module Rossi_ The revolutionary discoveries of Nobel laureates in Biology over the last 70 years:
1. The double helix of DNA-Watson, Crick, Wilkins
2. Gene regulation-Jacob, Monod, Lwoff
3. Neurotrophins-Levi Montalcini, Cohen
4. Cell Death- Brenner, Sulston, Horvitz
5. RNA interference-Fire, Mello
6. RNA vaccines-Karikó Weissman

No textbook will be adopted. Slides of the lectures will be provided

Please refer to the page
https://www.uniroma3.it/insegnamento-erogato/dipartimento-di-scienze/l/2023-2024/scienze-biologiche-0580706201300001/d56a627b-e9f4-49f6-abf5-62de4a1de19e--20410003/
of the Degree Course in Biological Sciences, which offers the teaching of

Please refer to the page
https://www.uniroma3.it/insegnamento-erogato/dipartimento-di-scienze/l/2023-2024/scienze-biologiche-0580706201300001/d56a627b-e9f4-49f6-abf5-62de4a1de19e--20410003/
of the Degree Course in Biological Sciences, which offers the teaching of

see the profile of the lecturer in charge of the course

see the profile of the lecturer in charge of the course

Quantifiers. Numbers: natural, integer, rational, real. Axioms of real numbers; density of Q in R. Irrationality of 2.
Cartesian coordinates in the plane. Distance between points on the line, in the plane. Equation of a circle. Absolute value as distance from the origin of a point on the real line.
Linear algebra (in 2 and 3 dimensions): points and vectors; slope of a segment; sum and difference of vectors, product by a scalar, parallelism conditions; scalar product, orthogonality conditions; vector product, equivalence of the geometric and coordinate formulation for both products.

Introduction to the functions of a variable, relationships between quantities. Graph of a function. Algebra of graphs.
Examples and definition of limit: to infinity, and then to a point. Operations with limits, Squeeze theorem. Limits of quotients of polynomials. Asymptotes. Some important limits.

Continuous functions; continuity at a point and an interval. Theorems on continuous functions: existence of the maximum and minimum, intermediate values. Discontinuity.

Exponential and logarithm functions.

Derivatives: geometric meaning, definition. Operations with derivatives: sum, product, quotient, multiplication by a constant. Derivation techniques, derivatives of the main functions. Derivation of composite functions and the inverse of a function. Equation of the tangent line at a point on the graph. Stationary points.
Fermat's theorem. Rolle and the mean value or Lagrange theorems. Monotonicity and sign of the first derivative. Linear approximation, or first-order Taylor formula. Second derivatives, concavities, inflections. Graph sketching. Related changes, growth rates.
Introduction to integrals: indefinite and definite integrals, their meaning. The problem of calculating the area of a region in the plane. The mean value theorem. The fundamental theorem of integral calculus. Integration for parts and replacement.
Introduction to Differential Equations: growth models, logistic equation. Separation of variables method; Cauchy problems. Exponential growth and decay.
Harmonic oscillator, its solution, modeling discussion of the solution.

James Stewart, Calculus: single variable calculus (più i capitoli del secondo volume, sull’algebra lineare e sulle equazioni differenziali, che verranno forniti in pdf)
Dario Benedetto, Mirko Degli Esposti, Carlotta Maffei Matematica per le scienze della vita
Terza edizione, Casa Editrice Ambrosiana. Zanichelli, 2015
Paolo Marcellini, Carlo Sbordone. Elementi di calcolo (versione semplificata per i nuovi corsi di laurea). Liguori Ed.

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.

- Alessandro DEMARTIN "Fondamenti di Chimica Generale", EdiSES;
- NIVALDO J. TRO "Chemistry: A Molecular Approach", EdiSES;
- 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 TEAMS CHANNEL OF "GENERAL ANS INORGANIC CHEMISTRY" COURSE, "files" folder - "slides" subfolder

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.

-EVERT, EICHHORN- LA BIOLOGIA DELLE PIANTE DI RAVEN- VII ED. ZANICHELLI 2013
-PASQUA. ABBATE, FORNI- BOTANICA GENERALE E DIVERSITÀ VEGETALE- ED. PICCIN, PADOVA. IV ED. 2019.
- 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:

EVERT, EICHHORN- LA BIOLOGIA DELLE PIANTE DI RAVEN, ED. ZANICHELLI, VII ED. 2018.
Pasqua, Abbate, Forni. Botanica generale e Diversità vegetale. ED. 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.
0. Import-export of data. Format of numbers,
a. table construction,
b. functions, functions in matrix form,
c. histograms and bar charts,
d. scatter charts.
0.
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.

- Alessandro DEMARTIN "Fondamenti di Chimica Generale", EdiSES;
- NIVALDO J. TRO "Chemistry: A Molecular Approach", EdiSES;
- 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 TEAMS CHANNEL OF "GENERAL ANS INORGANIC CHEMISTRY" COURSE, "files" folder - "slides" subfolder

Lecture (7CFU): 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).
Laboratory experiences (2 CFU): Introduction to organic laboratory precedures. Purification tecnique: crystallization, extraction, distillation and chromatography (adsorption, partitioning, ion exchange, affinity); short references on TLC and gas chromatography. Practical experiences in the laboratory: polarimetry, maleic acid/fumaric acid isomerization, separations by extraction, TLC and column chromatography, esterification.

W. H. Brown, B.L. Iverson, E.V. Anslyn, C.S. Foote Organic Chemistry
J. Mc Murry Chimica Organica Ed. Piccin
pdf notes of lessons are available to students on Moodle

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.
o Charge and discharge of capacitors.
o Biological examples

One of these:
Andrea Alessandrini: Fisica per le Scienze della Vita (CEA, Zanichelli), (ISBN: 978-88-08-92045-4) http://online.universita.zanichelli.it/alessandrini
J. Walker: Fondamenti di Fisica (V ed.) (Pearson) (ISBN: 978-88-6518-928-3)

Zoology (general part)
- Animal biodiversity (concepts and approach to the study of biodiversity)
- Introduction to disciplines studying biodiversity
- History and concepts of evolutionary thought
- Concept of inter- and intraspecific diversity and variability
- Concept of species and speciation
- Genetic drift, inbreeding, founder effect, bottleneck
- Evolutionary processes: extinction, adaptive radiation
- Adaptive processes and ecological niche
- Interaction between organisms (predation, parasitism, sociality, etc.)
- Concepts of community ecology

Hickmann et al. Zoologia, Editore: McGraw-Hill Education (a cura di di Arizza Vincenzo, Coppellotti Olimpia, Guidolin Laura)
Rupert et al. Zoologia degli invertebrati, Ediotore: Piccin

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.

Menegola "Manuale di Biologia dello Sviluppo Animale", EdiSES.
Stingo "Anatomia Comparata", Edi-Ermes.

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

The Bioenergetics and Metabolism module (Prof. Alessandra di Masi) will cover the following topics: bioenergetics and types of biochemical reactions, glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, pentose phosphate pathway, principles of metabolic regulation, citric acid cycle, fatty acid catabolism, amino acid oxidation and urea cycle, oxidative phosphorylation.

The practice module of the course of Biochemistry is MANDATORY and 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.

- NELSON, COX, I PRINCIPI DI BIOCHIMICA DI LEHININGER, ZANICHELLI
- VOET, VOET, PRATT, FONDAMENTI DI BIOCHIMICA, ZANICHELLI STRYER, BIOCHIMICA, ZANICHELLI
- MCGRAW-HILLMORAN ET AL., BIOCHIMICA, ZANICHELLI.
- M. K. Campbell, S. O. Farrell, O. M. McDougal "Biochimica", Ed. Edises


RECEPTION TIME: Monday 10 am

First module: Protein Structure

Water
Weak interactions in aqueous systems
The hydrogen bond
Ionisation of water, weak acids and bases
Amino acids, peptides and proteins
Amino acids
Peptides and proteins
The covalent bonds of peptides and proteins
The structure of proteins
Primary structure
Secondary structure
Tertiary structure
Quaternary structure
Supramolecular structures
Folding and unfolding (general aspects)
Protein functions
Enzymology
Carbohydrates
Lipids
Nucleotides and nucleic acids
Techniques for the isolation and characterization of proteins

Nelson, Cox – Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry, W.H. Freeman, 8th edition

The practical module of the course includes three laboratory experiences. The topics of the experiences are:

- Extraction of proteins from egg white and their quantification using the Bradford method (first experience)

- Preparation of samples for loading on SDS-PAGE (second experience)

- Characterisation of the enzymatic activity of lactate dehydrogenase (third experience)

The slides of each lecture will be made available

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.

Author: Stingo
Title: Anatomia Comparata
Publisher: Edi-Ermes

1. BASIC TECHNOLOGIES OF GENE ANALYSIS; RESTRICTION ENZYMES; ELECTROPHORETIC ANALYSIS. 2. VECTORS; CLONING. 3. PCR; REAL TIME PCR; PCR APPLICATIONS. 4. GENETIC VARIABILITY APPLIED TO FORENSIC SCIENCE 5. GENE IDENTIFICATION; GENOMIC LIBRERIES AND cDNA LIBRERIES; YEAST TWO HYBRID SYSTEM 6. MUTAGENESIS. 7. RECOMBINANT PROTEIN PRODUCTION AND PURIFICATION. 8. FROM SANGER SEQUENCING TO NEXT-GENERATION SEQUENCING. 9. POST-GENOMICS ANALYSIS; TRANSCRIPTOMIC ANALYSIS; REPORTER GENES. 10. PROTEOMIC ANALYSIS. 11. PRODUCTION AND ANALYSIS OF TRANSGENIC PLANTS. 12. GENETIC MODIFICATION OF ANIMAL CELLS; TRANSGENIC ANIMALS CONSTRUCTION. 13. GENE TRAPPING; GENE TARGETING. 14. ANIMAL CLONING; GENE THERAPY. 15. THE CRISPR-CAS SYSTEM: EMERGING TECHNOLOGY AND APPLICATION AND APPLICATIONS.

Recommended textbooks:
1. METODOLOGIE BIOCHIMICHE STRUMENTI E TECNICHE PER IL LABORATORIO DEL NUOVO MILLENNIO, MACCARRONE M., E BIOMOLECOLARI, CASA EDITRICE ZANICHELLI
2. DAI GENI AI GENOMI, JEREMY W. DALE, MALCOLM VON SCHANTZ, NICK PLANT, A CURA DI: E. GINELLI, CASA EDITRICE EDISES
3. ANALISI DEI GENI E GENOMI, REECE, EDISES.
4. TECNICHE E METODI PER LA BIOLOGIA MOLECOLARE, AMALDI F., BENEDETTI P., PESOLE G., PLEVANI P., CASA EDITRICE AMBROSIANA.

Lecture notes and calculation exercises will be provided.
Non-attending students are invited to request information on the program, teaching materials and how to evaluate the profit.
The professor receives every day from 10.00 to 11.00 by appointment via e-mail: manuela.cervelli@uniroma3.it

THE COURSE OF MOLECULAR BIOLOGY IS PART OF THE TEACHING ACTIVITIES OF THE DEGREE COURSE IN LIFE SCIENCES. THE COURSE THROUGH FRONTAL LESSONS AND LABORATORY TRAINING AIMS TO PROVIDE 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. TOOLS WILL BE GIVEN TO UNDERSTAND THE MAIN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY STRATEGIES AND TECHNIQUES UTILIZED TO STUDY GENES AND GENOMES. FURTHERMORE, THE SUBJECT TAKES INTO CONSIDERATION THE MOST UPDATED MOLECULAR BIOLOGY EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES UTILIZED IN BASIC AND APPLIED RESEARCH. THE STUDENTS WILL GET ACQUAINTED WITH THEORETICAL KNOWLEDGES AND METHODOLOGICAL SKILLS THAT WILL ENABLE THEM TO APPLY THE CORRECT STUDY TO SOLVE SPECIFIC PROBLEMS IN THE FIELD OF MOLECULAR BIOLOGY.
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; DNA REPAIR SYSTEMS; GENETIC RECOMBINATION; GENETIC ENGINEERING AND DNA RECOMBINANT TECHNIQUES.

BIOLOGIA MOLECOLARE, AMALDI ET AL., TERZA EDIZIONE, CASA EDITRICE ZANICHELLI
BIOLOGIA MOLECOLARE, CAPRANICO ET AL, II EDIZIONE, CASA EDITRICE EDISES
FONDAMENTI DI BIOLOGIA MOLECOLARE, L.A. ALLISON, SECONDA EDIZIONE ITALIANA, CASA EDITRICE ZANICHELLI
The professor receives every day from 8.00 to 9.00 by appointment via e-mail: giovanni.antonini@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

distribution and dispersion; density, structure (genetic and demographic) and population dynamics; time table; interactions between species

Elementi di Ecologia, Thomas M. Smith & Robert L. Smith (Autore). Pearson

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.

Program of the lessons
-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, Photereceptors and Responses to variations of the spectral quality of the light.
-Photoperodism.
-Control of Flowering.

Laboratory exercises:
1) Determination of water potential in glycophytes and halophytes, weight gain / loss method;
2) Photosynthesis: preparation of thylakoid vesicles and their use in the Hill reaction;
3) 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.

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)

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.

Course program
The plant cell. The cell wall: structure, biogenesis and role in cell expansion. Water and plant cells: structure and properties of water, water transport processes (diffusion, mass flow, osmosis), water potential. The osmotic behavior of plant cells. Aquaporins. The water balance of the plant and the soil-plant-atmosphere continuum: the absorption of water in the root, xylem transport (Tension-Cohesion theory), transpiration. Stomata: morphology, opening and closing mechanisms, regulation by environmental signals. The transport of solutes in solution and across a membrane barrier: the electrochemical potential and the Nernst equation. The transport of solutes across biological membranes: transport proteins, active and passive transport, membrane potential in plant cells. Photosynthesis: light reactions. General concepts, organization of the photosynthetic apparatus, antenna systems, reaction centers, excitation of photosynthetic pigments, photosynthetic electron transport chain, Z-scheme, redox potential, water photolysis, plastoquinone and cytochrome complex. Proton gradient formation and ATP synthesis in the chloroplast. Regulation of the photosynthetic process under excessive light: photoinhibition and photoprotection of PSII. Photosynthesis: carbon reactions. Calvin-Benson cycle, photorespiration, mechanisms of CO2 concentration in C4 and CAM plants, starch and sucrose biosynthesis, carbohydrate allocation and accumulation. Translocation in the phloem: pressure flow model, loading and unloading. Respiration: glycolysis, pentose phosphate pathway, citric acid cycle, mitochondrial electron transport, cyanide-resistant respiration, alternative oxidase. Lipid metabolism. Nutrient assimilation: nitrogen and sulphur cycle, nitrate and ammonium assimilation, biological nitrogen fixation, sulphur and phosphate assimilation, nutritional deficiencies.

The professor receives every day by appointment via e-mail: alessandra.cona@uniroma3.it

Plant Physiology (in English language); Taiz and Zeiger; Sinuaver associates (fifth edition)

MEMBRANE DYNAMIC (0.5 CFU): STRUCTURE, FUNCTIONS AND DYNAMICS OF CELL PLASMA MEMBRANES. JUNCTIONS, CHANNELS, RECEPTORS. PERMEABILITY, DIFFUSION, OSMOSYS, TONICITY. PLASMA MEMBRANE TRANSPORT SYSTEMS: FACILITATE, PRIMARY AND SECONDARY ACTIVE TRANSPORT. ENDOCYTOSIS-EXOCYTOSIS. ABSORPTION.

HOMEOSTASIS AND CONTROL (2 CFU):ORGANIZATION OF CENTRAL AND AUTONOMOUS NERVOUS SYSTEM. ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES OF THE PLASMA MEMBRANES, GENESIS OF THE TRANSPLASMA MEMBRANE POTENTIAL, EXCITABILITY, RESTING MEMBRANE POTENTIAL, ELECTROTONIC AND ACTION POTENTIAL. PROPAGATION AND TRANSMISSION OF ELECTRIC SIGNALS. SYNAPSES. SOMATIC AND AUTONOMOUS REFLEX ARC. BASIC SENSORY PHYSIOLOGY AND RECEPTORS. HORMONES. CELL COMMUNICATION, GENERAL PROPERTIES OF THE ENDOCRINE SYSTEM, CHEMICAL STRUCTURE AND RELEASE OF HORMONES. HORMONE SIGNAL TRANSDUCTION.

FUNCTION OF ORGANS AND SYSTEMS (4 CFU): MUSCLE SYSTEM. SKELETAL, SMOOTH, CARDIAC MUSCLE. MECHANIC OF THE SKELETAL MUSCLE CONTRACTION. MYOGRAM. REFRACTORY PERIOD. TETANIC CONTRACTION. CONTROL OF THE MUSCLE CONTRACTION. CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM. ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES OF THE HEART, POTENTIALS OF PACEMAKER CELLS AND WORKING MYOCARDIUM, THE HEART AS A PUMP. INTRINSIC AND EXTRINSIC REGULATION OF THE HEART CARDIAC OUTPUT. VASCULAR SYSTEM, FLUX, ARTERY PRESSURE AND ITS REGULATION. THE BLOOD. PROPERTIES, GLOBULAR RESISTANCE, BLOOD DISTRIBUTION TO TISSUES. COAGULATION. RESPIRATORY SYSTEM. RESPIRATORY MECHANIC, VENTILATION, EXCHANGE AND TRANSPORT OF GASES, PH REGULATION, REGULATION OF VENTILATION. RENAL SYSTEM. GLOMERULAR FILTRATION, REASSORBTION, SECRETION, EXCRETION. HORMONE REGULATION OF THE RENAL FUNCTION. DIGESTIVE SYSTEM. MOTILITY, SECRETION, DIGESTION, ABSORPTION OF CARBOHYDRATES, LIPIDS AND PROTEINS.

INTEGRATED PHYSIOLOGY (1.5 CFU): BASIS OF NUTRITION PHYSIOLOGY, METABOLISM AND ENERGETIC BALANCE. HOMEOSTATIC CONTROL OF ENERGETIC METABOLISM BY INSULIN AND GLUCAGON, THERMOREGULATION. HYDRO-ELECTROLYTIC HOMEOSTASIS. ACID-BASE EQUILIBRIUM. BODY ACCLIMATATION TO EXERCISE AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGES

PRATICAL LABORATORY ACTIVITIES (1CFU)

Taglietti V Fondamenti di Fisiologia Generale e Integrata 2019 EDISES
Cindy L. Stanfield Fisiologia 2012 EDISES
D.U. Silverthorn FISIOLOGIA UMANA 2020 PEARSON, MILANO –TORINO, ITALIA.

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.

Lab practice about:
Osmosis, eritrocyte resistence, spirometric and blood pressure measurements.

Books indicated by prof. Maria Marino chief of the course.

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.

The Virology and Antimicrobial Immunity module will cover the following topics:
Characteristics and structure of viruses, stages of viral infection and replication;
Viruses classification;
Examples of DNA viruses: Papillomavirus (HPV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), Hepatitis B virus (HBV);
Examples of RNA viruses: Hepatitis C virus (HCV), poliovirus, coronavirus, influenza virus;
Retroviruses and HIV;
Basic principles of immunology, immune response to infections;
viral pathogenesis;
Diagnosis of viral infections;
Antiviral drugs.