In keeping with the Dublin Descriptors for Master’s awards, the aim of Course is to provide the students a basis or opportunity to demonstrate: 1) Knowledge and understanding: - Understanding, through theoretical and practical approaches, the relevance of model organisms in biomedical research, in particular to study genome function and pathological dysfunction, and to develop therapeutic approaches. - Learning, through theoretical and practical approaches, of the basic physiology of common model organisms, their advantages and limitations, with focus on evolutionarily conserved fundamental cellular and molecular mechanisms. 2) Applied knowledge and understanding: - Learning, through theoretical and practical approaches, how to manipulate model organisms to study tissue physiology and generate human disease models, in particular aging-related pathologies (neurodegenerative disorders and cancer). - Learning, through theoretical and practical approaches, how to design and perform experiments in model organisms (in particular the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster) and analyze the results. 3) Making judgements: - Ability to identify biological questions relevant for human diseases, formulate hypotheses and choose a model organism to verify them, and discuss the results of the experiments. To these aims, the experimental activities included in the course, and elaboration of the acquired knowledge to pass the final exam, will be instrumental. 4) Communication skills: - Ability to express questions, hypotheses, and answers related to the course topics, in an intelligible, logic, synthetic manner, using proper scientific terms. To these aims, the interaction throughout the course will be encouraged. 5) Learning skills: - Autonomy in deepening the study of the course topics. To this aim, reading of scientific literature and attending seminars will be encouraged.

Knowledge of cellular and molecular biology. Further knowledge of invertebrate and vertebrate embryology is an advantage.

The course, though lectures (5 CFU - 40 hours), and experimental activities (1 CFU - 12 hours), shows the use of model organisms in biomedical research. 1) Lectures: - Relevance of simple organisms as models in basic and applied biomedical research. - Organisms commonly used to study tissue physiology and generate human disease models: features, advantages, limitations, methods for genetic and non-genetic manipulation. - Using model organisms to study genome function and pathological dysfunction, and to develop therapeutic approaches. 2) Experimental activities: - Examples of biological questions relevant for human diseases, formulation of hypotheses, choice of a simple organism (fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster) as an experimental model. - Design and execution of experiments, and analysis of results.

There are no textbooks. The material presented and discussed in the class will be available in the MS Teams platform. Additional material available in the internet will be used to complement what discussed in the class.

1) Lectures: - Relevance of simple organisms as models in basic and applied biomedical research. - Organisms commonly used to study tissue physiology and generate human disease models (Saccharomyces yeast, C. elegans nematode, Drosophila melanogaster fruit fly, X. laevis frog, D. rerio zebrafish, M. musculus rodent): features, advantages, limitations, ethical considerations and regulation, in particular the principle of the 3Rs (Replacement Refinement and Reduction). - Methods and techniques for genetic and non-genetic manipulation of common model organisms (Saccharomyces yeast, C. elegans nematode, Drosophila melanogaster fruit fly, X. laevis frog, D. rerio zebrafish, M. musculus rodent). - Using model organisms to study genome function and pathological dysfunction, and to develop therapeutic approaches. 2) Experimental activities: - Examples of biological questions relevant for human diseases, formulation of hypotheses, choice of a simple organism (fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster) as an experimental model. - Design and execution of experiments. - Experimental data analysis and discussion of results.

Lectures. Seminars by invited experts. Discussion of research articles with active involvement of the students. Experimental activity: applying knowledge and techniques learned during the course.

1. Any changes to the teaching modalities described herein, required to ensure the implementation of safety protocols in case of emergency situations, will be communicated through the websites of the Department, the Degree Program, and the specific course. 2. Students with particular needs (for example: individuals with disabilities, employed students, non-traditional/adult students, parents, incarcerated students, etc.) who are, either permanently or temporarily, unable to attend classes in person, may request remote participation. This request, which must include a justification and is made under the student's personal responsibility, should be submitted via email to the instructor well in advance of the start of the course. 3. Students with specific needs concerning exam procedures (e.g., holding DSA or disability certifications) must promptly inform both the instructor and the University’s Disability Office (disabilita.dsa@units.it) at the beginning of the course, in order to properly plan appropriate assessment methods.

The student’s knowledge will be assessed in a written test including quiz and open questions about the course topics are proposed. The experimental activity itself will be not assessed. When answering to the open questions, the student will show her/his ability discuss the proposed topics in a concise but complete way, using proper terms. Both the knowledge of the topics and the ability to adequately describe them will be evaluated. Scores will be assigned as follows: 30 e lode: comprehensive knowledge of the course topics; outstanding ability to present and analyze in-depth the course topics. 30: comprehensive knowledge of the course topics; excellent ability to present and analyze in-depth the course topics. 27 -29: very good knowledge of the course topics; very good ability to present and analyze in-depth the course topics. 24-26: good knowledge of the course topics; good ability to present and analyze in-depth the course topics. 21-23: comprehensive knowledge of the course topics; excellent ability to present and analyze in-depth the course topics. 18-20: sufficient knowledge of the course topics; sufficient ability to present and analyze in-depth the course topics. Less than 18: insufficient knowledge of the course topics; insufficient ability to present and analyze in-depth the course topics. During the course, examples of quiz and open questions will be provided; how to provide concise and comprehensive answers to the open questions will be discusses; the scoring system will be explained.

This course explores topics closely related to one or more goals of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (SDGs)