OVERVIEW

This course provides a basic outline of the principles of modern biology and genetics in the context of evolution. It focuses on the main molecular and cellular mechanisms that are involved in life sciences emphasising  the mechanisms at the base of the main biological processes such as the molecular basis of heredity. 

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

This module will provide the basic knowledge about biology that is required to understand biotechnology concepts and techniques for productive purposes. The aim of the course is to place the main biological processes within a setting that allows biotechnologists to take advantage of their potential and translate knowledge into biotech products.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

Upon completion of the course, students should be able to recognize and describe genetic phenomena and demonstrate knowledge of:

-How to study life.

-Cellular and subcellular structures and functions

-Structure and function of genetic material

-gene expression and its regulation.

TEACHING METHODS

Lectures and exercises

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

1: How to study life

2: Biotechnology

3: Scientific methods and literature

4: The origin of life

5: Cell theory 1

6: Seminar

7: Cell Membrane

8: Chromosomes

9: Cell cycle and cell division

10: From mendelian to modern genetics

11: Origin and development of Molecular Biology

12: From DNA to Proteins, from genotype to phenotype

13: Eukaryotic genome and its expression

14: Recombinant DNA and Biotechnology

15 Genome sequencing, molecular biology and the origin of molecular medicine

16: Developmental biology

17: The history of life on earth

18: Evolutionary mechanisms

19: The origin of species and the evolution of genomes

20: Procaryotes

21: Origin and diversification of Eukaryotes

22: Phylogenesis

23: The origin of animals and their body plan

24: Seminar

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Principi di Biologia” Sadawa, Heller, Orians, Purves, Hillis. (Ed. Zanichelli).

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

PAOLA GHIORZO (President)

PAOLO GIANNONI (President)

ALDO PAGANO (President)

LORENZA PASTORINO (President)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

October 1th

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Oral examination

The chance to carry out a supplementary oral examination  is available both to students whose final average mark is 17/30 and  to those who wish to increase the mark (at least 27/30) they obtained in the written examination. 

ASSESSMENT METHODS

Oral examination. It is always led by the owner and by another teacher role with many years of experience (only in exceptional cases, the second component can be a fellow with at least 5 years of postgraduate research experience) and has a duration of at least 30 minutes (typically 45 minutes). With these modes, given the long experience of examinations in the discipline, the commission is able to verify with high accuracy to achieve the educational objectives of teaching. When these are not met, the student is invited to deepen the study and to use further explanation by the lecturer.

Exam schedule

FURTHER INFORMATION

All the topics covered in class can be found in the ”aula web” slides.
Any other, more in-depth material is mentioned at the end of the lesson and can be found in the “aula web” slides.
 https://www.biotecnologie.aulaweb.unige.it