General and Environmental Biology with Elements of Histology | Università degli Studi di Milano Statale

A.Y. 2024/2025

Max ECTS

Overall hours

SSD

BIO/06

Language

Italian

Included in the following degree programmes

Natural Sciences (Classe L-32)-Enrolled from 2018/2019 Academic Year

Learning objectives

Introductory course to biology that provides information on the evolution of living organisms with particular attention to cellular organization. By describing the structure-function relationship of the various cellular components and the general organization of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, the course aims to provide an understanding of the basic mechanisms that regulate the complexity of cells and highlight how these are closely related and coordinated in order to ensure the homeostasis of the functional units at the basis of life. In addition, the course aims to provide an understanding of how different cells can organize together to form tissues and provide students with the tools to recognize and classify the main tissues in living organisms.

Expected learning outcomes

At the end of the course, students will have learned what is a living organism and what are the structural and functional characteristics that identify it. Students will be able to describe what distinguishes a prokaryote from an eukaryote. They will also have understood how profoundly complex and refined cellular organization is, how biological macromolecules are structured and how they interact with each other to perform the multiple functions necessary for life. They will know the structure and function of cellular organelles, how they cooperate to maintain cellular functions and how they evolved. They will also be able to recognize, based on their structural and cytological characteristics, the different fundamental animal tissues that organize a complex organism. This objective will be achieved through mandatory exercises with digital slides and direct observations of histological preparations under the optical microscope.

Lesson period: First semester

Lessons timetable

Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi

Exams calendar

Single course

This course can be attended as a single course.

Take a single course

Course syllabus and organization

A-L

Responsible

Vaccari Thomas

Lesson period

First semester

Syllabus
Course structure

Course syllabus

Properties of the life - Cell Theory - Scientific methodology - Unity and diversity of cells - Different levels of complexity - Sizes of cells and organelles and the units in which they are measured -The light microscopy - The electron microscopy - Biochemical methods: subcellular fractionation and differential centrifugation - Small and big biological molecules - Properties of water - Natural elements and compounds - Carbon as outstanding element - Condensation and hydrolysis reactions - Macromolecules: Carbohydrates, Proteins, Lipids, Nucleic Acids - A trip inside the cell - Procaryotes: Eubacteria and Archeobacteria - Eukaryotes: Protista, single-cell organisms, and metazoans, pluri-cell organisms - The plasma membrane: structure and function - The asymmetry of the membrane: its meaning - Osmosis - Facilitated diffusion and active transport - Cell communication: general principles - The intracellular membranes: the meaning of cell compartmentalization - The smooth and rough endoplasmic reticulum - Golgi complex - Lysosomes - Vacuoles - Peroxisomes - Mitochondria: notes on their structure and function - The production of ATP - Chloroplasts - The endosymbiotic origin of mitochondria and chloroplasts - Nuclear envelope - Chromatin organization - Nucleosomes - Nucleolus - Transport outside and inside the nucleus - Ribosomes - Protein synthesis: general principles - The Cytoskeleton - Microtubules and the centrosome - Stable microtubules: cilia and flagella - Dynamic microtubules: the mitotic spindle - Actin: globular actin and actin filaments - Cell movement - Intermediate filaments: notes on cell junctions - Cell cycle and mitosis - Mitosis in unicellular versus pluricellular organisms - Asexual reproduction (fission, budding) and sexual reproduction - Gametes and meiosis - Crossing over and genetic recombination - Fertilization and early development. Histology: Epithelia and glands; Connective tissues; Cartilage; Bone; Adipose tissue; Blood (Immunity system); Lymphoid tissue; Muscular tissues (smooth, skeletal, cardiac); Nervous tissue (Neurons, synapses; glial cells).

Prerequisites for admission

none

Teaching methods

Classroom lectures, interaction with students based on lecture slides and additional material provided on ariel at http://tvaccaribga.ariel.ctu.unimi.it
Autotest and classroom test activities based on multiple choice test simulation. Hands on activities in the histology lab based on identification at the microscope of tissue sections on slides.

Teaching Resources

General Biology: Solomon, Berg, Martin. Elementi di BIOLOGIA, VI Ediz., EdiSES
Histology: Zaccheo e Pestarino. Citologia, Istologia e Anatomia Microscopica - Pearso

Assessment methods and Criteria

The exam evaluates the level of acquisition of the course objectives for both the part of general and environmental biology and of the part of histology, in particular for the student ability to recognize and describe preserved tissue slices. In particular, the exam is organized as described below:

Written exam:

HISTOLOGY: Fifteen histological images to identify. It is necessary to recognize at least 10 out of 15 slides to approve histology test.

BIOLOGY: Thirty three multiple choice questions. Right answer = 1 pt, Wrong answer = -0,2 pt, No answer = 0 pt.
The mark is the sum of the scores on 33 questions. Additional bonus of 2 points or 1 point for those who recognized 15 histology slides or at least 13 slides respectively.

Oral exam (optional for marks greater than or equal to 22/30, compulsory for marks lower than 22/30)

Questions on the histology and biology program starting from the grade of the written paper. Oral assessment parameters: reasoning and deduction skills, properties in the specific language, knowledge of the main concepts. Type of evaluation: mark out of thirty.
Method of communicating results: on Ariel. Students have the right to accept or refuse the grade.

BIO/06 - COMPARATIVE ANATOMY AND CYTOLOGY - University credits: 8

Practicals with elements of theory: 12 hours
Lessons: 56 hours

Professors: Colombo Graziano, Vaccari Thomas

Shifts:

Turno

Professors: Colombo Graziano, Vaccari Thomas

M-Z

Responsible

Colombo Graziano

Lesson period

First semester

Syllabus
(active tab)
Course structure

Course syllabus

Properties of the life - Cell Theory - Scientific methodology - Unity and diversity of cells - Different levels of complexity - Sizes of cells and organelles and the units in which they are measured -The light microscopy - The electron microscopy - Biochemical methods: subcellular fractionation and differential centrifugation - Small and big biological molecules - Properties of water - Natural elements and compounds - Carbon as outstanding element - Condensation and hydrolysis reactions - Macromolecules: Carbohydrates, Proteins, Lipids, Nucleic Acids - A trip inside the cell - Procaryotes: Eubacteria and Archeobacteria - Eukaryotes: Protista, single-cell organisms, and metazoans, pluri-cell organisms - The plasma membrane: structure and function - The asymmetry of the membrane: its meaning - Osmosis - Facilitated diffusion and active transport - Cell communication: general principles - The intracellular membranes: the meaning of cell compartmentalization - The smooth and rough endoplasmic reticulum - Golgi complex - Lysosomes - Vacuoles - Peroxisomes - Mitochondria: notes on their structure and function - The production of ATP - Chloroplasts - The endosymbiotic origin of mitochondria and chloroplasts - Nuclear envelope - Chromatin organization - Nucleosomes - Nucleolus - Transport outside and inside the nucleus - Ribosomes - Protein synthesis: general principles - The Cytoskeleton - Microtubules and the centrosome - Stable microtubules: cilia and flagella - Dynamic microtubules: the mitotic spindle - Actin: globular actin and actin filaments - Cell movement - Intermediate filaments: notes on cell junctions - Cell cycle and mitosis - Mitosis in unicellular versus pluricellular organisms - Asexual reproduction (fission, budding) and sexual reproduction - Gametes and meiosis - Crossing over and genetic recombination - Fertilization and early development.
Histology: Epithelia and glands; Connective tissues; Cartilage; Bone; Adipose tissue; Muscular tissues (smooth, skeletal, cardiac); Nervous tissue (Neurons, synapses; glial cells).

Prerequisites for admission

None

Teaching methods

Classroom lectures, question and answer sessions. Interaction with students based on lecture slides and additional material provided on the platform MyAriel.
Classroom test activities for histology and biology (multiple choice) based on test simulations. Hands on activities in the histology lab based on identification at the microscope of tissue sections on slides.

Teaching Resources

Genaral Biology and Histology (all in one):
Dalle Donne I. et al., Citologia e Istologia, I Ediz. 2019, EdiSES

General Biology:
Solomon, Berg, Martin, Elementi di BIOLOGIA, VI Ediz., EdiSES

Histology:
Dalle Donne I., Gagliano N., Bertolini B. et al. Istologia ed elementi di anatomia microscopica, Ediz. 2009, EdiSES

Assessment methods and Criteria

Written exam to evaluate the ability to recognize biological tissues:
HISTOLOGY: Fifteen histological images to identify. It is necessary to recognize at least 10 out of 15 slides to approve histology test.

Written exam to assess knowledge of basic biological concepts and mechanisms:
BIOLOGY: Thirty three multiple choice questions. Right answer = 1 pt, Wrong answer = -0,2 pt, No answer = 0 pt.
The mark is the sum of the scores on 33 questions. Additional bonus of 2 points or 1 point for those who recognized 15 histology slides or at least 13 slides respectively.

Oral exam (optional for marks greater than or equal to 22/30, compulsory for marks lower than 22/30)

Questions on the histology and biology program starting from the grade of the written paper. Oral assessment parameters: reasoning and deduction skills, properties in the specific language, knowledge of the main concepts. Type of evaluation: mark out of thirty.
Method of communicating results: on Ariel. Students have the right to accept or refuse the grade.

BIO/06 - COMPARATIVE ANATOMY AND CYTOLOGY - University credits: 8

Practicals with elements of theory: 12 hours
Lessons: 56 hours

Professor: Colombo Graziano

Shifts:

Turno

Professor: Colombo Graziano

Educational website(s)

Biologia generale e ambientale con elementi di Istologia A-L (a.a. 2024/25)
Biologia generale e ambientale con elementi di Istologia M-Z (a.a. 2024/25)

Professor(s)

Colombo Graziano

Reception:

Monday 10.00-18.00 (by appointment)

Department of Biosciences, Via Celoria 26, 20133 Milan.

Vaccari Thomas

Web site

Reception:

Thursday 17-18 (by appointment)

office 2b

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