The aim of the course is to provide students with the skills and the knowledge required to become professionals in the basics of human biology and health, focusing on cellular homeostasis. Particular attention will be paid to cellular energy metabolism and to the recent evidence on mitochondria. The course will be in presented Italian and some seminars will be presented in English.

Issues and objectives of the lessons presented in English:

The lessons in English will focus on the skeletal muscle cell organization and plasticity skeletal muscle in response to stimuli such as contractile activity (endurance exercise and resistance training).

1.     CYTOLOGY
1.1. Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, virus and prions.
1.2. Inorganic constituents (water and ions) and organic (proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates and lipids) of human cells.
1.3. Structure and functions of biological membranes, membrane potential and transport mechanism.
1.4. Nucleus and nucleolus: chromatin organization.
1.4. Cytoplasm: endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondrion, Golgi complex, lysosomes, peroxisomes.
1.5. Cytoskeleton and cellular motility.
1.6. Skeletal muscle cells.
1.7. New evidence on muscle plasticity and mitochondria in muscle cells".

2. MOLECULAR BASIS FOR BIOLOGICAL INHERITANCE AND FLOW OF INFORMATION.

2.1. Human Project: organization of human genome.
2.2. DNA Identification. Chromosomes.
2.3. Cellular cycle: mitosis and meiosis.
2.3. Cellular differentiation and reproduction.
2.4. Apoptosis.
2.5. BIOLOGICAL INHERITANCE: (exercise based on Mendel principles).
2.6. Multifactorial INHERITANCE.
2.7. Mitochondrial DNA (mt DNA).
2.8. Replication of DNA.
2.9. Flow of information and protein synthesis.

Students should be able to apply the knowledge and skills they learn related to: 

1) Molecular structure of macromolecules: glucose, fructose, ribose, deoxyribose, glycerol, amino acids, ATP, DNA-RNA, fatty acids, triglycerides, phospholipids.

2) Cytology: structure and function of cytoplasmic organelles and main differences between a eukaryotic cell, prokaryotic and viruses; prion; the biological membranes; the cytoskeleton and cell junctions. 

3) Cellular metabolism: differences between the aerobic and anaerobic metabolism, general equation of cellular respiration, a general description of the main stages of cellular respiration (eg. Glycolysis, Krebs cycle, electron transport chain, oxidative phosphorylation) and energy yield from from one molecule of glucose. 

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the lecturer specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

Video will be used as teaching support.

Teaching

Lectures and practical training laboratory

The internship includes a commitment of approximately three laboratory days conducting a report ( total of 20 hours ) at the Division of Sports Science and Health with laboratory activities .

The internship will be done for groups of 5-10 students ( maximum 20 ) into several periods during the year .

Attendance

The time spent on training will be in January, July and September to not interfere with the regular classes .

Course books

ARTICLE: Mitochondrial Fusion and Division, By: Karen G. Hales, Ph.D. (Dept. of Biology, Davidson College) © 2010 Nature Education , Citation: Hales, K. G. (2010) Mitochondrial Fusion and Division. Nature Education 3(9):12

Assessment

Report

Disabilità e DSA

Le studentesse e gli studenti che hanno registrato la certificazione di disabilità o la certificazione di DSA presso l'Ufficio Inclusione e diritto allo studio, possono chiedere di utilizzare le mappe concettuali (per parole chiave) durante la prova di esame.

A tal fine, è necessario inviare le mappe, due settimane prima dell’appello di esame, alla o al docente del corso, che ne verificherà la coerenza con le indicazioni delle linee guida di ateneo e potrà chiederne la modifica.

Teaching

It is advisable to contact the teacher

Course books

ARTICLE: Mitochondrial Fusion and Division, By: Karen G. Hales, Ph.D. (Dept. of Biology, Davidson College) © 2010 Nature Education , Citation: Hales, K. G. (2010) Mitochondrial Fusion and Division. Nature Education 3(9):12

The subject areas indicated in English will be taught in the afore-mentioned language