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CODE 84698
ACADEMIC YEAR 2018/2019
CREDITS
LANGUAGE Italian
TEACHING LOCATION
  • GENOVA
SEMESTER 2° Semester

OVERVIEW

In the course of biological evolution will be developed topics related to the old and new evolutionary theories. The biological evolution in recent decades has increasingly adopted a molecular approach in order to understand the evolution of genomes and cell types present in multi-cellular organisms. Moreover, the bioinformatics help to resolve the evolutionary history of species thanks to the analysis of gene sequences.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course aims to investigate the following aspects: Evolution of species. Evolutionary theories. Molecular evolution. Evolutionary mechanisms underlying the evolution of genomes. Bioinformatic and phylogenetic trees reconstruction.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

Attendance and participation in the planned training activities (lectures and computer activities) will allow the student to acquire the most important aspects of this course.

Specifically, the student will be able to:

1. to describe the basic notions on the evolution of species and evolutionary theories;

2. describe the main evolutionary mechanisms underlying the evolution of genomes;

3. look for homologous gene sequences and construct phylogenetic trees.

PREREQUISITES

To adress the teaching content is necessary to have basic knowledge on biology, organic and inorganic chemistry, molecular biology and biochemistry.

TEACHING METHODS

The teaching consists of lectures and exercises in the computer room.

Lectures are carried out with the help of powerpoint presentations.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The course focus on the following aspects:

- From Darwin's side: old and new evolutionary theories

- The history of the Celacanto: the living fossil fish and the conquest of the land that emerged

- Dinosaurs among us: their descendants surviving extinction

- From bats to whales: the opposite extremisms of the adaptive radiation of mammals

- Molecular evolution: aminoacids, RNA and DNA.

- Evolution of the cell types that constitute the current multicellular organisms.

- Evolution of genomes, genetic variability and evolution.

- Evolution and embryonic development: Evo-Devo.

- Phylogenetic trees and bioinformatics.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

All the PowerPoint presentations and other teaching material will be available on AulaWeb at the end of each cycle of lessons / exercises.

The recommended texts are:

-Marco Ferraguti e Carla Castellacci.Evoluzione. Modelli e processi. Pearson Education pagine 456. ISBN 9788871926247
-David SadavaCraig H HellerGordon H Orians,William K PurvesDavid M. Hillis.

-Biologia, Volume 3, L'evoluzione e la biodiversità. Zanichelli pagine 360 ISBN 9788808202123
 

-Douglas J. Futuyma L' evoluzione Zanichelli pagine 701 ISBN: 8808166929

- Mason K.A., Losos J.B. Singer S.R. - Evoluzione e diversità della vita. Piccin Editore, Padova

- Futuyma D.J. - L'evoluzione. Zanichelli Editore, Bologna

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

SIMONA CANDIANI (President)

ROBERTO PRONZATO

LESSONS

LESSONS START

From the second semester. The timetable will be agreed with the students.

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The exam consists of a written and an oral part.

The written exam will be done with multiple choice questions and open questions.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The written and oral examination will focus on the topics covered during the lectures and exercises by the computer and will have the purpose to assess both the correct understanding of the topics, and the ability of the student to apply what is acquired.

Exam schedule

Data appello Orario Luogo Degree type Note
23/01/2019 09:00 GENOVA Orale
14/02/2019 09:00 GENOVA Orale
14/06/2019 09:00 GENOVA Orale
01/07/2019 09:00 GENOVA Orale
26/07/2019 09:00 GENOVA Orale
05/09/2019 09:00 GENOVA Orale
17/09/2019 09:00 GENOVA Orale

FURTHER INFORMATION

Attendance at lessons is strongly recommended.