FUNDAMENTALS OF CELL BIOLOGY. The cell, as the structural and functional unit of living organisms. Prokaryotic cells: their structure, size, cell division mechanisms. Eukaryotic cells: the structure and function of organelles in animal and plant cells.
PRINCIPLES OF ECOLOGY. Climate, adaptation to the environment. Community ecology: factors influencing community structure; community dynamics; species richness and diversity. Intraspecific and interspecific interactions. Ecological successions. Biological diversity. Habitat. Ecological niche. Trophic levels and food webs. Species evenness and richness.
ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY Bioconcentration, biomagnification, bioaccumulation. Dose-response curve. Xenobiotics metabolism. Octanol-water partition coefficient.
HYDROSPHERE Physical, chemical and biological factors. Alkalinity, hardness. Recall of salts and gases solubility in liquids. Recall of electrochemistry: application of Nernst law. Eutrophication.
GEOSPHERE Soil. Physical, chemical and biological factors. Soil horizons. Decomposition and nutrients cycles. Humification. Erosion. Loss in organics. Cationic and anionic exchange capacity. pH. Salinization. Acidification.
ATMOSPHERE Structure and composition. Photochemistry. Acid rains. Photochemical and reducing smog. Tropospheric and stratospheric ozone. Greenhouse effect. Air particulate.
POLLUTION PHENOMENA Main groups of inorganic and organic pollutants and their physical and chemical properties. Emerging pollutants. Trace pollutants. Carcinogenic, mutagenic, teratogenic substances. Persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic pollutants. Ozone-depleting chemicals. Principles of biomonitoring.