Biological and Morphological Sciences

Structure and organization of the eukaryotic cell: cellular compartmentalization; cell organelles; ribosomes; cytoskeleton; junctions; Matrix.
Structure and function of biological membranes: fluid mosaic model; transport through the membrane.
Cellular communication: mode of communication between cells.
Cell cycle and its regulation: phases of the cycle; control system; apoptosis; the cancer cell.
The reproduction of living things: asexual and sexual reproduction; mitosis, meiosis and their comparison; gametogenesis; fertilization; differentiation.
DNA replication: central dogma of biology replication at the molecular level; DNA damage repair.
Transcription: various types of RNA; RNA synthesis; maturation of messenger RNAs.
Translation and genetic code: genetic code and its properties; protein synthesis mechanism; post-translational modifications.
The eukaryotic genome: chromatin structure; the nucleosome; gene structure (intron-exons); control of gene expression.

Nervous tissue: morphology and classification of neurons, axonal transport, myelination; neuroglia.
Nervous system: definition, organ composition, functions. General principles of neuroanatomy; functional meaning of the different nerve devices. Anatomical basis of the mechanisms of transduction, conduction and transmission of the nerve impulse; signs of phylogeny of the nervous system (centralization, encephalization, telencephalisation).
Axial and supra-axial organs, arch structure of the central nervous system; last common pathway; constructive principles of the somatosensory and motor pathways. Reflected and integrated answers; somatotopy.
Sensitivity classification and considerations on the morphological basis of pain.
Central nervous system: concise systematic treatment of the organs; internal central cavities; CSF circulation.
Peripheral nervous system: general information on the spinal and cranial nerves with particular reference to the acoustic state, glossopharyngeal, vagus, accessory and hypoglossal nerves; principles of somatic and visceral innervation.
Sympathetic nervous system.
Sensory organs and systems.

Human genome and karyotype; chromosome number abnormalities and non-disjunction at meiosis and associated diseases
Chromosome structural abnormalities (inversions, translocations, deletions, duplications) and related pathologies
Gene mutations (silent, missense, non-sense, frameshift, splicing); genetic polymorphisms (SNP, microsatellites)
Transmission of genetic traits and Mendel's rules; dominant and recessive traits; genealogical trees
Autosomal and sex chromosome-linked diseases and modes of inheritance (dominant and recessive); chromosome X inactivation
Gene mutation penetrance, variable expressivity, genetic heterogeneity; de novo germinal and somatic mutations and mosaicism
Atypical mechanisms of inheritance: disorders associated to dynamic mutations; mitochondrial and multifactorial diseases