu) describe:
- the principal methods for statistical synthesis: indexes, histograms, scatter plots (xy plots);
- the statistical laws that govern the experimental observations and cause the uncertainties associated with measurements and data processing.
- basic knowledge about probability and probability distribution functions, namely: binomial, poisson, uniform, gauss.
- use of “rejection tests” to understand and compare the experimental results.
- use of the bayes theorem, especially to understand the diagnostic tests.
The course will provide the following abilities
- to use statistical methods to synthesize the quantitative information in an experimental data set.
- to evaluate the uncertainty on direct and indirect measurements
- to evaluate the experimental results applying statistical tests
- to apply the bayes theorem in order to quantitatively understand the probability of a cause

Activities will use basic software (spreadsheets) for statistical data analysis

The aim of this course is to provide a basic knowledge of the general and inorganic chemistry principles, as well as the ability to apply the acquired competences to solve stoichiometry problems.

Purpose of the course is to give the knowledge of the fundamental principles of the General and Inorganic Chemistry and also the ability to apply the acquired knowledge to the solution of simple problems of General Chemistry.

The student goal is to develop skills to understand the chemical processes underlying cellular metabolism and the vital functions of living organisms. At the end of the course, the student must be able to identify the functional groups present in natural molecules and to know their physico chemical- characteristics and the reactivity at the base of their transformations.
To this end, the course aims to provide:
- information on the structure, nomenclature and physico-chemical properties of the main organic functional groups;
- skills to recognize the stereochemistry of molecules knowing how to correlate it with the spatial structure of asymmetric carbons;
- knowledge of the structure / activity relationships and of the main organic chemistry reactions with particular regard to the mechanism of functional groups formation and
transformation and to the stereochemistry of products deriving from reactions on chiral substrates.

Provide a good basic knowledge about The Concepts, Laws and Principles of Physics, particularly with regard to topics related to the degree course in Biological Sciences.
Develop the skills to apply these Laws and Principles for the quantitative interpretation of real phenomena, with particular regard to the specific aspects of the degree course in Biological Sciences and the professional expectations of a future Biologist.
The course, with mandatory attendance, includes theoretical lessons, exercises and practical activities. Practical activities will use, as far as possible, materials and tools that are easily available so that they can be reproduced independently of students.

The main formative targets are:
1) the acquisition of an evolutionary approach to the animal biology;
2) the acquisition of a basic knowledge of both general zoology and animal diversity;
3) the self-evaluation by the student of the competence whitin the animal biology.

The main objective of the course is to provide the basic knowledge of developmental biology and anatomy of the vetebrate sub phylum, in an evolutionary key.
The anatomical organization is interpreted in the adaptive and evolulutionary perspective.

Principal aims of the course are the following:
1) learning and applying the comparative method;
2) knowledge of the major components of the diverse systems in an evolutionary and functional perspective;
3) achievement of the ability to observe, describe and report.
The student will acquire basic knowledge on animal development, from gametogenesis to organ formation. Fundamental molecular mechanisms underlying developmental processes, such as cell differentiation and morphogenesis will be approached.
The student will acquire theoretical and practical competence to recognize embryonic structures of vertebrates at the macroscopic and microscopic level.

Students are requested to be able in learning and applying theoretical and pratical knowledges related to mechanisms responsible for heredity of genetic traits.

Biochemical nomenclature.
Molecular aspects of biological systems.
Structure-function relationships of biological macromolecules.
Enzymatic catalysis.
Metabolic pathways.

The main objective of the course is to provide the basic knowledge of developmental biology and anatomy of the vetebrate sub phylum, in an evolutionary key.
The anatomical organization is interpreted in the adaptive and evolulutionary perspective.

Principal aims of the course are the following:
1) learning and applying the comparative method;
2) knowledge of the major components of the diverse systems in an evolutionary and functional perspective;
3) achievement of the ability to observe, describe and report.
The student will acquire basic knowledge on animal development, from gametogenesis to organ formation. Fundamental molecular mechanisms underlying developmental processes, such as cell differentiation and morphogenesis will be approached.
The student will acquire theoretical and practical competence to recognize embryonic structures of vertebrates at the macroscopic and microscopic level.

The aim is to acquire a knowledge of the English language at level B2.

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 procedures utilized in basic and applied research.

Major goals of this course are the achievement of solid skills in the various sectors of ecology (such as ecosystem, community and population ecology); solid training in basic ecology and applied ecology address to promote the protection, conservation and enhancement of natural resources; the strengthening and application of previously acquired knowledge (such as Botany and Zoology) in an ecological context; field observation and analysis of ecological issues; the development of interest in ecological questions in relation to man and environment; to develop basic elements for the collection, organization and interpretation of ecological data, both in laboratory and in field.

Provide a solid and updated knowledge on the molecular and physiological processes underlying the functioning of cells and different organs of plant organisms as well as on the fundamental processes that regulate the life of plants.
Provide the tools to develop the ability of critical analysis of experimental results and the ability to solve problems through laboratory didactics.
The study of plant physiology assumes a fundamental role in different disciplinary sectors and application fields as for example, the genetic improvement of plants, plant biotechnologies, pharmacology, plant pathology, plant ecology.

The main goals of this course are:
i) supply a strong and up-to-date knowledge on the bases of animal cell functions,
ii) develop the student’s knowledge on the dynamic integration of general functions into organs, systems and apparatuses,
iii) introduce the mechanisms of control of functions in healthy organisms,
iv) supply the students with the tools necessary to approach the study of complexity and emergent proprieties of functions,
v) develop student’s critical approach to experimental data and ability to problem solving.

The Unit “Virology and antimicrobial immunity” of the course of General Microbiology aims to provide the basic principles of antimicrobial immunity and of structure, function and evolution of viruses. The knowledge and skills acquired during this course will represent a framework for the understanding of the whole topic and of their impact on human health and the environment.
Students who have passed the exam will know and understand (acquired knowledge) (i) structural and functional diversity of viruses, (ii) main modality of their replication, (iii) mechanisms responsible for their evolution (iv) methods and strategies for their control (v) examples of their interaction with the host; (vi) basic principles of antimicrobial immunity.
Students who have passed the exam will be able to (acquired skills) (i) understand and analyse basic test regarding the field (ii) critically analyse issues related to evolution and diffusion of viruses and to antimicrobial immunity (iii) identify and develop key themes to build educational paths in microbiology.

The module of Bacteriology of the course of General Microbiology aims to provide the basic principles of structure, function and evolution of microbial cells, with particular regard to bacterial cells. The knowledge and skills acquired during this course will represent a framework for the study of the biotechnological applications of microorganisms and for the analysis of their impact on human health and the environment.
Students who have passed the exam will know and understand (acquired knowledge) (i) the structural and functional diversity which is present in the microbial world, (ii) the mechanisms responsible for the structure and functioning of bacterial cells, (iii) the mechanisms responsible for the evolution of bacterial species, (iv) the structure and life cycles of bacterial viruses (bacteriophages), (v) the methods and strategies for the control of microbial growth.
Students who have passed the exam will be also able to (acquired skills) (i) understand and analyse bacteriological and microbiological data, (ii) critically analyse the issues related to the evolution and diffusion of multi-resistant antibiotic bacteria, (iii) understand the experimental approaches for the study and exploitation of bacteria for biotechnological and environmental purposes, (iv) identify and develop key themes to build educational paths in microbiology.

The aim of the final exam is to allow the student to acquire the ability to apply the scientific method and to develop skills.