Learning objectives
The aim of this course is to give the student the ability to:
- acquire the basic principles of biological sciences and methods.
- learn and apply an evolutionary logic and perspective to interpreting the biological phenomena at different levels of organization (molecular, cellular, organismic)
- understand the correlation between structure and function at the different organizational levels.
- Appraise the implication of human evolution for the bio-medical research
Prerequisites
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Course unit content
1. The Nature of science and biology: methods and organizing concepts. The unifying principle of biology: The Theory of Evolution. Darwinian Medicine. The Chemistry of life. Origins and evolution of life on Earth
2. Cell Biology. Procaryotic and Eucaryotic cell. The cell cycle and reproduction: mitosis and meiosis. Male and female gametogenesis and their hormonal regulation.
3. The modern evolutionary synthesis. Microevolution and its causes. The origins of species. Evolution of Vertebrates and the rise of Hominids. The evolution of bipedal locomotion in Hominids.
Full programme
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Bibliography
Solomon et al., Fondamenti di Biologia, Edises
http://www.biol.unipr.it/%7epalanza/
CD-Rom: Human Evolution (aula informatica)
Teaching methods
Classroom lectures
Assessment methods and criteria
Written exam
Other information
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