Biological Sciences

A research project that assigns students to expert professors in their proposed research topic. The course takes the student's research capabilities to a more professional level. This can be most closely compared to what is called a supervised research project in American universities.

This course examines marine protection and conservation science and associated management of marine environments. It covers the principles of marine protection, including the varied ways that marine habitats are assessed for protection, can be protected, and the techniques used to assess whether protection has been successful.

Sicily, the largest island in the Mediterranean, with its diverse landscapes — ranging from Mt. Etna’s volcanic geology and coastal marine biodiversity to rural agricultural practices and conservation areas — offers a unique and comprehensive setting for immersive ecological and environmental field studies. This course will engage with key topics such as the natural history and ecology of Mediterranean island environments, the geological processes that shape the landscape, perspectives on human-environment interactions, and the oceanographic dynamics that influence coastal and marine habitats.

The course is to understand how evolutionary principles can help us to better explain health and disease.  Why do we get sick? Why are pregnancies complicated? Why do we grow old? Why do infectious diseases have a disproportionate effect in men and women? These fascinating questions are the core of evolutionary medicine. Through case studies, students explore contemporary issues in health and disease –ones that we confront on a regular basis– and ask how evolutionary concepts –e.g., life history theory, cooperation and conflict, constraints and trade-offs, coevolution– help us to understand, mitigate, or combat those issues. 

Diseases that integrate physiology, cellular biology, and molecular biology with pathophysiology and pharmacology are central to this course. The course provides a comprehensive perspective on organ system related diseases, their complications, and treatments at the molecular, cellular, and systemic level. The course starts with a focus on basic pathophysiology at the cellular and molecular levels and an introduction to pharmacology with a focus on pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics and toxicology. The course covers various aspects such as pathophysiological mechanisms, pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions, the mechanisms of the impact of drugs at the molecular, cellular and organ level and ethical considerations related to the UN Global Goals from a broad perspective. During the course, different parts of the drug development process are introduced – from the early pre-clinical stages to clinical trials and approval. Pre-req includes BIMB40 Organ Systems and Homeostasis of the Human Body.
 

The course consists of an integrated historical and a philosophical part. In the historical part, the period ca. 1900 until the present and concentrate on the development of biology as a separate scientific discipline, characterized by research programs that took shape over time is covered. In this section the following topics are reviewed Kant’s Critic of Judgment and the emergence of the teleological understanding of living beings; The Cuvier-Geoffroy debate and its influence in the development of Darwin’s theory of evolution; Darwin's theory of evolution; The rise of experimentalism in the nineteenth-century biology; The eclipse of Darwinism and discussion of neo-Lamarckism in early twentieth century; The emergence of the synthetic theory of evolution; The foundations of genetics and molecular biology; and The postgenomic turn in 21th century. The historical part ties in with several of the themes covered in the philosophical part. Some of the philosophical debates discussed in the class are Philosophy of biology and its relation to biology; The central concepts of Darwin’s theory of evolution; Adaptationist debate; Species, genes, race, classification, and taxonomies; Causality and explanation in biology; and Experimental biology and epistemic objects. The course includes lectures and tutorials. Participants are expected to have carefully read the required material and have completed the weekly assignment in advance of the meeting. The weekly assignment is a reading report or a critical question depending on the week. Entrance requirements included enrollment in a degree programme of the Faculty of Science.

In this course, lectures are delivered by research-leaders in evolutionary cell biology, genetics, molecular cell biology, and ageing to provide a comprehensive understanding of cell function at the level of genome organization, gene regulation, proteome management, metabolic homeostasis and adaptive responses across different cell types and organisms (bacteria, archaea, fungi, plants, worms, planaria, tardigrades, fish, rodents and humans). By focusing on these areas of cell biology, the course then examines the similarities and differences in cell function across domains, kingdoms and species by discussing: 1) the cell biology behind specializations in cell function, 2) differences in the biology behind plant and animal cells, 3) the evolution of cell-type specificity and multicellular species, 4) organism-specific adaptive responses and 5) changes in function between young and old cells. In addition, students have the opportunity to conduct an independent mini research project in which they contribute to a real-world ongoing experiment aimed at understanding how cells respond to the presence of toxic proteins. 

This course explores gender, sex, and sexuality in a cross-disciplinary environment that promotes a dialogue between both students and academics from different faculties. Teaching sessions comprise combinations of lectures and seminars that juxtapose different approaches to related subtopics, for example by pairing a science-based lecture with a seminar on the representation of gender or sexuality in the arts. These sessions are framed by reflective exercises aimed at identifying areas of overlap as well as gaps and contradictions within these approaches. 

This course provides a general overview of practical applications of fertility control for ethical management of wildlife and other free-living animals. Lectures and practical sessions focus on case studies to illustrate the many aspects of wildlife fertility control applications. Students learn about products available, methods to deliver contraceptives and evaluate their impact on reproduction and welfare of individuals and populations of free-living animals. Through a mixture of lectures, informal discussion groups, laboratory and field practical sessions, students learn about the challenges and opportunities offered by fertility control and complete a proposal for a project on wildlife fertility control. The course addresses the rising demand for innovative conservation approaches and prepares students to balance ecological and economic needs with animal welfare. 

This course provides a critical understanding of the discipline of Forensic Science as it applies to the scientific underpinning of the processes from crime scene to courtroom.