Learning objectives
This Module of General Zoology is designed to provide the bases for addressing the study of animal biology that will be detailed in subsequent years. The approach to dealing with the different topics of General Zoology is evolutionary-adaptive and space will be given also to the organization and structure of animals, in addition to the morpho-functional systems of the main Taxa. These matters are a valuable cultural bridge that connects this course to those of the following years and that will deal with different aspects of animal biology.
Prerequisites
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Course unit content
The course of General Zoology provides the basic elements of animal biology with particular emphasis to morpho-functional, ecological and evolutionary aspects.
Full programme
AN INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OF ANIMAL BIOLOGY. The study of Life. The unifying themes of Life Sciences. Zoology as a part of Biology. Zoology as a scientific process.
THE CHEMISTRY OF LIFE: General principles. The water. Organic compounds. Carbohydrates. Lipids. Proteins. Enzymes. Nucleic Acids.
THE ORIGIN OF LIFE: The pre-biotic world. From the molecules to the organisms. The emergence of eukaryotes. The origin and evolution of animals.
THE CELL: The concept of cell. The cellular organization. The prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell. Properties and features of animal cell. Structure and function of nucleus and cytoplasmatic organelles. Biological membranes. Metabolism of the cell. The cell cycle. Cell division. Mitosis. Meiosis and gametogenesis. Sexual life cycles.
INFORMATION AND HEREDITY (Basic concepts): Chromosomic bases of heredity. Molecular bases of heredity. DNA as the seat of genetic information. DNA duplication. The long way from genotype to phenotype, the first step: the synthesis of polypeptides.
EVOLUTION: The idea of evolution: historical background. The theory of Darwin and evidences supporting it. The meaning of “theory” in the scientific thinking. The evolution of populations and the forces of evolution. Microevolution. Speciation and mechanism of reproductive isolation. Macroevolution.
THE FORM AND THE FUNCTION IN ANIMALS. A) The architecture of animal body: Hierarchical organization of animal complexity. Structural models of the body. Symmetry. Body cavities. Metamery. Cephalisation. Homology and Analogy. B) Some basic concepts on how the animal machinery works: An introduction to the basic principles processes of maintenance and homeostasis. Nutrition. Circulation and gas exchange. Regulation of the internal environment.
REPRODUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT: Asexual reproduction. Sexual reproduction. Conjugation in Ciliates. Evolution of sexuality. Fertilization. Amphigony and Parthenogenesis. Primary and secondary sexual characters. Sexual dimorphism. Gonochorism and hermaphroditism. Sexual selection. Reproductive strategies. Monogamy and Polygamy. Parental cares. Metagenesis, neoteny, heterogony. Embryonic and post-embryonic development. Metamorphosis.
BASIC CONCEPTS OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY AND INTERACTIONS AMONG ORGANISMS.
ELEMENTS of ANIMAL CLASSIFICATION AND PHYLOGENY: Criteria of classification. Taxonomic nomenclature. Systematic categories. Phylogenetic position and main features of the main animal Taxa.
Bibliography
BIOLOGIA
Campbell, Reece et al.
Pearson Paravia Bruno Mondadori(2009)
Vol. 1: La chimica della vita e la cellula
Vol. 3: Meccanismi dell'evoluzione ed origini della diversità
Vol. 5: La forma e la funzione negli animali
Teaching methods
Lectures made using also multimedia tools on the classical topics of general Zoology. Analysis of case studies for a better understanding of the principles and the experimental methods used in the field of animal biology.
Assessment methods and criteria
Oral and written examination aimed to verify the capacity of the student to tackle problems of zoology using the methodological principles and knowledge acquired during the course.
Other information
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