Ateneo - UPO

The course provides the fundamentals of cell and molecular biology needed to understand the physiological and pathophysiological processes relevant to the biotechnologies. Topics include: the chemistry of the cell and biological macromolecules; the structure and function of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells and of the extracellular matrix; biological membranes and transport mechanisms; cellular energy metabolism; the organization of genetic material and DNA replication; the cell cycle and cell division (mitosis and meiosis); gene expression (transcription and translation); regulation of gene expression, mutations and the molecular basis of the main cellular diseases.The module includes 8 hours of online training on biological laboratory safety, which is required and mandatory for access to the second-year teaching laboratories.The course is delivered by an external organization outside UPO.

Alberts, Hopkin, et al
ESSENZIALE DI BIOLOGIA MOLECOLARE DELLA CELLULA
ed. Zanichelli

Ginelli, Malcovati
MOLECOLE, CELLULE E ORGANISMI.
ed. EdiSES

Geoffrey M. Cooper
La cellula. Un approccio molecolare
ed. Piccin

This course contributes to the training objectives of the morpho-functional scope of the degree courses in Biotechnology and Biological Sciences, providing knowledge and skills at the cellular and tissue level that are preparatory to all other biological teachings and that can be used in all professional fields of the graduates in Biotechnology (class L-2) or in Biological Sciences (class L-13), as well as for the continuation of studies in the master's degrees in medical, veterinary and pharmaceutical biotechnologies (LM-9 class) biology (CLM-06) or related master's degrees.The course aims to provide students with the conceptual tools needed to: • understand the structural and functional organization of the cell, its organelles and the extracellular matrix, relating them to fundamental physiological processes; • describe the mechanisms of DNA replication, gene expression and cell division, identifying their implications in the diseases most frequently encountered in healthcare settings (neoplasms, genetic diseases, inflammatory and degenerative processes); • relate basic biological knowledge to the pathophysiology and clinical practice of the different health professional profiles (nurse, physiotherapist, etc.).

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 (PowerPoint) 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
o Optional material for further information
interruption via WIFI of the University.

Support activity (tutoring/students with disabilities/working students) • Students can ask questions and find study support through the moodle teaching forum • Examples of exam tests are provided in online activities on moodle. • Students with disabilities, Specific Learning Disorders (SLD) or Special Educational Needs (SEN) may request dedicated services and tools by contacting the University's Career Development and StudentServices Staff and consulting the relevant page on the University website. After contacting the University Staff, students may contact the course lecturer to agree on examination arrangements and teaching aspects.. • Working students or non-attending students are invited to contact the teacher to determine how to achieve the expected skills.

ONLINE MONITORINGThe tracked activities take place on the Moodle platform and include watching videos, animations, and other learning materials, self-assessment and verification quizzes, forums, workshops, and other activities. Each student's progress is monitored automatically.MID-COURSE ASSESSMENT (MONITORAGGIO IN ITINERE)A mid-course assessment is provided on the syllabus of the first module of the course (Cell Biology), which is recommended but not mandatory. The score obtained contributes to the average grade of the exam sessions the student takes in the ordinary and extraordinary sessions.The assessment consists of two parts:Written test: 40 minutes long, 40 multiple-choice questions. A passing grade is achieved by correctly answering at least 60% of the questions.Oral exam: mandatory for those who passed the written test, in order to confirm the grade.EXAM FORMATThe exam consists of a written test with multiple-choice questions, with a total duration of 60 minutes for the two modules (Biology and Histology); for the Biology section, 25 questions are provided, to be completed in 25 minutes.The questions, aimed at verifying the achievement of the expected learning outcomes, are all multiple-choice. A passing grade is achieved by correctly answering at least 60% of the questions in each of the two modules.All tests are conducted through the Moodle/DIR online learning platforms, giving students the option of using a personal PC/tablet or a device provided by the University.EXAM CALENDAR AND REGISTRATIONThe calendar of final exam sessions and the mid-course assessment is published on the University portal. Students are reminded that registration for exam sessions closes by the deadline indicated on the portal and is subject to completion of the teaching evaluation questionnaire.

UD_1. The foundations of biological and molecular organization of life
The tree of life. Organisms and cell theory. Fundamental properties of living matter.
● The prokaryotic cell and the eukaryotic cell: general organization and comparison.
● The chemistry of the cell: water and biological macromolecules. Sugars and carbohydrates. Lipids. Amino acids, the peptide bond and proteins. Nucleotides and nucleic acids. The Watson and Crick model and the DNA double helix.
UD_2. The flow of genetic information
DNA replication: the semiconservative mechanism. The experiments of Meselson and Stahl.
● The flow of genetic information: the definition of a gene in the ENCODE era.
● DNA transcription: synthesis of RNAs and their maturation. The experiments of Sharp and Roberts and RNA splicing.
● The genetic code and protein translation. The experiments of Nirenberg, Matthaei and Leder. The ribosome. Marilyn Kozak and the “scanning” hypothesis for translation initiation.
● Regulation of protein biological activity: proteasomal degradation (the proteasome).
UD_3. Cellular structures: biogenesis, morphology and functions
● Biological membranes and their components. Membrane lipids: phospholipids, glycolipids and cholesterol. Bilayer organization. Fluidity of the phospholipid bilayer: role of unsaturated fatty acids. Membrane proteins (intrinsic and extrinsic). The fluid mosaic model of Singer and Nicolson. The Frye and Edidin experiments on the mobility of membrane proteins.
● Transport mechanisms across membranes. Simple diffusion and facilitated diffusion. Passive and active transport. Channel proteins and carrier proteins. The glucose transporter. The Na+/K+ ATPase pump. Antiport and symport. Ligand-gated and voltage-gated channels. The membrane potential and the action potential.
● Mitochondria and ATP synthesis. General notions on glycolysis, pyruvate oxidation, the Krebs cycle and the electron transport chain. Mitochondrial structure and the mitochondrial genome. Lynn Margulis and the hypotheses on the evolutionary origin of the mitochondrion.
● The peroxisome.
● The rough endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi apparatus. Synthesis of membrane and secretory proteins. Gunter Blobel and the signal hypothesis. Glycosylation and protein maturation in the Golgi.
● Vesicular trafficking: vesicle formation, vesicle movement, recognition of the target organelle.
● Exocytosis.
● Mechanisms of protein targeting to cellular compartments. Signal sequences and protein localization (nucleus, endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondrion). The experiments of Kalderon and colleagues.
● Endocytosis: pinocytosis, phagocytosis and receptor-mediated endocytosis.
● The lysosome and the degradation of biological macromolecules in the cell.
● The cytoskeleton: contractile actin and myosin microfilaments and cell movement, muscle contraction. Intermediate filaments. Microtubules and organelle movement.
UD_4. The cell and its environment: from cells to tissues
● The extracellular matrix. Collagens, laminins, fibronectins, proteoglycans. Structure and function of integrins and cadherins.
● Cell junctions: adherens junctions, tight junctions, gap junctions, desmosomes.
● Cell communication. Autocrine, paracrine and endocrine signaling.
UD_5. Control of cell proliferation and cell death
● The cell cycle and mitosis. The G1, S, G2 and M phases. The role of cyclins and CDKs in cell cycle progression. Tim Hunt and the discovery of cyclins.
● Cell death and apoptosis. Hayflick's experiments on cellular senescence. Necrosis. Apoptosis: the intrinsic and extrinsic pathways.

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.