State Medical and Pharmaceutical University “Nicolae Testemitanu”

Curricula for admission examination on Biology

Biologyis thenatural science concerned with the study of life and livingorganisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and theories. Five unifying principles form the fundamental axioms of modern biology:cell theory,evolution,gene theory,energy, and homeostasis.

These fields are further divided based on the scale at which organisms are studied and the methods used to study them:biochemistryexamines the rudimentary chemistry of life;molecular biology studies the complex interactions of systems of biological molecules;cellular biologyexamines the basic building block of all life, thecell;physiologyexamines the physical and chemical functions of the tissues,organs, and organ systems of an organism; andecologyexamines how various organisms interrelate with their environment.

The primary aim of curricula:

To give the candidatesthe opportunity to understand the requirements which are necessary for passing the entrance examination onBiology and successful study of medical subjects.

Part I. General biology

1Introduction into biology. Importance of biology for medicine. Biological systems. The main types of living organisms. Prokaryotic, eukaryotic cells. Cell theory. Viruses.

2Chemical organization of the cell. Monomers and polymers. Proteins. Carbohydrates. Nucleic acids. Structure. Functions. Types.

3Cell organization. Plasma membrane – structure, functions. Cytoplasm – molecular organization, functions. Cell organelles (Endoplasmic reticulum, Golgy apparatus, lysosomes, mitochondria, cell center, cytoskeleton) – structure, functions, classification. Nucleus – structure and functions. DNA replication.

4Cell division. Mitosis – stages, biological importance. Meiosis – stages, biological importance. Gametogenesis. Peculiarities of gametogenesis in men and women.

5Basic genetics. Heredity and variability. Genetic apparatus of the human cell. Human karyotype.

6Genes. Structure and function of genes. Gene expression. Transcription and translation. Genetic code.

7Interaction between genes. Mendel’s lows. Gene linkage.

8Combinative variability. Mutational variability. Chromosomal aberrations.

Part II. Human biology

1Structure of human body. Tissues. Organs. Organ systems.

2Skeletal system. Characteristics of human skeleton. Structure of bones. Main human bones. Junctions.

3Muscular system. Types of muscles. Main human muscles. Movement of human body.

4Circulatory system. Heart. Blood vessels. Structure and function of blood. Lymphatic system.

5Nervous system. Structure of nervous cells. Brain, spinal cord and peripheral nerves. Sensitive organs.

6Respiratory system. Nose, trachea and lungs.

7Digestive system. Mouth, esophagus, stomach, small and large intestines.

8Excretory system. Kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra. The skin.

9Endocrine system. Main endocrine glands. Hypofunction and hyperfunction of glands.

10Reproductive system. Female reproductive organs – ovaries, oviducts, uterus, vagina and mammary glands.Male reproductive organs – testes, seminal vesicles and penis.