OVERVIEW

The course aims to investigate the main aspects of biological evolution by examining the different theories that have appeared over time and comparing them
with creationist theories. In particular, topics such as the origin of life, the mechanisms of speciation, the relationships between evolution and development will be discussed
the influence of man on nature.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Attendance at the planned educational activities such as lectures will allow the student to acquire the basic fundamental concepts.
In particular, the student will be able to acquire knowledge on:
- Chemical evolution: origin of life, the "RNA" world, appearance of the first cells.
- Molecular mechanisms of evolution: evolution of genomes, applications of molecular evolution. Macro and microevolution. Genetic variability ed
evolution. Speciation. Mutations. Fitness.
- The tree of life: construction of phylogenetic trees, hints of bioinformatics.
- Evolution and embryonic development. Evolution and comparative morphology.
- The history of life on earth; speciation, extinction, climate change and catastrophes
- The old and new evolutionary theories
- The Coelacanth and the conquest of emerged lands
- Dinosaurs and their extinction descendants
- The opposite extremisms of adaptive mammalian radiation
- Our ancestors and relatives between belief and myth
- Human influence on nature: extinction, domestication and genetic manipulation

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

- Chemical evolution: origin of life, the "RNA" world, appearance of the first cells.
- Molecular mechanisms of evolution: evolution of genomes, applications of molecular evolution. Macro and microevolution. Genetic variability ed
evolution. Speciation. Mutations. Fitness.
- The tree of life: construction of phylogenetic trees, hints of bioinformatics.
- Evolution and embryonic development. Evolution and comparative morphology.
- Once upon a time: history of life on earth; speciation, extinction, climate change and catastrophes
- On Darwin's side: old and new evolutionary theories
- The history of the Coelacanth: the living fossil fish and the conquest of emerged lands
- Dinosaurs between us: their descendants survived extinction
- From bats to whales: the opposite extremisms of adaptive mammalian radiation
- Linus Homo ferus: our ancestors and relatives between belief and myth
- Leashed animals: the influence of man on nature: extinctions, domestication and genetic manipulation

PREREQUISITES

The teaching consists of lectures conducted with the help of powerpoint presentations and audiovisual tools.

TEACHING METHODS

The teaching consists of lectures conducted with the help of powerpoint presentations and audiovisual tools.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

- Chemical evolution: origin of life, the "RNA" world, appearance of the first cells.

- Molecular mechanisms of evolution: evolution of genomes, applications of molecular evolution. Macro and microevolution. Genetic variability and evolution. Speciation. Mutations. Fitness.

- The tree of life: construction of phylogenetic trees, hints of bioinformatics.

- Evolution and embryonic development. Evolution and comparative morphology.

- Once upon a time: history of life on earth; speciation, extinction, climate change and catastrophes

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

- The history of the Coelacanth: the living fossil fish and the conquest of emerged lands

- Dinosaurs between us: their descendants survived extinction

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

- Linus Homo ferus: our ancestors and relatives between belief and myth

- Leashed animals: the influence of man on nature: extinctions, domestication and genetic manipulation

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

I testi consigliai sono:

Marco Ferraguti e Carla Castellacci.

Evoluzione. Modelli e processi.
Pearson Education
pagine 456
Euro 36,00
ISBN 9788871926247

David Sadava, Craig H Heller, Gordon H Orians,William K Purves, David M. Hillis.

Biologia, Volume 3, L'evoluzione e la biodiversità.

Zanichelli

pagine 360

Euro 35,20

ISBN 9788808202123

Douglas J. Futuyma

L' evoluzione

Zanichelli

pagine 701

Euro 70.50

ISBN: 8808166929

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

MARIO PESTARINO (President)

SIMONA CANDIANI

ROBERTO PRONZATO

LESSONS

LESSONS START

Lessons starts in the second semester

Class schedule

BIOLOGICAL EVOLUTION