The 2nd cycle degree course in Cell and Molecular biology specifically aims at providing advanced competences in prokaryotes and eukaryotes biology.
Therefore, the educational programme aims at providing cell- biology and molecular biology competences with respect to cell/cell, cell/matrix interactions, to biochemical and molecular mechanisms at the basis of protein turnover and folding, to understand: a) the role of cell activity regulation under the physiological and pathological point of view; b) the involved molecular and genetic mechanisms, and c) the relations between the three dimensional protein and nucleic acid structures , to identify the different genic pathways involved in the development, proliferation and differentiation of cells, in model eukaryote and prokaryote systems; the involvement of epigenetic mechanisms and their regulations in hereditary transmission and in the regulation of genic expression; the electro-physiological and functional mechanisms of transportation and communication systems in biological membranes of cell motility as well as the specialised functions of individual cells.
This training is integrated with the biochemical, genetic and cytogenetic methodologies as well as with knowledge related to recombinant technologies and to the use of bioinformatics tools for studying functional genomics. Finally, the educational programme provides a super-disciplinary vision of the molecular, biochemical, genetic mechanisms at the basis of life, growth, development and differentiation of animal organisms, and adaptation to environmental conditions.
To achieve these objectives, the course is organised as follows:
- the normal length of the 2nd cycle degree course is 2 years; to obtain the 2nd cycle degree, students should acquire 120 credits and pass a final examination.
- Courses are organised in semesters, (at least 13 weeks). Frontal teaching corresponds to 66 credits of class specific and integrative activities; elective activities are awarded with 9 credits, and the remaining 45 credits correspond to practice and internship and to laboratory activities to prepare the experimental dissertation, under the guidance of a supervising professor. Practice periods may be spent both in University laboratories and in other Universities or laboratories of Italian and foreign research agencies; these activities not only provide useful techniques for the experimental dissertation, but also to favour cultural exchanges and possible scientific cooperation. The experimental dissertation/internship is the foremost occasion for the practical and experimental application of the received education.
- The structure and articulation of each teaching (single module or integrated course) and of any other educational activity are defined each year in the Educational Programme and in the Students' guide.
- Credits will be acquired by students after passing the relevant examinations and, in the case of stage/practice/experimental dissertation , through the evaluation of the supervising tutor.