Ateneo - UPO

Il corso fornisce i concetti fondamentali necessari per affrontare lo studio delle scienze biomediche, suddivisi in tre moduli di base: biochimica, biologia della cellula e genetica medica

For the Biology and Genetics modules:
- Pierantoni, Cobellis, Meccariello, Chianese. Fondamenti di Biologia e Genetica. (Ed. EdiSES)
- Sadava , Hillis, Heller, Hacker. Elementi di Biologia e Genetica (Ed. Zanichelli)
- Raven, Johnson, Mason. Elementi di Biologia e Genetica (Ed. Piccin)
- Chieffi. Biologia e Genetica. EDISES
For the Medical Genetics module:
-Iolascon, Gasparini, Cocozza : Genetica Medica. Lineamenti. ed Idelson-Gnocchi,2005
For the Biochemistry modules:
-Catani, Savini, Guerrieri, Avigliano - Appunti di Biochimica –PICCIN
- Samaja, Paroni- Chimica e Biochimica per le lauree triennali dell’area biomedica- ED. PICCIN
- Stefani, Taddei - Chimica, biochimica e biologia applicata - Zanichelli
-Sackeim, Lehman - Chimica per le Scienze Biomediche – Edises

The course proposes an integration of the notions of cellular biology, biochemistry, molecular biology and genetics that will provide the student with the necessary tools to arrive at an organic understanding and description of the structure of eukaryotic cells, their functions and dysfunctions in the case of genetic anomalies.

The student must be in possession of basic concepts of chemistry, biology and genetics, such as those offered at the high school.

Teaching methods include: lectures, active learning in the classroom and at distance.
Classroom activities :
o Lectures supported by presentations (ppt) with graphic illustrations, mind maps, optical and electronic microscopy photographs, animation films of cellular processes
o Classroom activities with active student participation (representation of cellular processes, instant polls, termination of exercises).
• Activities and online material (moodle):
o Educational material presented in class.
o Video recordings replacing the lectures
o Quiz, forums and workshops for learning and self-assessment

The exam consists of a written test with multiple-choice quizzes (75 questions, divided into 25 questions for each module). Students must demonstrate that they have acquired the basic knowledge of biochemistry, cellular biology, and genetics, learned during lectures, sufficiently to effectively undertake subsequent courses. A passing grade is achieved by correctly answering at least 60% of the questions in each module. CALENDAR AND REGISTRATION: The exam schedule is published on the University portal. Students are reminded that registration for exams closes by the deadline indicated on the portal and is subject to completing the course evaluation questionnaire.

The exam consists of a written test with multiple-choice quizzes (75 questions, divided into 25 questions for each module). Students must demonstrate that they have acquired the basic knowledge of biochemistry, cellular biology, and genetics, learned during lectures, sufficiently to effectively undertake subsequent courses. A passing grade is achieved by correctly answering at least 60% of the questions in each module. CALENDAR AND REGISTRATION: The exam schedule is published on the University portal. Students are reminded that registration for exams closes by the deadline indicated on the portal and is subject to completing the course evaluation questionnaire.

CHEMICAL structure of matter: • compounds, mixtures, elements, • Atomic models, fundamental subatomic particles, isotopes, Ion, radioactivity. • Atomic and molecular mass, • periodic table of the elements and properties of the elements. Molecules and chemical bonding: Ionic bond, covalent bond, • • • dative bond, • hydrogen bonds, hydrophobic interactions •. Notes on nomenclature and properties of inorganic compounds. Formulas and molecular models. Mole concept and its applications. Solutions: • molecular aspects of solubility, • water: chemical and physical properties • Molarity and other measures of concentration • electrolyte solutions: strong and weak electrolytes. Acids and bases, pH. Buffer systems. Buffer blood systems. ORGANIC CHEMISTRY the chemistry of carbon. Main functional groups and their chemical properties: alcohols, ketones, aldehydes, acids, esters, thioesters, amides, amines, thiols, fosfoesteri and fosfoanidridi. BIOCHEMISTRY proteins: • amino acids, peptides, protein structure and function • •: hemoglobin and collagen. Enzymes: • operation • kinetic properties. • vitamins and coenzymes. • the regulation of enzyme activity, inhibitors. Basic concepts on the metabolism, catabolism and anabolism, bioenergetics. Carbohydrate metabolism: glycogen, glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, • • • Kreebs cycle, oxidative phosphorylation and mitochondria. An overview of all of the major lipids; synthesis, degradation and lipid transport with special attention to fatty acids and cholesterol. Metabolism of proteins and amino acids, and urea cycle transamminasi. Nucleotide metabolism, synthesis and degradation of nitrogenous bases. The integration of metabolism. Function and mode of action of hormones: examples from blood sugar regulation and nods of molecular basis of diabetes.
APPLIED BIOLOGY
• The cell as the fundamental unit of life. Definition of prokaryote and eukaryote.
• Introduction to the eukaryotic cell.
• Cell chemistry. Water, salts, and biological macromolecules.
Carbohydrates. Formula and general structure. Monosaccharides, disaccharides, and polysaccharides.
• Lipids. Fatty acids: structure. Phospholipids and triglycerides. Lipid aggregates, monolayers, micelles, and liposomes.
• Amino acids and proteins: basic structure, peptide bond, amino acid families. (acids, basic, nonpolar, not polar loads). The structure of proteins.
• Nucleic acids: sugar components, phosphate, nitrogen bases. Nucleotide structure.
• The flow of genetic information.
• DNA. The nitrogenous bases (adenine, guanine, cytosine, thymine). Double helix structure. Histones and chromosomal structures.
• DNA duplication. Semi-conservative model, DNA polymerase, continuous and discontinuous replication. Loyalty of duplication. Mutagenesis and mutation repair mechanisms.
• The transcription and maturation of messenger RNA.
• The mechanism of translation: characteristics of the genetic code; ribosome structure and function.
• Structures of biological membranes. The lipid bilayer, membrane proteins, membrane carbohydrates.
• Transport across the membrane: small molecules and particles. Simple diffusion, passive and active transport.
• Cellular organelles, structure and function.
• The compartmentalization of the eukaryotic cell.
• The nucleus.
• The mitochondria.
• The endoplasmic reticulum.
• The Golgi apparatus.
• Lysosomes.
• The transport of proteins in the various cellular compartments. Endocytosis and exocytosis.
• The cytoskeleton and cell interactions. Microtubules, actin filaments, intermediate filaments.
Cell junctions.
• The extracellular matrix.
MEDICAL GENETICS
--the human genome -chromosome structure -Cell reproduction: mitosis and meiosis. Numerical and structural variations of the karyotype (polyploidy, aneuploidy, translocations, deletions and duplications). The Mendelian laws and its applications. Human Mendelian genetics: interpretation of genealogical t- rees, monogenic diseases and blood group genetics. Sex chromosomes and sex determination. Recombination. Study of quantitative and multifactorial characters and complex diseases.

D1 - KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING ABILITY. At the end of the course, the student must demonstrate adequate knowledge of: differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells; connection between chemical composition and function of biological macromolecules; cell structures of animal cells, function of organelles and components and functions of endomembrane and cytoskeletal systems; the Central Dogma and the relationship between genes and proteins; DNA replication processes, transcription and translation in eukaryotes
D2 - CAPACITY TO APPLY KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING. The student will have to show the ability to use acquired knowledge and concepts to reason critically, showing the ability to make connections between different topics and to apply the acquired knowledge to analyze biology experiments.
D3 - JUDGMENT AUTONOMY. The student must demonstrate that he / she is able to critically examine the information acquired and to be able to independently discuss applications and application problems.Furthermore, he/she must be able to constructively judge the teaching provided.
D4 - COMMUNICATION SKILLS. The student will have to demonstrate possession of the ability to communicate the knowledge acquired to their colleagues and teachers using the terminology of cell biology.
D5- LEARNING SKILLS. The student must show possession of the learning ability useful for the continuous updating of knowledge in this discipline.