"Biology" Solomon et al. Sounders College Publishing
"Biology" Campbell, Pearson
"The world of the cell" Becker et al., Pearson
“Biologia e Botanica Farmaceutica” Felice Senatore Ed. Piccin
Learning Objectives
Aim of the course, organized in lectures, is to provide to the student the basic knowledge necessary for the comprehension of biological issues during the degree. The course will focus on fundamental biology topics such as cell structure and function as well as genetic. The vegetal biology lectures will provide the basic knowledge essential for the comprehension of successive courses such as Botanica Farmaceutica and Farmacognosia.
Teaching Methods
Lectures (72 hours)
Further information
Contact hours: every thursday from 13 to 15 by email appointment.
Department of Experimental, Clinical and Biomedical Sciences
Viale Morgagni 50-50134 Firenze
Tel. 055 4598329, Fax 055 4598905
email: chiara.donati@unifi.it
http://www4.unifi.it/scibio/pers/bruni/bruni.html
Type of Assessment
oral examination
Course program
Cellular Theory. Chemistry of the cell. Methods to observe cells and molecules. Macromolecules of the cell: lipids, carbohydrates, proteins and nucleic acids. Organization of the cell. Prokaryotic cell. Prokaryotic wall. Eukaryotic cell. Cellular organelles: structure and function. Endoplasmic Reticulum, Golgi Apparatus, lysosomes and peroxisomes. Cell Membranes: structure and function. Endocytosis and exocytosis. Active and passive transport. Cytoskeleton: microtubules, microfilaments and intermediate filaments. Extracellular matrix and cell junctions. Nucleus and chromosomes. Bioenergetic: energy flux in the cells. Enzymes and catalysis. Regulation of enzymatic activity. ATP. Metabolism. Autotrophs and Eterotrophs. Glycolysis, fermentation and respiration. Mitochondrion. The chemical nature of genetic material. DNA: structure and function. Mutations and repair mechanisms. DNA organization in genomes. DNA replication. Gene expression. RNA transcription. Maturation of eukaryotic RNAs. Eukaryotic transcription factors. Genetic code. Translation. Post-translational modification of proteins. Regulation of gene expression in Prokaryotes. Regulation of gene expression in Eukaryotes: genomic, transcriptional and post-transcriptional control. Bacteria reproduction. Cell cycle. Mitosis. Cell cycle regulation. Tumor cells. Asexual and sexual reproduction. Meiosis. Principles of heredity: mendelian and post-mendelian genetic. Mechanism of signal transduction. Electric and synaptic signals in neural cells. Messengers and receptors. Viruses, virioids and prions. Molecular genetic of viruses and bacteria. The plant kingdom. Plant cell and its characteristics. Vacuole. Cell wall. Plastids. Chloroplasts. Leucoplasts and starch. Photosynthesis. C4 and CAM plants. Nonvascular plants. Vascular seedless plants. Gymnosperm and Angiosperm. Monocotyledonous. Dicotyledonous. Anatomy of Plants: root, stem, leaves, seed, fruit and flowers. Stomatal functioning. Levels of organization of plant structure. Tissues and systems of tissues. Transport, defence and support mechanisms in Plants. Storage of nutrients. Sexual and asexual reproduction. Regulation of Plant development. Vegetal hormones and other chemicals implicated in Plant growth and development. Nutritional and environmental adaptations.