Unit ZOOLOGY

Course
Biological sciences
Study-unit Code
GP004016
Curriculum
In all curricula
Teacher
Enzo Goretti
Teachers
  • Enzo Goretti
Hours
  • 56 ore - Enzo Goretti
CFU
8
Course Regulation
Coorte 2022
Offered
2022/23
Learning activities
Base
Area
Discipline biologiche
Academic discipline
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.
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