Molecular organization of cells. Extracellular matrix. DNA, chromosomes,RNA, protein synthesis. Cell cycle, mitosis. Meiosis. Signal transduction. Gene expression. Elements of genetics. Plant cells: cell wall, chloroplast and photosynthesis.
"Fondamenti di Biologia" Solomon et al. Ed. EdiSES
"Biologia e Genetica" Campbell Ed. Pearson
"Il mondo della cellula" Becker et al. Ed. Pearson
«Forma e funzione delle piante» Campbell-Reece, VOLUME 4
Ed. Pearson
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 and of the mail in vitro and in vivo pharmacological models. 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 the structure and function of plant cells.
Teaching Methods
Lectures (48 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
Type of Assessment
Two written ongoing evaluations and a final oral examination.
Course program
Cellular Theory. Methods to observe cells and molecules. Chemistry of the cell. Macromolecules of the cell: lipids, carbohydrates, proteins and nucleic acids. Organization of the cell. Prokaryotic cell. 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. Photosynthesis. C4 and CAM plants
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. Asexual and sexual reproduction. Meiosis. Principles of heredity: mendelian and post-mendelian genetic.
Mechanism of signal transduction. Messengers and receptors.
Viruses.
Plant cell and its characteristics. Vacuole. Cell wall. Plastids. Chloroplasts. Leucoplasts and starch. Vegetal hormones and other chemicals implicated in Plant growth and development.