Learning objectives
Zoology
The Zoology course is part of the Integrated Course on Histology, Embryology and Zoology. The module aims at enabling the student to: 1: know and understand basic theoretical elements of biology, evolution and taxonomy and principles of eco-ethology; 2: knowledge and understanding applied in recognition of morphological and functional characteristics of invertebrate and vertebrate taxa of veterinary interest; 3: making judgements on scientific valence on modern evolution theories; 4: communication skills to illustrate the most striking features of animal taxa; 5: learning skills through the use of the textbook and discussion with the teacher.
Histology and General Veterinary Embryology
The module “Histology and General Veterinary Embryology “makes part of the course “Histology, Embryology and Zoology”. The module has the aim to teach the student to know and understand the notions of cytology, embryology and histology, with the purpose to gain solid basic knowledge necessary for the continuation of the educational process towards the profession of veterinary medicine.
Precisely the students need to be able to:
1. Know and understand the principles of cytology, embryology, and general histology. Be able to understand and use the appropriate scientific vocabulary. Be able to critically elaborate the acquired knowledge. (knowledge and understanding)
2. Be able to use the acquired knowledge to recognize with the optical microscope different tissues and understand the different levels of structural organization (subcellular / cellular/ tissutal); to understand the dynamics of development, starting from the gametogenesis to the formation of the three germ layers; to analyze different factors that influence the variation of the fetal circulation at birth; to understand the dynamics of the formation of the fetal membranes and placenta of veterinary species (applying knowledge and understanding)
3. The students at the end of the lessons need to demonstrate the comprehension of the different topics introduced during the lectures and plenaries, and the ability to correlate the different structural levels. In particular, they need to be able to integrate and handle the acquired knowledge in multidisciplinary areas (making judgments)
4. The students need to demonstrate the ability to communicate clearly the knowledge acquired using adequate language (communication skills)
5. The student needs to demonstrate the ability to correlate, integrate and handle the gained knowledge in multidisciplinary areas. Additionally, they need to demonstrate to have developed abilities that make them autonomous in the handling of their knowledge (learning skills)
Prerequisites
Specific knowledge required by the admission test and when necessary, recovery of the educational debt in Biology. (O.F.A.)
Any debt (OFA) will be settled with a 2 hr class followed by an oral examination concerning the arguments explained.
Course unit content
The module of "Zoology" provides basic knowledge to the understand the complexity and diversity of the animal world and leads students through the evolutionary processes that characterize it. The first part concerns basic animal biology topics such as cell cycle, Mendelian genetics, reproduction, origin and evolution of life on Earth. The second part of the course is directed to the study of the systematic and evolution of the most important animal taxa from a veterinary point of view. In the third part of the course elements of ethology and animal’s domestication are presented.
The module of "Histology and General Veterinary Embriology" includes theoretical lessons that take place in the classroom and theoretical-practical lessons that take place both in the histology and in the microscopy labs. The course is divided into three parts. The first part of the course dedicated to the cytology treated of the structure of eukaryotic cell. The second part give notions of general embryology from gametogenesis to germ layers formation and regarding the species of veterinary interest, covers fetal membranes, placentation, fetal circulation and changes at birth will be treated.
In the third part, that is devoted to histology, the teacher provides knowledge on structural and functional characteristics of the various tissues and on the techniques and equipment necessary for the preparation of histological slides and their analysis. In the practical lessons the student is exercised in recognition of tissues by light microscopy. For the practical activity is required the distribution of students in different groups, the number of groups is related both with the total number of students and with the labs and room capacity.
Full programme
For the program refer to the individual courses
Bibliography
Zoology:
CAMPBELL – BIOLOGIA E GENETICA di Reece et al., Pearson (2015).
CAMPBELL – MECCANISMI DELL’EVOLUZIONE E ORIGINI DELLA DIVERSITÁ, di Reece et al., Pearson (2015).
Cleveland P., Hickman JR. et al. Diversità animale. McGraw-Hill, 2012, Web site.
Cleveland P., Hickman JR. et al. Fondamenti di zoologia. McGraw-Hill, 2012, Web site.
Histology and General Veterinary Embryology:
In addition to the reference texts listed below, are available to students, in the special sites dedicated to them within the university homepage, accessible through identification and password, pictures of the histological slides used during the theoretical and practical activities:
-Embryology:
Reference Text:
PELAGALLI G.V., e coll.: Embriologia, Morfogenesi e Anomalie dello Sviluppo, Idelson - Gnocchi, Napoli, 2009.
Other texts:
BARBIERI M., CARINCI P.: Embriologia, Ambrosiana, Milano.
BARONE R.: Anatomia Comparata dei Mammiferi Domestici, Vol 4, Edagricole, Bologna.
DE FELICI M., e coll.: Embriologia Umana - Morfogenesi – Processi molecolari - Aspetti Clinici, Piccin, Padova, 2009.
LATSHAW W. K.: Lo sviluppo degli Animali Domestici – Embriologia ad Orientamento Clinico, Ambrosiana, Milano.
NODEN DREW M., DE LAHUNTA A.: Embriologia degli Animali Domestici – Sviluppo normale e Malformazioni congenite, Edi-ermes, Milano.
-Cytology and Histology:
Reference Text:
ADAMO S., et al.: Istologia di Monesi, VII edizione, Piccin, Padova, 2018.
Other texts:
COOPER G. M., HAUSMAN R. E.: La cellula un approccio molecolare, Piccin, Padova.
DELLMAN H.D., EURELL J.A.: Istologia e Anatomia Microscopica Veterinaria, Ed. Grasso, Bologna, 2005.
LIEBICH H.G.: Istologia e anatomia microscopica dei Mammiferi Domestici e degli Uccelli. Edizioni Piccin 2012.
-Atlases:
Reference Text:
ROSS M. H., PAWLINA W., BARNASH T. A.: Atlante di Istologia e Anatomia
Microscopica, Ambrosiana, Milano, 2010.
Other atlases:
BACHA W. J., WOOD L. M.: Atlante a colori di istologia veterinaria, Delfino, Roma.
FAMILIARI G., et al.: Anatomia microscopica - Atlante di microscopia ottica ed elettronica fondato da Pietro Motta, Piccin 2016.
YOUNG B., LOVE J.S., STEVENS A., HEATH J. W.: Wheater – Istologia e anatomia microscopica, Elsevier Masson, Milano.
Teaching methods
Zoology:
The lectures take place illustrating general concepts that are detailed with examples of animal taxa of veterinary interest. The lectures are held using PowerPoint presentations. Practical exercises include: 1. a visit to the Museum of Natural History in Milan to have an evolutionary view of the animal kingdom; 2) video analysis of animal behavior.
Histology and General Veterinary Embryology:
The course includes theoretical lessons that take place in the classroom and practical lessons that take place in the laboratory of histology and in the Room of Microscopic Anatomy, where the student is exercised in recognition of tissues by light microscopy. For the practical activity is required the distribution of students in different groups, the number of groups is related to the total number of students, on the lab and room capacity and on the possibility of allowing each student to operate independently.
Assessment methods and criteria
Zoology:
Written examination (consisting of 20 multiple choice questions and 2 open questions) and a following oral exam aimed to: verify the capacity of the student to tackle problems of zoology using the methodological principles and knowledge acquired during the course; evaluate the student's ability to carry out cross-links between the various topics covered during the Course.
Histology and General Veterinary Embryology:
The final exam, structured to evaluate the achievement of the objectives of the course, include a practical and an oral tests.
The practical test consist on the recognition of tissues within an histological slide by the optical microscope and produce a written scheme with the description of the visualised tissue
The oral examination is based on the discussion of the written scheme from the practical test and on the answers to 3 questions, one for each part of the course (Citology, Histology and General Veterinary Embryology), randomly identified by the computer.
Beside the consulting tests present on the list below, students with their username and password can accede the University Website where they can find the summary of the lectures, work schemes for the plenaries and images of histological sections used during practice.
The final mark corresponds to the weighted average of the evaluations made during the single modules. The weight assigned is based on the number of hours designated for each module. Students diagnosed with learning disabilities according the law n° 170/2010, benefit the support provided to them by law.
