From the cell to the organism in PPA

Organisms are living structures, made up of cells, performing a certain number of functions, contributing in fine to the production of new living beings. Here, will be considered mainly the functions related to the exchange of matter with the environment and the distribution of matter within the organism. For all these functions, the structures involved will be understood in the light of an optimization by natural selection: in other words, the structures have been shaped in such a way that their functioning is optimal (notion of structure-function relations), knowing the physico-chemical laws governing these phenomena. The contribution to the realization of functions will be approached at different levels of integration (cell, tissue, organ, apparatus/system, organism). Its variations will be considered in different phylogenetic groups (including animals (vertebrates, arthropods, annelids, etc.), terrestrial plants, and other groups) and according to different modes and environments of life (aerial/terrestrial/aquatic environments (freshwater, marine), size of the organism, etc.)

The program of this EU will be declined on :

• 6 Tutoring sessions of 3 hours
• 6 TP of 3h
• 2 Scientific conferences + control

In addition to the methodological and life skills objectives (acquisition of common transversal competences for the whole life sciences degree in APA), this UE focuses on the mastery of the following concepts

• Assembly of cells into tissues: cell types, extracellular matrices (wall, basal lamina), intercellular junctions (without detailing the molecules, which will be studied in "from the cell to the molecule");
• Primary plant tissues (meristems, epidermis, rhizodermis, endodermis, sclerenchyma/collenchyma/parenchyma, xylem, phloem);
• Main categories of animal tissues (connective, epithelial, nervous, muscular), with a focus on the organization of digestive/respiratory epithelia (ciliated/with microvilli/keratinized);
• Vegetative organs of land plants: stem, leaf, root, and their histology (primary tissues). Involvement of tissues in the functioning of these organs (photosynthesis, root absorption, exchanges with the environment, internal circulations). Motor of the circulation of the raw sap by variations of the hydric potential. Active transport of sugars. Molecular aspects will not be discussed.
• Main organs of the digestive, respiratory, circulatory and excretory systems of animals. Smooth muscles, connective tissue + epithelium Excretion/osmoregulation in different environments (balance of passive and active exchanges - the molecular mechanisms of organ function will not be discussed). Respiratory exchanges in different environments (main limiting constraint depending on the environment).
• Smooth/skeletal muscles and skeleton of vertebrates: muscle, bone and cartilage tissue. Contribution to locomotion (opposing muscles, e.g. extensors/flexors). An example of terrestrial locomotion gait. Viscous braking, aerodynamics. Development of lift in relation to wing structure (lift, aerodynamics). Exoskeleton and articulated appendages of arthropods. Hydroskeleton and musculature of Annelids. Constraints due to size on the bearing and locomotion of organisms (metabolic allometry, skeletal allometry, locomotion cost allometry).
• Blood circulation: heart (structure, large vessels, role of compartments), types of vessels (arteries, veins, capillaries, histology and functional characteristics). Cardiac muscle, motor of the exchanges at the level of the capillaries.

100% Continuous assessment