Chemistry and Principles of Biology

The Chemistry course (5 CFU) is aimed to provide the knowledge of general, inorganic, and organic chemistry suitable to learn the topics of later courses at the molecular level. Besides basic concepts about qualitative and quantitative composition of inorganic and organic compounds (including biological macromolecules), the course deals with fundamental aspects of stoichiometry, chemical equilibrium, thermodynamics, stereochemistry, and structure-reactivity relationship, which are essential to understand any biological process. Each topic is presented in theoretical lectures followed by exercise classes, which emphasize the importance of a quantitative approach in the practical application of any theoretical model.
The principles of biology aims to provide the student with the notions of basic principles of cell biology through the dissertation of cellular components at a structural, compositional and functional level and with basic knowledge of animal genetics, preparatory to the course of genetic improvement of livestock. The unit will also provides some elements of molecular genetics for understanding some tools that DNA techniques offer to animal selection and production.
Finally, notions of the conceptual bases of ecology as well as the principles of agroecology, which are preparatory to understanding the issues related to the functioning of ecosystems will be outlined.
The Genetics, general biology and agro-ecology (6 CFU) course aims to provide the student with the notions of basic principles of cell biology through the dissertation of cellular components at a structural, compositional and functional level and with basic knowledge of animal genetics, preparatory to the course of genetic improvement of livestock. The unit will also provides some elements of molecular genetics for understanding some tools that DNA techniques offer to selection and production.
Finally, notions of the conceptual bases of ecology as well as the principles of agroecology, which are preparatory to understanding the issues related to the functioning of ecosystems will be outlined.

Goals to achieve:

Chemistry
1. Knowledge and understanding The course is aimed at providing information about a) inorganic and organic nomenclature; b) the structure and the function of the most relevant substances in biological systems, including macromolecules; c) the behaviour of solutes in aqueous solutions; d) the stereochemistry of asymmetric organic compounds.
2. Ability to apply knowledge and understanding The students are expected to develop proper skill in a) the use of chemical formulas to represent the structure of inorganic and organic compounds of biological relevance (including macromolecules) and to deduce their function; b) perform stoichiometric calculations; c) predict the pH value from the composition of aqueous solutions; d) establish stereochemistry of asymmetric organic compounds; e) recognise functional groups in organic compounds.
3. Autonomy of judgment All the information given in theoretical lectures and exercise classes is presented to emphasizing the relevance of the quantitative-based experimental methodology needed to support any theoretical model. In addition, advice is provided to critically evaluate information from online sources.


BIOLOGY AND AGROECOLOGY

· Knowledge of the morphology and function of the main components of eukaryotic cells and of the basic principles of the methods of interaction between cells in the context of multicellular organisms;

· Knowledge of the theoretical and practical notions of cell division processes (mitosis and meiosis) which ensure growth, reproduction and development of living organisms.

· During the observation of histological preparations, the student will be able to describe the structure and function of the main cellular components in a tissue context; they will be able to recognize diploid and haploid cells in the context of male and female gonads

· Knowledge of the principles of ecology and agroecology relating to the functioning of ecosystems, the mechanisms that regulate the coexistence of species, the factors that influence the numerical and spatial dynamics of populations, with hints on the conservation of biodiversity.

GENETICS:

· To be able to calculate the genotype and phenotype distributions of the offspring whose parents' genotypes and phenotypes for one or more monogenic characters are given (and vice versa)

· To be able to formulate a genetic hypothesis on the transmission of a character and calculate the probability starting from the phenotype distribution of one or two traits caused by one or two genes in a population, and vice-versa.

· To be able to calculate the probability of the genotypes and/or phenotypes of the subjects included in a family tree segregating a monogenic trait

· Knowledge of the tissues, methods of collection and storage for genetic and genomic analyzes in different species

· To have an understanding of the abbreviations that identify genetic mutations, and variants.

· To be able to "read" a gel electrophoretic pattern (Molecular weight marker, vertebrate whole genomic DNA, PCR product, restriction pattern, indels-analysis, pattern of fragments)

· To be able to "read" a genetic markers' profile and make a diagnosis of kinship

· To be able to "read" nucleotide sequence alignments and detect SNVs or delins