- Main characteristics of living systems: Fundamental properties of cells; the cell theory; organization, structure, complexity and main differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells; structure and functions of cellular organelles; definition and classification of viruses and stages of viral infection.
- Chemical basis of life: structure and function of the four biological molecules (carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids and proteins); definition of enzymes as biological catalysts.
- Plasma membrane: Properties and functions, modes of transport of small molecules across the plasma membrane (simple diffusion, facilitated diffusion, active transport).
- Internal organization of the cell: Intracellular compartments and protein sorting, intracellular membrane traffic, organelles. The cytoskeleton and cell motility. Nuclear compartment, structure and functions. The different levels of chromatin condensation.
- Energy conversion: Glycolysis and fermentation (outline). Mitochondria and Chloroplasts, structure and function.
- Molecular basis of hereditary information: DNA replication. DNA repair and its correlation with human diseases.
- RNA, structure and function: Main types of cellular RNAs and differences with respect to DNA in terms of molecular size, stability and biological functions. Transcription and RNA maturation.
- Genetic Code and its properties. Protein synthesis: How cells read the genome. Main posttranslational modifications of the polypeptide chains.
- Post-synthetic fate of proteins, endomembranes and membrane traffic: Endocytosis, pinocytosis, phagocytosis and receptor-mediated endocytosis (LDL).
- Control of gene expression: Molecular mechanisms that create specialized cell types. Functional organization of the eukaryotic genome. Histone code. Transcriptional control, role of chromatin condensation and of the degree of DNA methylation.
- Cell Signaling: Exchange of chemical signals through receptor proteins. The key role played by protein kinases in this process. Key pathways in cellular transduction.
- The cytoskeleton and the interactions between cells and their environment: Cytoskeleton. Structure and function of actin, microtubules, and intermediate filaments. Motor proteins. Adhesion molecules and the extracellular matrix.
- Cell Cycle: The cell cycle and overview of the cell cycle control system. The role of the cyclin-dependent kinases.
- Mitosis and Meiosis: Principles of chromosome dynamics during mitosis and meiosis; molecular mechanisms of genetic recombination.
- Gene mutations: Mutations by substitution, insertion, or deletion of nucleotides. Spontaneous and induced mutations. Chemical and physical mutagens. DNA repair systems for single or double-stranded DNA damage.
- Apoptosis, Necrosis and Autophagy: Basic knowledge of the apoptosis, necrosis and autophagy processes.
- Molecular basis of cancer: Tumor suppressors and proto-oncogenes. Molecular mechanisms in cellular transformation. Characteristics of a cancer cell.
- Stem cells and regenerative medicine: Basic knowledge of stem cells and their potential applications in regenerative medicine.

Recommended textbooks: “Molecular Biology of the Cell”, VII edition, Bruce Alberts et al., WW Norton & Co.
“Essential Cell Biology”, Bruce Alberts et al. V ed., WW Norton & Co.
“Fondamenti di Biologia” Solomon, E. P. (8th Edition). EdiSES, 2022.

- Main characteristics of living systems: Fundamental properties of cells; the cell theory; organization, structure, complexity and main differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells; structure and functions of cellular organelles; definition and classification of viruses and stages of viral infection.
- Chemical basis of life: structure and function of the four biological molecules (carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids and proteins); definition of enzymes as biological catalysts.
- Plasma membrane: Properties and functions, modes of transport of small molecules across the plasma membrane (simple diffusion, facilitated diffusion, active transport).
- Internal organization of the cell: Intracellular compartments and protein sorting, intracellular membrane traffic, organelles. The cytoskeleton and cell motility. Nuclear compartment, structure and functions. The different levels of chromatin condensation.
- Energy conversion: Glycolysis and fermentation (outline). Mitochondria and Chloroplasts, structure and function.
- Molecular basis of hereditary information: DNA replication. DNA repair and its correlation with human diseases.
- RNA, structure and function: Main types of cellular RNAs and differences with respect to DNA in terms of molecular size, stability and biological functions. Transcription and RNA maturation.
- Genetic Code and its properties. Protein synthesis: How cells read the genome. Main posttranslational modifications of the polypeptide chains.
- Post-synthetic fate of proteins, endomembranes and membrane traffic: Endocytosis, pinocytosis, phagocytosis and receptor-mediated endocytosis (LDL).
- Control of gene expression: Molecular mechanisms that create specialized cell types. Functional organization of the eukaryotic genome. Histone code. Transcriptional control, role of chromatin condensation and of the degree of DNA methylation.
- Cell Signaling: Exchange of chemical signals through receptor proteins. The key role played by protein kinases in this process. Key pathways in cellular transduction.
- The cytoskeleton and the interactions between cells and their environment: Cytoskeleton. Structure and function of actin, microtubules, and intermediate filaments. Motor proteins. Adhesion molecules and the extracellular matrix.
- Cell Cycle: The cell cycle and overview of the cell cycle control system. The role of the cyclin-dependent kinases.
- Mitosis and Meiosis: Principles of chromosome dynamics during mitosis and meiosis; molecular mechanisms of genetic recombination.
- Gene mutations: Mutations by substitution, insertion, or deletion of nucleotides. Spontaneous and induced mutations. Chemical and physical mutagens. DNA repair systems for single or double-stranded DNA damage.
- Apoptosis, Necrosis and Autophagy: Basic knowledge of the apoptosis, necrosis and autophagy processes.
- Molecular basis of cancer: Tumor suppressors and proto-oncogenes. Molecular mechanisms in cellular transformation. Characteristics of a cancer cell.
- Stem cells and regenerative medicine: Basic knowledge of stem cells and their potential applications in regenerative medicine.

Recommended textbooks: “Molecular Biology of the Cell”, VII edition, Bruce Alberts et al., WW Norton & Co.
“Essential Cell Biology”, Bruce Alberts et al. V ed., WW Norton & Co.
“Fondamenti di Biologia” Solomon, E. P. (8th Edition). EdiSES, 2022.

Medical Genetics
- Basic Genetics: Definitions of Key Terms: gene, locus, allele, genotype, phenotype, haplotype,
homozygous, heterozygous, haploid, diploid, dominance, recessivity, codominance, mutation,
polymorphism.
- Principles of Genetic Transmission: Mendel's Genetic Hypothesis, The Monohybrid and Dihybrid
Crosses, Segregation in Human Pedigrees, Blood groups Genetics
- Monogenic Inheritance Models: Autosomal inheritance, Autosomal recessive inheritance, X-
linked inheritance
- Genetic Risk calculation and pedigrees analyses. Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium.
- Chromosomes: Structure and Analysis, Chromosomes Pathologies
- Genomic Imprinting
- X-chromosome inactivation
- Mitochondrial inheritance: mitochondrial DNA, pattern of inheritance
- Multifactorial Inheritance and Common Diseases: polymorphisms, susceptibility genes, gene-
environment interaction, association studies
- Pharmacogenomics and Personalised Medicine
- Genetic tests and Counselling.
- Prenatal and postnatal testing
- Examples of genetic diseases: BRCA1 and breast cancer, Cystic fibrosis, sex development
disorders, dinamic mutations disorders, Genes and dental disorders
- Epigenetics and nutrigenetics. Outlines

Medical Genetics: Lectures in pdf format will be provided to students. Recommended books:
“ Genetica in Medicina ” by R. Nussbaum. Thompson & Thompson. Edises
“ Genetica Umana” by R Lewis, Piccin
“Medical Genetics” by Jorde et al. VI edition. Edited by Elsevier