The course aims at providing useful stimuli student learning the anatomy and physiology basis of the eukaryotic cell. We want offer the opportunity to learn and use proper and rigorous scientific language and a method of study that tends to favor the understanding of the relationship structure / function exists for each component or cellular compartment. Another aim of the course is to offer students of scientific criticism instruments to be able to read independently and critically a scientific work.

The applications of biology. Identify applicative bioindicators and biomarkers. Living organisms: points of contact. The cell theory, the cell as the basic unit of living beings. Hayflick's limit. Cells and cellular structures. The plasma membrane: origin of life and applicative biomarker. Cyclophospholipids and protocells. Constitutive elements of biological membranes. The proteins intercalated in the phospholipid bilayer. Membrane transports: simple diffusion, facilitated diffusion, active transports. The membrane as a dielectric. Ionic equilibria. The electrochemical potential. The Nerst equation. The sodium / potassium pump as a voltage generator: genesis of the potential difference and its maintenance. Calcium, Magnesium, Chlorine, Sodium and Potassium ions: their biological importance. Passive ion channels, chemo dependent, voltage dependent. The Goldman equation. The membrane potential. Variations of the membrane potential. The electronic response. The action potential. Signal transduction: the meaning of the biological response. Membrane proteins as receptors. Channel receptors, G protein coupled receptors, tyrosine kinase receptors and their expression in living organisms. G protein-coupled receptors. Functional characteristics of the receptor. Assembly and functions of heterotrimeric proteins. The amplification of the second messengers. Adenylate cyclase and cAMP. The PKA pathway. G protein-coupled receptors. Second messengers: calcium, IPS and DAG. Selective channels for football and football as the third messenger. The calcium / calmodulin dependent pathways and those of the DAG. The PKC pathway and the different forms of activation of this kinase. Tyrosinokinase receptors: dimerization and autotransphosphorylation. The superfamily of RAS proteins. Activation of the RAS-Raf complex. Receptors with guanylyl cyclase activity. Adhesion receptors. Nuclear receptors. Metabolism and signaling. Catabolism and anabolism as exergonic oxidations and endoergonic reductions. Pancreas, hepatopancreas and digestive gland. Carbohydrate homeostasis: insulin and glucagon. Preserved signaling pathways from bacteria to mammals. Environmental pollutants and interference with cellular signaling. Electrophoresis as a technique for analyzing signal molecules. The molecular sieve. Sample preparation and swab characteristics. Agarose gel: visualization and analysis of bands. SDS-PAGE: Coomassie and Silver staining. Calculation of molecular weights. Molecular recognition techniques. The variations in blotting as a function of the target molecule. Detection methods: western blotting. Interactomics. Cell cycle regulation and control. Cicline and cdk. Activation and inactivation of the cyclin / cdk complex. Restriction point and control points: p21, p27 and p53 as guardian of the genome. The conservation of characters. From signaling to gene expression. Mendelian inheritance. Morgan and Drosophila melanogaster. Crossing over and recombination frequency. Signaling and dimorphism. The importance of dimorphism and its characterization. Chromosome determination, temperature-dependent determination: threshold and gradual, photoperiod dependent determination. The signaling pathways that determine the various stages of development. The sex of the brain. The sex of embryos, epigenetic control of gene expression: acetylations and methylations. Genomic imprinting and sexual differentiation. Pollutants and endocrine disruptors. Stimuli and adaptations. Environmental sensors and cellular transduction. Absence of light: life in caves and the chemical food chain. Trophic relationships in the absence of light. Life in the aquatic environment. The water column: variations in pH, light, temperature and salinity. Production of organic compounds in the sea, phyto and zoo plankton. Hemocyanins, hemoglobin and myoglobin in oxygen transport. Hypobaric environment and altitude adaptation. Composition of the atmosphere, pressure and respiration. Blood and respiration of high altitude mammals. The effects of altitude, hypoxia and acidosis: carbonic anhydrase, erythropoietin, vascular endothelial growth factor and hypoxia inducible factor.

D1- KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING When the course is over, to pass the exam, students must demonstrate that they have acquired the knowledge about the general concepts of living matter: the cellular modifications due to a stimulus, the intra- and extra-cellular communication pathways, the application of cellular communication "in vitro" and "in vivo", the Mendelian’s genetics foundations.

D2- CAPACITY 'TO APPLY KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING The student will demonstrate the ability to identify the most common mechanisms of cellular communication.

D3- JUDGEMENT The student will have acquired knowledge to favor the understanding of the structure / function relationship exists for each component or cellular compartment and their application in various biological systems.

D4- communicative skills The student will have the ability to relate in a professional and competent manner with public and private entities. The student will have the ability to transmit the knowledge acquired in a clear and understandable and accessible to unqualified persons.

D5- LEARNING ABILITY The student will be able to examine and understand scientific texts, will also have to demonstrate that they have learned a fair and rigorous scientific language and a method of study that employ them in everyday contexts for the profession and for research.

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the lecturer specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

Teaching

Traditional lessons.

On Moodle platform is made available to the students teaching materials containing most of the images used in support of the explanations; It said material does not substitute for class attendance or the study of textbooks.

Course books

Any textbook in accordance with the program.

Alberts et al., L’Essenziale di Biologia molecolare della cellula, Zanichelli.
Campbell N.A., Reece J.B. et al, "Biologia e Genetica" Pearson Education editore 1° edizione 2012.
Other recommended textbooks will be provided at the beginning of the course.

Assessment

Oral examination.The abilities of the student will be evaluated according to Dublin Descriptors.

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

Teaching

On Moodle platform is made available to the students teaching materials containing most of the images used in support of the explanations; It said material does not substitute for class attendance or the study of textbooks.

Course books

Any textbook in accordance with the program.

Alberts et al., L’Essenziale di Biologia molecolare della cellula, Zanichelli.
Campbell N.A., Reece J.B. et al, "Biologia e Genetica" Pearson Education editore 1° edizione 2012.
Other recommended textbooks will be provided at the beginning of the course.

Assessment

Oral examination.The abilities of the student will be evaluated according to Dublin Descriptors.

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.