Portale di Ateneo - En.Unibs.it

INTRODUCTION: FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS OF BIOLOGY
Living beings and cell theory, the central dogma of Biology, prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, evolution as the unifying principle of Biology, virus.

COMPOSITION OF LIVING MATTER
Inorganic and organic constituents. The biological molecules: carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and nucleic acids (DNA and RNA). DNA as genetic material. Chromatin and organization of DNA in eukaryotic chromosomes.

CELLS ORGANIZATION
The prokaryotic cell. Structure of the eukaryotic cell. Cell membranes. Nucleus, rough and smooth endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, lysosomes. Protein trafficking across the endomembrane system. Mitochondria and peroxisomes. Cytoskeleton: microtubules, intermediate filaments, microfilaments. Extracellular matrix. Mechanisms of transport across membranes.

REPLICATION OF GENETIC MATERIAL
Semi-conservative model and process of replication. Fidelity of replication and mechanism of “proofreading ". Causes of mutations, mutagens and principles on DNA repair.

EXPRESSION OF GENETIC INFORMATION: FROM DNA TO PROTEINS
Structure of procariotic and eukaryotic genes. Transcription. Eukaryotic mRNA maturation. Genetic code and its features. Translation. Gene mutations and their effect on the gene product.

REGULATION OF GENE EXPRESSION IN EUKARYOTES
Roles, levels and regulatory mechanisms: chromatin modifications, DNA methylation and concept of epigenetics, regulation at trascription level, examples of other mechanisms.

CELL COMMUNICATION (PRINCIPLES)
Strategies, receptors and ligands, receptor-ligand interactions and examples of signal transduction pathways.

REPRODUCTION OF CELLS AND ORGANISMS
Chromosomes, haploidy and diploidy. Mitosis. Cell cycle stages, progression and check points. Cell death: necrosis and apoptosis. Sexual reproduction and meiosis. Gametogenesis: spermatogenesis and oogenesis. Cellular differentiation. Stem cells.