Study-unit ZOOLOGY
| Course name | Biological sciences |
|---|---|
| Study-unit Code | GP004016 |
| Curriculum | Comune a tutti i curricula |
| Lecturer | Enzo Goretti |
| Lecturers |
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| Hours |
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| CFU | 8 |
| Course Regulation | Coorte 2021 |
| Supplied | 2021/22 |
| Supplied other course regulation | |
| Learning activities | Base |
| Area | Discipline biologiche |
| Sector | BIO/05 |
| Type of study-unit | Obbligatorio (Required) |
| Type of learning activities | Attività formativa monodisciplinare |
| Language of instruction | Italian |
| Contents | Zoology as the scientific study of animals. The scientific method. Chracteristics of the living systems. Origin of life. Appearance of the Eukaryotes. Introduction to Protozoa. Evolution. Homology and analogy. Species concept. Modes of speciation. Animal morphofunctional organization for activity of life: protection, support, movement, excretion, osmotic regulation, thermoregulation, circulation, respiration, nutrition, nervous and chemical coordination, reproduction. Architectural pattern of animals: morphogenetic and developmental parameters, animal symmetry, body cavities, metamerism. Radiata and Bilateria. Protostomes and Deuterostomes. Classification and phylogeny. Taxonomic categories: from Species to Phylum. Major animal phyla: Porifera, Cnidaria, Platyhelminthes, Nematoda, Mollusca, Annelida, Arthropoda, Echinodermata, Chordata. |
| Reference texts | - 2 volumes: FONDAMENTI DI ZOOLOGIA 15a edizione + DIVERSITA’ ANIMALE 15a edizione - Hickman C.P., Roberts L.S., Keen S.L., Eisenhour D.J., Larson A., l’Anson H. - McGraw-Hill. -one volume (same chapters and content of the 2 separate volumes): ZOOLOGIA 15a edizione - Hickman C.P., Roberts L.S., Keen S.L., Eisenhour D.J., Larson A., l’Anson H. - McGraw-Hill. |
| Educational objectives | This course aims 1) to enlight the organization plan (bauplan) of animals, the evolution fo the animal kindom from the hypothesis on the origin of life to the first eukariotic organisms, the onset of pluricellularity and the discussion of the evolution theories. 2) to provide the basic animal systematics |
| Prerequisites | none |
| Teaching methods | Theoretical lessons. |
| Other information | Lessons are optional but strongly advised |
| Learning verification modality | oral exam |
| Extended program | - Introduction to Zoology. Zoology as the scientific study of animals. The scientific method. - Basic properties of matter and life: chracteristics of the living systems. -Origin of life: chemical and organic evolution; origin of living systems. Prokariotes. The age of Cyanobacteria. Appearance of the Eukaryotes. Introduction to Protozoa. - Evolution: first scientific explanations of evolution before Darwin’s theory; Darwinism; evidences for evolution; modern Darwinism: the syntetic theory of evolution; microevolution; genetic equilibrium (principle of Hardy-Weinberg); natural selection and stochastic evolutionary force; homology and analogy; Species concept; modes of speciation; adaptive radiation; gradualistic model and punctuated equilibrium model of evolution; macroevolution. - Morphofunctional organization of animals. Levels of organization of the animal body: tissues, organs and systems. Activity of life: protection, support and movement (integumentary system, skeletal system, muscolar system); excretion (excretory system) and osmotic regulation; thermoregulation; circulation (circulatory system); respiration (respiratory system); nutrition and feeding mechanisms (alimentary system); coordination (nervous system and sense organs; endocrine system); reproduction (reproductive system). - Architectural pattern of animals: morphogenetic and developmental parameters, animal symmetry, body cavities; formation of coelom; functional and evolutionary significance of the body cavity; metamerism. - The Animal kingdom. Radiata and Bilateria. Protostomes and Deuterostomes. Animal diversity: Classification and phylogeny. Taxonomic categories: from Species to Phylum. Major animal phyla: Porifera, Cnidaria, Platyhelminthes, Nematoda, Mollusca, Annelida, Arthropoda (Chelicerata-Arachnida; Mandibulata-Crustacea and Insecta). Echinodermata, Chordata. |