BIOLOGY

This “Biology” course aims to support students in their future pursuit of various degree programs by consolidating prior knowledge and addressing any knowledge gaps in the subject area. The course offers a learning path focused on the fundamental concepts of Biology and equips students with a solid background and a system-thinking approach that will be useful for proceeding in their scientific career.

With this course, students will develop the necessary knowledge of the fundamentals of Biology and establish a good foundation of the ecological perspective. At the end of the course, students will be able to recognize and describe the main processes underlying the phenomenon of life, distinguishing their levels of organization (molecules, cells, organisms, ecosystems and more complex systems). Students will also be able to understand and follow the process of scientific inquiry, acquire reliable scientific information, compare and evaluate scientific results and discuss them, using the correct disciplinary lexicon, terminology, and language.

There are no necessary prerequisites. Basic knowledge of physics and chemistry would be an asset.

The course offers a path to gain knowledge from the molecular scale up to the highest biological organization level, with a special focus on cells and cellular processes.

• Living in a living world: observing the presence and the actions of living beings in our world.
• Energy and matter flows in non-living and living systems.
• The Chemistry of Life: water, elements, molecules, the properties of living beings.
• Cell types and structure.
• Cell functions. Photosynthesis, respiration, fermentation, and metabolic pathways.
• Cell division and reproduction. Mitosis and meiosis.
• Molecular biology: DNA, RNAs and enzymes.
• Replication, transcription, translation, and related processes.
• From genetics to evolution: inheritance, patterns of inheritance, mutations and novelties.
• Evolution and its Processes.
• Biodiversity and classification systems.
• Fundamentals of Ecology: Populations, Communities, Ecosystems.
• Ecological interactions.
• Ecosystem structure, functions, and processes.
• Our relationship with Nature.

Teaching materials provided during the course (slides, videos, selected readings).
Free and open-source textbook “Concepts of Biology”, available online in the Openstax textbooks library (https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/1-introduction ).

A test on the topics covered in the course, with a final oral discussion on a topic of choice that particularly interested the student.
Students with Special Educational Needs or Specific Learning Disorders are encouraged to talk at the earliest convenience with the teacher to find the best support and format for the exam.

The course is prepared in accordance with the principles of universal design for learning to ensure inclusiveness and participation. The course includes lectures and active collaborative learning activities, including case studies, problem-based cooperative learning, and guided debates. Whenever possible, outdoor activities and practical tasks will further enhance the learning experience.

English

written and oral

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Natural capital and environmental quality" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development