Fundamental Biology and Botanics for Agriculture

A.Y. 2023/2024
12
Max ECTS
108
Overall hours
SSD
BIO/01 BIO/04
Language
Italian
Learning objectives
Develop the basic biological preparation suitable for a full understanding of the educational contents of the subsequent teachings. Introduction to the knowledge of the fundamental characteristics of living organisms (prokaryotes and eukaryotes). Knowledge of the basic elements of cell histology cytology and the classification of living beings. Mitosis and Meiosis. Knowledge of the morpho-functional aspects of the main animal types, in particular those of agricultural interest.
Knowledge of the organization of plants, the peculiarities of plant cells, the characteristics that distinguish the different types of tissues, their organization in forming the organs of the plant. Understanding the different reproductive cycles of the main divisions of terrestrial plants and the evolutionary stages. Provide the basic cultural and cognitive tools sufficient for the classification of large plant groups, their chronological succession and the evolutionary relationships between them, with particular attention to some families of Spermatophytes important from the agricultural and forestry point of view.
Expected learning outcomes
Capability to recognize and analyze the composition and biological functions of cells and cell division processes. Understanding the morpho-functional aspects and the classification criteria of the main animal types, with particular reference to the types of main agricultural interest. Knowledge of the fundamental principles of plant biology with particular reference to the structure, evolution and reproduction of plant species. Know the diversity of the morphological and functional characters of plants. Knowing how to recognize and describe the main families of agricultural and forestry interest.
Single course

This course can be attended as a single course.

Course syllabus and organization

Single session

Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
Botany
Introduction to plant and their use in Agriculture
Organic molecules
The cell and cellular riproduction
Tissue and their organitiation in the root, stem and leafes
Growth and reproduction

Sistematic botany:

Plant evolution
Plant live cycle and its evolution
Bryophytes
Seed less vascular plant
Gymnosperm
Angyosperm plants will be addressed in greater depth, approaching the study of the reproductive organs, strategies and criteria used for their classification. Some families of vascular plant that are important from the point of view of agriculture and forestry, will be dealt with in depth.

Animal Biology:
homeostasis and fertilization
embryology
animal morphogenesis and phylogeny
Chordates
Tegument
skeletal sysytem: bases
muscles and movement
digestive sysytem
Immune system
circulatory, respiratory, excretory system
nervous system
animal evolution
Prerequisites for admission
None
Teaching methods
lectures
Teaching Resources
Biology of Plants:
Books:
-Pasqua Abate Forni- Botanica Generale e Diversità Vegetale - Ed.Piccin;
-Raven-Biologia delle piante di Raven - Ed. Zanichelli
-Smith, Coupland, Dolan, Harberd, Jones, Martin, Sablowski, Amey - Biologia delle Piante vol. 1 e vol.2 - Ed. Zanichelli
Other botany books

Animal Biology

Biologia. E. P. Solomon, C. E. Martin, D. W. Martin, L. R. Berg. EDISES
oppure
FONDAMENTI di BIOLOGIA E. P. Solomon, C. E. Martin, D. W. Martin, L. R. Berg. EDISES
Eserciziario di Biologia Animale Audisio, De Biase, Nicoletti, Scarì EDISES
Papers shared on servers: TEAMS e ARIEL.
Assessment methods and Criteria
Plant biology
The exam will be a written.

Only for those attending classes there is the possibility of taking 4 ongoing tests which will focus on the topics explained previously.
The tests topics will be on: 1) cellular biology; 2) plant tissues, organization, reproduction 3); plant evolution and their life cycles; 4) recognition of some families of spermatophytes and their characteristics
Each ongoing test will be made up of 8 questions of which 7 multiple choice with 4 alternatives of which only 1 is correct, with score: 1 for each correct answer, 0 score for an incorrect answer. The last question will be an image recognition and description. This last question will have a maximum score of 3. It is necessary to obtain a score above 6 to be admitted to the next partial exam.
All ongoing tests must be successfull to have a positive outcome.

Session
The session will be written and will focus on the entire program. It will consist of 32 questions of which 28 multiple choice questions with 4 alternatives of which only 1 is correct. 1 score for a correct answer, 0 score for an incorrect answer.
The other 4 questions will focus on the recognition and description of an image with a final score of 2 points each.

Animal biology
The evaluation criterion is based on the verification of the knowledge acquired through a written exam which includes both open questions, offering students the opportunity to describe and draw the systems or models of animal development and the relationships between animals and the environment, and 10 Multiple choice questions with 4 alternatives of which 1 or more are correct.
BIO/01 - GENERAL BOTANY
BIO/04 - PLANT PHYSIOLOGY
Laboratories: 24 hours
Lessons: 84 hours