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.
- Acquire a biological perspective to the analysis of human behavior
- Appraise the implication of human evolution for the bio-medical research
Prerequisites
basic knowledge of chemistry, phisic and biology.
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. 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. Evolution, consequences and adaptive significance of sexual reproduction.
3. The modern evolutionary synthesis. The Hardy-Weinberg Theorem. Microevolution and its causes. The origin of species. Macroevolution and Phylogeny.
4. Evolution of Vertebrates: an overview. Evolutionary trends in Primates: adaptations for acute vision. Early Anthropoids, Australopitecines and the genus Homo. The evolution of bipedal locomotion and brain in Hominids.
5. Biological Basis of human behavior: Basic concepts of genetic and evolution of behavior. The debate Nature vs Nurture. Imprinting and the attachment Theory. Evolutionary Bio-psychology.
Full programme
L1 -The Nature of science and biology: methods and organizing concepts. The unifying principle of biology: The Theory of Evolution. Darwinian Medicine. L2- Origins and evolution of life on Earth; Cell Biology. Procaryotic and Eucaryotic cell.
L3 - The cell cycle and reproduction: mitosis and meiosis.
L4- Male and female gametogenesis and their hormonal regulation. Evolution, consequences and adaptive significance of sexual reproduction.
L5- The modern evolutionary synthesis. The Hardy-Weinberg Theorem. Microevolution and its causes. The origin of species. Macroevolution and Phylogeny.
L6- . Evolution of Vertebrates: an overview. Evolutionary trends in Primates: adaptations for acute vision. Early Anthropoids, Australopitecines and the genus Homo. The evolution of bipedal locomotion and brain in Hominids.
L7 - Biological Basis of human behavior: Basic concepts of genetic and evolution of behavior. The debate Nature vs Nurture. Imprinting and the attachment Theory. Evolutionary Bio-psychology.
Bibliography
Solomon et al., BIOLOGY
Teaching methods
During classroom lectures I will illustrate and discuss the state of the art, concepts and experiments in the specific issue of biology. The lectures will be in an interactive format and students are strongly encouraged to ask questions and insert comments
Assessment methods and criteria
• A written exam will be given during class time comprising of 40 multiple choice or T-F questions and 3 open–answer questions.
Final exam, which has to be taken together with the other topics of the integrated course, is written and oral
Other information
Additional course material on Primate and Hominid evolution and adaptation to vision is available the course website and on www.biol.unipr.it/%7epalanza
2030 agenda goals for sustainable development
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