ANIMAL BIOLOGY AND PLANT BIOLOGY

Integrated educational activity

Course Sheet

Course code:

00153

Academic Year of enrolment:

2020

Year of supply:

2020/2021

Degree:

Course of Single Cycle Degree 5 years in PHARMACY

Language:

Italian

Moduls:

ANIMAL BIOLOGY - 6 credits
PLANT BIOLOGY - 6 credits

Location:

CHIETI

Credits:

Programme Year:

Cycle:

First semester

Hours of classroom activity:

Prerequisites:

There are no preparatory exams for Animal Biology and Plant Biology.
Basal secondary school knowledge are sufficient.
For plant biology, to be able to follow with profit, basic knowledge of biochemistry and cell biology is required

Objectives

Educating the student in the "critical method" and in the discussion through the description of experiments, heritage of the history of biology
Provide the student with a harmonic and "Antidogmatic" vision of living beings, in which the common morpho-functional characteristics, their interactions and complementarities are outlined, from viruses to humans.
Introduce the student to the knowledge of the techniques of biology and molecular biology.
The course aims to provide the fundamentals on the composition and organization of living organisms through the knowledge of living organisms, theories of the origin of life and cellular organization. The relationship between structures inside the cells and their function is analyzed, as well as the main metabolic processes and the foundamentals of reproduction and genetics.

Plant Biology integrates the main concepts related to the cell, genes, cellular reproduction and organisms with the relative and characteristic aspects of the plant cell, tissues, anatomy and the main functions of the plant organs. Yhe target is acquiring the fundamental notions that allow recognition, description and use of medicinal plant derived drugs.

Contents

Chemical composition of living organisms
• Cell biology.
• Energy metabolism.
• Plant cytology.
• Plant histology and anatomy.
• Vegetable organography.
• Reproduction and growth.
• Plant systematics

Extended Syllabus

ANIMAL BIOLOGY
Composition of living matter: Chemical composition of living matter: definition of atom, molecule, chemical compound, organic compound. Main types of chemical bonds. Biological macromolecules: carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, nucleic acids .
Living organisms: Characteristics of living organisms. Origin of life. The kingdoms of living organisms. Differences between prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Origin of Eukaryotes: endosymbiotic theory. Virus: structure, replication and types. Viroids and prions. Biology of the cell: The cell theory.
Components of the prokaryotic cell: cell wall, flagella, cell membrane, cytoplasm, genetic material. Bacteria: composition , movement, reproduction ( binary fission, transformation, conjugation, transduction), metabolism.
Components of the eukaryotic cell: cytoplasmic organelles (rough and smooth endoplasmic reticulum, ribosomes, Golgi apparatus, mitochondria, lysosomes, peroxisomes) and the nucleus (nuclear pores, nucleolus and chromatin). Cytoskeleton: microtubules, microfilaments and intermediate filaments. Cell junctions (desmosomes, tight junctions, gap junctions).
Structure and function of biological membranes. Cell-environment interactions. Mechanisms of transport across the membrane: simple and facilitated diffusion, active transport and passive (sodium-potassium pump), exocytosis and endocytosis. Receptor-mediated endocytosis. Mechanism of action of steroid hormones and peptide hormones (second messengers and signal transduction). DNA double-helix structure and replication. Various levels of organization of DNA in the cell: nuclear chromatin and chromosome structure. Eukaryotic gene structure. RNA: structure, function and types. Transcription and RNA processing. Genetic code. Protein synthesis. Gene regulation in prokaryotes (lactose operon and tryptophan operon). Gene regulation in eukaryotes. Genes and development. Cell differentiation and nuclear equivalence. The genetic control of development. Structure and function of enzymes. Enzyme-substrate complex . Enzyme inhibition. Basic principles of immune defense: cellular immunity and antibody-mediated immunity .
Energy metabolism:
The cell and energy. The flow of energy. Metabolic reactions. Role of ATP and cellular work. Energy metabolism. Cellular respiration: glycolysis, Krebs cycle and oxidative phosphorylation.
Elements of Genetics: Cell cycle and its regulation. Mitosis and Meiosis stages and differences. Mendel's laws: dominance, segregation of alleles, independent assortment of alleles. Concept of the gene, locus, allele, genotype and phenotype. Extensions of Mendelian genetics. Mode of transmission of characters (autosomal dominant, recessive, X-linked ).
PLANT BIOLOGY
Chemical composition of living organisms: definition of atom, molecule, macromolecule. Organic and inorganic. Biological macromolecules: carbohydrates, amino acids and proteins, lipids, nucleic acids, vitamins.

Living organisms
Characteristics. The origin of life. The kingdoms of living organisms. Protists and origin of eukaryotes: The endosymbiotic theory. Differences between prokaryotes and eukaryotes.

Cell Biology
The cell theory. Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell. Structure of the prokaryotic cell. The Plant cells: components of the eukaryotic cell: cytoplasmic organelles (ER, lysosomes, ribosomes, Golgi apparatus, mitochondria), the nucleus. DNA. Cell membrane, nucleus, cytoplasm and cytoplasmic organelles. Structure and function of biological membranes. Cell - environment interactions. Transport mechanisms through the membrane.

Energy and metabolism
The cell and energy. The flow of energy. Role of ATP and cellular work. Heterotrophic organisms, chemoautotrophic and photoautotrophic. The energy metabolism. Photosynthesis: role and function. Light phase and dark phase. Cellular respiration.
Plant cytology
Characteristic plant cell structures. Cell wall: composition, structure and functions. Plasmodesmata, primary and secondary wall. Secondary modifications of cell wall: gums, mucilage, emicellullose.
The plastid system: chloroplasts, chromoplasts, leucoplasts, structures and functions. Polysaccharides: starch and cellulose. The vacuole: development, functions and content. The secondary plant cell metabolism: biological role, sites of synthesis and accumulation of main classes of secondary metabolites. Examples of metabolites of pharmaceutical interest.

Plant anatomy and histology
Definition and classification of tissues. Meristem and differentiated tissues.
Growth and differentiation.
Tegument tissues, conductors, medullary, mechanical and secretory: forms and functions.

Anatomy of the root: primary and secondary structure. Nutrition and water transport .
Anatomy and histology of the stem. Vegetative apex. Primary and secondary structure. Cambium. Wooden body. Secondary cortex.
Anatomical and histological structure of the leaf.
Mechanisms of growth and organ development .
Pharmaceutical importance of roots, stems, leaves.

Organography
Tallophyta and Cormophyta. Organs and their modifications. Leaf descriptors and morphology, phyllotaxis. Flower and inflorescences. Different types of fruits. Seeds, role and function. Germination. Fruits and seeds with pharmaceutical application.

Reproduction and growth
Vegetative and sexual reproduction. Life cycles. Reproduction in higher plants with reference to the angiosperms (double fertilization, flower, fruit). Transpiration and mineral nutrition. Growth in plants: regulation and responsiveness to stimuli.

Plant systematics
The concept of specie. The taxonomic system. Outline of plant systematic. Algae, Fungi, Bryophytes, Pteridophytes, Gymnosperms, Angiosperms.

Botanical nomenclature.
Definitions of medicinal plant, medicinal plant, drugs and plant complex

Recommended Bibliography

• E. Maugini, L. Maleci Bini, M. Mariotti Lippi “Botanica Farmaceutica”, Piccin Editor
• F. Senatore “Biologia e Botanica Farmaceutica”, Piccin Editor
• Solomon, Berg, Martin "Biologia" . Edises editor

Methods of Provision

Conventional

Teaching Methods

The course is carried out through classroom lectures, taking into consideration the topics of the program. Classroom lectures include slides, which are then provided to students for study. The teacher receives the students by appointment, for personalized clarifications.
laboratory practice (optional)
excursions (optional)
Office hours from Monday to Friday (by appointment)
Plant biology: Additional classes upon request of groups of students on specific topics could be organized. Excursions and guided tours in natural environments and productive plan companies, could be proposed.

Evaluation methods

Verification of learning:

The animal biology exam takes place orally through the discussion of several topics that cover the entire teaching program.
During the oral exam the student's ability to expose and explain the topics covered during the lessons will be assessed.
In assigning the final score, which will be expressed out of thirty with possible honors, knowledge of the topics covered, critical and communication skills will be taken into account.
Plant biology. Multiple choice test and oral interview.
The test contain 30 question with 5 option answers. Only 1 is the right answer.
Test could be taken in english or changed in a talk in english (only for foreign students)

Contacts/More Information

Student assistance is possible during work time. A preventive meeting request is encouraged via mail.

Università degli Studi
"G. d'Annunzio"

Chieti - Pescara

Aree