Cell and Plant Tissue Culture

Code:

BIOL3009

Acronym:

BIOL3009

Level:

300

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Biology

Instance: 2023/2024 - 1S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Biology
Course/CS Responsible:	Bachelor in Biology

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
L:B	9	Official Study Plan	3	-	6	48	162

Teaching language

Suitable for English-speaking students

Objectives

The overall objective of this unit is to bring the students to the knowledge and exercise of methodologies and techniques of in vitro plant cells, tissue and organ cultures, discussing the respective foundations and basic concepts, as well as their applications, namely in micropropagation and in other domains of the plant biotechnology in the perspectives of the plant improvement and production of secondary metabolites. 

Learning outcomes and competences

As skills and learning outcomes, on intend that students will be able: (a) to apply the asepsis techniques to the in vitro cultures of plant cells, tissues and organ cultures, as well as; (b) to distinguish and choose the best methodologies and techniques of in vitro plant cultures for each new challenge of agro-food and/or agro-pharmaceutical industry in the domain of plant biotechnology.

Working method

Presencial

Program

Basic concepts and historical perspectives on the in vitro plant cells, tissues, and organ cultures. Main basal media and culture conditions. Sterilization techniques. Totipotency. Biology of plant cells and tissues in culture. Manipulation of the growth and development. Production and culture of protoplasts. Applications of in vitro plant cells, tissues, and organ culture. Somatic embryogenesis. Artificial seeds. In vitro cultures in plant improvement. Genetic manipulations: (a) somatic hybridization via protoplasts fusion; (b) genome transformation trough transference and integration of transgenes; (c) transgenic plants obtained through regeneration of cells genetically modified. Manipulation of resistance of plants to pathogens and other harmful organisms (fungi, bacteria, virus, insects), abiotic stresses, and herbicides. Production and biotransformation of secondary metabolites by in vitro plant tissues and cells. Immobilization o plant suspended cells. cultures in bioreactors. 

Mandatory literature

Leva A and Rinaldi MRL eds; Recent Advances in Plant in vitro Culture, Leva A and Rinaldi MRL eds, 2012. ISBN: 978-953-51-0787-3
Trigiano R. N. Robert Nicholas 1953- 340; Plant development and biotechnology. ISBN: 978-0-8493-1614-2
Stafford Angela 1954- 340; Plant cell and tissue culture. ISBN: 9780471932611
Neumann K.-H Karl-Hermann 1936-; Plant Cell and tissue culture
Lindsey K and Jones MGK; Plant Biotechnology in Agriculture, Wiley Biotechnology Series, Lindsey K and Jones MGK eds, 1989. ISBN: 0 471 93238 8 (The book is available on the UC page of the Sigarra platform)

Complementary Bibliography

Oksman-Caldentey Kirsi-Marja 1955- 340; Plant biotechnology and transgenic plants. ISBN: 978-0-8247-0794-1
Chawla H. S.; Introduction to plant biotechnology. ISBN: 978-1-57808-636-8
Lebowitz Robert J.; Plant biotechnology. ISBN: 978-0-697-15119-3
Hvoslef-Eide AK and Preil W eds; Liquid Culture Systems for in vitro Plant Propagation, Hvoslef-Eide AK and Preil W eds., Springer, Dordrecht, 2005. ISBN: 1-4020-3200-5 (e-book)
Hartmann HT, Kester DE, Davies FT, Geneve Rl eds; Plant Propagation, Principles and Practices, Hartmann HT, Kester DE, Davies FT, Geneve Rl eds, Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey, 2002. ISBN: 0-13-679235-9

Teaching methods and learning activities

Lectures (T) mostly expository with debate, supported in projected images and didactic diagrams. Matter supported in didactic book chapters, scientific papers and power points presentations previously deposited in the informatics platform of the unit (Sigarra). Practical classes (PL): a guide of a project scheduled to the experimental sessions will be available in the informatics platform of the unit, showing the description of all the experimental steps applied to a plant-model. During the T and PL classes the students will be questioned and encouraged to participate actively and their participation will be evaluated. The T and PL classes are mandatory. The students evaluation will fall on the quality of their participation in the classes (4%), a written report on the PL classes (18%), a proposal  of a project envisaging a new biotechnological application of plant tissue cultures (18%) and on the classification of two frequencies or final exam (60%).

keywords

Technological sciences > Technology > Biotecnology > Plant biotechnology
Physical sciences > Chemistry > Biochemistry > Plant biochemistry
Natural sciences > Biological sciences > Biology > Applied biology

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

designation	Weight (%)
Exame	60,00
Participação presencial	4,00
Trabalho escrito	18,00
Trabalho laboratorial	18,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	114,00
Frequência das aulas	48,00
Total:	162,00

Eligibility for exams

To be eligible for exams the student must to participate in at least 3/4 of all the unit sessions (theoretical and practical lessons).

Evaluation criteria 

(a) Continuous evaluation based in the assiduity and active participation in the sessions: 4%  (b) Final report on the practical sessions: (c) Presentation, discussion and redaction of a synthesis of a seminar theme / project (d) One written test at around middle of the semester, with the first 50% part of the unit contents and a second test at the end of the semester, with the second 50% part of the unit contents or an overall exam. 

To be approved in the unit the student must to have, at least a classification of 10/20 in the components b) and c) and a classification of 10/20 in the component d).

Calculation formula of final grade

Final classification 

The final classification will be determined with application of the following criteria:  Contribution of the evaluation of the components a) to the final classification: 4%  Contribution of the evaluation of the component b) + c) to the final classification: 36%  Contribution of the evaluation of the component d) to the final classification: 60%.

REPEAT STUDENTS  The repeat students will be evaluated with basis in a single written exam.

Examinations or Special Assignments

The report and seminar / project referred in the components b) and c) of the evaluation criteria (calculation of final grade) will be presented and discussed within the class, in number of one per group.

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

It will according to Regulamento nº 370/2011, DR, 2ª série - Nº 107 de 2 de Junho 2011.

Classification improvement

The improvement of the final classification is possible, in due time, by submission to an exam, on the total issues discussed in the all lessons.

Observations

The responsible by the CU is the Professor Manuel Fernandes Ferreira