Learning objectives
The aim of this course is to give the student attending this course for the nursery degree 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)
- understanding the correlation between structure and function at the different organizational levels and the implication of human evolution for the bio-medical research. In this perspective it is important in the nursery professional skill to understand teh biological bases of human behavior. This will increase the ability to communicate professionally not only with the MD doctors but also with their patients.
Prerequisites
The constitution of matter, elements and compounds. The fundamental particles of the atom. Atomic number and mass number. Atomic weight and molecular weight. Isotopes. Ions: cations and anions.
The periodic table and the electronic configuration of the elements of biological interest.
Electronegativity and chemical bonding: ionic and covalent bonding. Polarity of the molecules. Valence and oxidation number.
Fundamentals of inorganic chemistry: formulas and names of the most common inorganic compounds.
The principle of conservation of mass and charge: Balance of simple chemical reactions (oxidation-reduction and salting). Mole concept, conversion from grams to moles and vice versa, stoichiometry elementary. The solutions: what is a solution, the main ways of expressing the concentration of solutions.
Course unit content
The purpose of this course of Biology is to give students the ability to learn and appreciate the importance of biological thinking for the cultural background of nursery professional practice. The evolutionary approach is the core theme of the present course. In fact the theory of evolution is the unifying core of the biological sciences ranging from molecule activities to behavior of organisms. In this connection the various topics such as molecular bases of life, cellular biology, genetic, reproduction , animal and human behavior are approached in nthe light of the mechanisms of evolution. This lecturing program is tailored on the potential professional application of nursery practice which require skill concerning the healing of the “body” as well as of the “psyche”.
Full programme
1 The foundation and core of biological sciences: the theory of evolution
2. Origin of the cell: Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic cell. The endosymbiontic theory of eukaryotic cell evolution.
3. Cell Biology with particular emphasis on Eukaryotic cell. Structures and functions of cell components. Cell cycle and asexual reproduction .Mytosis and cell cycle. Evolution of sexual reproduction. Meiosis and cell sexual cycle. Cost and benefit of sexual reproduction. Gamete formation and hormonal control of sexual reproduction (mammals in particular). Adaptive significance of sexual reproduction : sexual selection and parental investment.
4. Genetic. Mendel and the gene idea. Mendelian genetic and its extension. Chromosomal bases of inheritance: morgan experiments. Linked genes and the mapping of genes. Sex chromosomes and inheritance of related genes. Chromosomal determination of sex . Human genetic. Molecular bases of inheritance and gene expression: from genes to proteins.
5. Mechanisms of evolution. Darwinian theory the past and the modern synthesis(neo-darwinian theory) Hardy-weinberg principle and microevolutionary processess. Macroevolution. the origin of secies and higher taxa. Human evolution.
6. Behavioral Biology: proximal and ultimate causes . Instinct and learning: nature vs nurture debate. Genes and behavior. Understanding hormonal regulation of behavior. Social behavior . basic understanding of Evolutionary psychology principles.
Bibliography
Solomon et al, Biology
Teaching methods
Classroom lectures. Characterized by interactive lectures accompanied by one or two seminars on major topics. This allow the student to acquire a better understanding of topic and also improve learning capacities.
Assessment methods and criteria
Written test composed by multiple choice questions.
Other information
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2030 agenda goals for sustainable development
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