Vai al contenuto principale

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS A.A. 2023/24

The following requirements must be fulfilled for the admission to the Master in Cellular and Molecular Biology - Biologia Cellulare e Molecolare:

1. Possession of a Bachelor Degree (three-year first level degree) achieved in Italy (DM 509; DM 270) or other equivalent qualifications obtained from a foreign University and recognized as satisfactory by the Master Admission Committee.

2. Candidates holding an Italian Bachelor Degree other than L13-Biological Sciences or L2-Biotechnology must possess at least 60 credits in one or more of the following scientific areas (SSD): BIO/01, BIO/02, BIO/03, BIO/04, BIO/05, BIO/06, BIO/07, BIO/09, BIO/10, BIO/11, BIO/12, BIO/14, BIO/16, BIO/18, BIO/19, CHIM/01, CHIM/02, CHIM/03, CHIM/06, FIS/01-08, MAT/01-09, INF/01, ING-INF/05, MED/04, MED/42.

3. An adequate academic background (see Syllabus). In order to be admitted to the Master in Cellular and Molecular Biology, applicants must pass a test that consists of two steps, a written test and an interview.

Step 1. Written test

The test will be available on the Moodle platform (https://cmb.i-learn.unito.it/) and will consist of 60 multiple choice questions in sequential order (i.e. with no possibility to go back to previous questions) to be taken in 70 minutes. The topics and the number of questions will be as follows:

  • Anatomy/Histology (6 questions)
  • Biochemistry (10 questions)
  • Cell Biology (10 questions)
  • Genetics (8 questions)
  • Microbiology (8 questions)
  • Molecular Biology (10 questions)
  • Physiology (8 questions)

The multiple choice questions will have at least 4 possible answers and a different weight for the calculation of the final score.

For applicants who will take the test in person, their identity will be checked by a committee formed by at least two teachers of the Master course.

For students who will take the test remotely (International students), on the pre-established date and time, they will connect to the webex/zoom platform (the link will be provided in advance). Their identity will be checked through an official document including a picture. They should keep their video and audio activated for the duration of the written test.

In order to be admitted to the interview, the student should reach a score corresponding to at least 50% of the maximal score.

Let's see and try an example of the entry test: only questions / questions with correct answers

Step 2. Interview

For students who pass step 1 (50% of the maximal score reached), the interview will be carried out by a committee formed of at least 2 teachers of the Master course and it will be a discussion about the written test.

In order to pass the interview, the applicant should be able to:

  1. Discuss the motivation behind the answers given in the written test and,
  2. Demonstrate adequate level of English proficiency

Syllabus:

Structure and function of the cardiovascular, digestive, respiratory, excretory, genital endocrine and nervous systems. Structure and function of biological membranes. Diffusional fluxes

Reference material:

  • W. Bemis, W.F. Walker, K. Liem, 'Functional anatomy of the vertebrates: an Evolutionary Perspective',  4th edition, 2008, Thomson Brooks/Cole, or equivalent.
  • K. Saladin, 'Human Anatomy', 3rd edition, 2013, McGraw-Hill, or equivalent.
  • B. Alberts et al., 'Essential Cell Biology', 2013, 4th edition, Garland, or equivalent.
  • P. Willmer et al. 'Environmental Physiology of Animals', 2004, 2nd edition, Wiley-Blackwell, or equivalent.

Structure and function of proteins (allosteric regulation). Enzymes: basic concepts and mechanisms of enzymatic catalysis. Principles of bioenergetics and metabolic pathways. Basic methods for purification and characterization of proteins.

Reference material: one of the following books

  • D.L. Nelson, M.M. Cox, 'Lehninger, Principles of Biochemistry', 2012, 6th edition, W.H. Freeman 
  • C.K. Mathews, K.E. van Holde, Applin D.R., Anthony-Cahill S.J. 'Biochemistry', 2012, 4th edition, Pearson.
  • J.M. Berg, J.L. Tymoczko, L. Stryer 'Biochemistry', 2012, 7th edition, W.H. Freeman 
  • D. Voet, J.G. Voet, C.W. Pratt: 'Fundamentals of Biochemistry, 2012, 4th edition, Wiley.

Elements of cell communication and signal transduction. Cell junction and adhesion. Regulation of the cell cycle. Cell death and survival. Protein trafficking. Basic cell culture techniques.

Reference material:

Structure and function of eukaryotic cell (plasma membrane, organelles, mitosis, meiosis). General characteristics and functions of the main tissues (epithelial, connective, muscular, nervous). Immunohistochemistry.

Reference material:

  • J. Kerr, 'Functional Histology', 2010, 2nd edition, Elsevier, or equivalent.
  • R. Colombo, E. Olmo, 'Biologia - cellula e tessuti', 2014, Edi Ermes, or equivalent.

Your knowledge of the English language, comparable to a B1 level (no need of certification), will be verified during the admission interview. 

Preparation of solutions. Basic knowledge of methods for solution and dilution. Notions of laboratory safety.

Reference material:

Structure and function of the prokaryotic cell. Microbial metabolism. Microbial growth. Microbial genetics. Basic knowledge of methods for cultivation, quantification, and identification of bacteria. Viruses: structures and replication strategies.

Reference material:

  • Brock 'Biology of Microorganisms', 2014, 14th edition, Pearson.

DNA and RNA structures. Structure of genomes. Replication, mutation and DNA repair. Transcription, RNA processing and protein synthesis. Principles of gene expression regulation. Basic recombinant DNA techniques. Genetic recombination and heredity. Fundamentals of population genetics. Basic knowledge of bioinformatics.

Reference material: one of the following books

  • R. Raven, G. Johnson, K. Mason, J. Losos, S. Singer, 'Genetica e Biologia molecolare', 2012, Piccin, or equivalent.
  •  biointeractive.org: educational and professionale resources online 
  • J.D. Watson et al. 'Recombinant DNA: Genes and Genomes - A Short Course', 3rd edition, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press  
  • T.A. Brown, 'Introduction to Genetics: A molecular Approach', 2011, Garland Science.

Last update: 05/03/2024 09:17
Non cliccare qui!