BIOL4015 - ECTS

 

The main objectives of this course are to provide students with ability to handle all bio-informatics tools available to the plant that is considered a model in molecular biology.
Familiarize themselves with advanced processing plants, handling of single and double null mutants and mutants with genes labeled with different tags. Employ techniques of emasculation and pollination of plants, studies semi in vivo of the pollen tube growth and visualization of molecular markers by fluorescence microscopy and electronic microscopy. Evaluation of results of Real Time-PCR and evaluating the results of RNA-seq.

BIOL4009 - ECTS Plants are the basis of all terrestrial ecosystems, they are essential for the homeostasis of the biosphere and they are also the main and ultimate basis of human food. Our future and that of our planet, more than any other factor, depend on how we manage the plant world and therefore on our in-depth knowledge of plant biology. The UC Molecular Biology of Plants aims to convey the main methodologies and molecular strategies, namely transcriptomics and genomics, used to unravel the genetic determination of the physiology and development of plants, and how this knowledge can be used for the genetic improvement of plants of importance for humankind. The contents of the UC will also be worked in the context of case studies and practical cases (hands-on use of specific in silico tools), which will allow a better understanding and functionalization of the acquired knowledge.

BIOL4005 - ECTS

Provide students with an understanding of tree growth; the connection between the structure of wood and the specific properties of wood products; a deep knowledge of the methods for wood identification; understanding of the importance of wood as natural resource and industrial material and how wood fits into different societies.

 

BIOL4050 - ECTS Provide current knowledge about seed biotechnology and the type of research that can be done to produce future seed industry leaders. It is intended that students master the biology of seeds; Structure, physiology and genetics so as to be able to present cutting-edge research projects in sustainable agriculture, biotechnology, crop use and molecular biology.

BIOL4054 - ECTS The curricular unit (UC) has the general objective of developing skills in the creation of projects for the use of plants for biotechnological purposes, integrating a theoretical component and a strong presentation component of national and international studies and projects in this area.

The purpose of the UC is to make known the potentialities and multifunctionities of green coverages and to enable students to use the different materials and possibilities of applying these systems in the current context of mitigation and adaptation to climate change.

It is also the specific objective of the UC to present the basic concepts in phytoremediation, the various biotic and abiotic factors that may limit the success of bio / phytoremediation processes and the specificities of each system.

It is part of the specific objectives of this CU to understand phytotechnologies based on the interaction between plants and microorganisms that improve the performance of the plants used for the recovery of degraded soils and the increase of plant productivity, sustainable solutions with the objective of increasing the productivity of plants and , at the same time reduce the rates of application of chemical fertilizers.

It will also be the objective of UC to present several biomarker models, based on transgenic plants, successfully used in biomonitoring of pollutants, the benefits and possible disadvantages of these systems and new ideas for future generations of phytosensors.

Upon completion of the UC, the student should be able to:

- Understand the importance of plants as technological forms of preservation and remediation of the environment (Green biotechnology).

- Classify and characterize the different types of green coverages and identify their environmental / ecological, social and economic advantages.

- Be able to choose correctly and select the systems and materials for the execution of green roofs

- Understand the general principles of the use of plants for the purposes of bioremediation of waste water or soil and understand the methodologies and technology associated with structuring a phytochemical.

- To understand the theoretical bases inherent to the production of biosensors and to know the current applications of some biosensors.

-  To know the potentialities of microorganisms as biofertilizers and soil quality improvers.

- Identify different types of phytotechnologies.

B4059 - ECTS

Most biologists contact with the problems of experimental design in a relaxed manner or not at all, refining their experiments empirically on a trial-error basis. During this course special attention will be paid to the logic underlying the whole process of experimental design, from drawing hypothesis, selection of statistical tests, planning and setup of experiments that unambiguously lead to interpretable results.

BIOL4007 - ECTS The aim of this unit is to acquire knowledge of pests in main cultures and control methods in sustainable agriculture as also resarch projects.

BIOL4001 - ECTS

Aims of the course unit include are i) to provide advanced concepts in DNA manipulation, recombinant DNA technology, cloning and their applications in genetic transformation of plants and PCR, with special emphasis on the molecular techniques involved in the production of recombinant proteins; ii) to provide training in the use of basic bioinformatic tools for a protein expression project, primer design and gene optimization; iii) to provide laboratory “hands-on” training in gene cloning in expression vectors containing different tags and fusion proteins and transformation into appropriate bacterial strains.

BIOL4006 - ECTS Life depends on the highly integrated regulation, in spatial and temporal terms, of the expression of thousands of genes. The way in which genetic regulatory circuits and programs work guarantees the homeostasis of life in a constantly changing environment, the development of complex forms, the reproduction of living beings and their basal physiology. In a word, the regulation of gene expression guarantees and is the basis of the hyper-complex state we call life. The main objective of the UC Molecular Regulation of Gene Expression is to unravel the complexity of the molecular mechanisms of transcriptional regulation in the eukaryotic cell, including the influence of genome organization, and how these mechanisms are important for life and for their interaction with the environment. It is also the objective of this UC to address the regulation of gene expression at the level of stability of messenger RNAs and, in general, at the level of translation. The UC will also address the advanced experimental methodologies that are currently used to decipher transcriptional regulation and characterize the organization and epigenetic marking of the genome, which are key aspects for transcription. Finally, the UC contents will be approached in the context of case studies and practical cases (hands-on use of specific in silico tools), which will allow a better understanding and functionalization of the acquired knowledge.

BIOL4004 - ECTS

The main objective of the course  is that the students acquire solid knowledge about the physiological and biochemical processes underlying the damage caused by abiotic, namely organic pollutants, and biotic stresses and on the responses of acclimatization and adaptation of plants to these stressful situations, as well as identify strategies to increase plant tolerance to different types of stress.

Upon conclusion of the course, the student should be able to:

- understand aspects of plant physiology, more directly involved in the interactions plant-environment

- recognize the influence of climate and soil in plants

- explain how environmental factors can be responsible for severe stress situations

- recognize the main plant responses and adaptations to different stress situations

- know the main physiological and biochemical mechanisms that protect the plants against abiotic and biotic stresses

- understand the importance of knowledge in the field of stress physiology for solving environmental problems in the current context of climate change

BIOL4003 - ECTS Familiarize the students with the possibilities of developing products from algae and cyanobacteria, and what are the main steps and challenges to do this. Knowledge about the present uses of algae and cyanobacteria and their potential utilization in the future, genetic manipulation, bioprospecting, production of algal biomass, selection of species and cultivars and main processing lines.

BIOL4013 - ECTS

With this UC we intend to provide the UC students with solid knowledge about the potential of aromatic and medicinal plants (PAM) for obtaining high-value-added products by biotechnological processes. For this goal the following specific objectives are outlined:

(a) Perception of the defense mechanisms of plants against adverse abiotic and biotic environmental factors based on secondary metabolites;

(b) Perception of the applications of secondary metabolites based on the respective biological activities;

(c) Understanding the capabilities and limitations of production of secondary metabolites of high economic value by cell cultures, plant tissues and organs;

(d) Understanding of various techniques and methodologies that involve cultures of aromatic and medicinal plants for biotechnological production of compounds of high commercial value, such as:

d.1 - cultures in solid and in liquid medium in batch system and in continuous system, using bioreactors;

d.2 - elicitation techniques;

d.3 - techniques involving recombinant DNA;

d.4 - immobilization processes of molecules, cells, meristems and somatic embryos

d.5 - artificial seed production processes;

d.6 - processes of conservation/cryopreservation.

BIOL4002 - ECTS

The aim of this course is the understanding of signal transduction pathways in plants that coordinate gene expression with the development and the responses of plants to environmental conditions, providing the basis for regulation of physiology and development ie its Functional Biology.

In this UC is also intended that students come into contact with the investigation conducted in UP in the area of Biotechnology and Functional Biology of Plants, guiding them in the choice of dissertation theme.

After completion of curricular unit, the student should be able to:

- Understand the general principles of signal transduction in plants

- Recognize the signaling pathways involved in some physiological processes that occur during development or in response to environmental factors

 - Understand the interaction between different signaling pathways

- Know methodologies and technology used in research in the area of Functional Biology of Plants.

BIOL4012 - ECTS

Principal aims: To develop an integrated view of the structure and function of genomes, transcriptomes and proteomes and to know the modern methodologies associated with functional genomics, including  sequencing, annotation, in silico analysis of functional genomics databases, transcriptomics and main principles of bioinformatics.

Specific aims:

-Compare the genes and / or gene family among model plants like Arabidopsis thaliana and species of agronomic interest; understand comparative genomic resources.
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- To use the main in silico/bioinformatics tools for the characterization of genes and proteins in plants.

 -Analyze RNA-seq gene expression data towards the characterization of differentially expressed genes.


-To analyze proteomics data, in order to characterize proteins with regards to: biochemical parameters, prediction of subcellular localization and post-translational modifications - phosphorylation and glicosilation; 3D structure prediction.

-Know fundamental principles of bioinformatics analysis; experiment on the use of command lines in a LINUX environment.

BIOL4011 - ECTS

The UC aims to develop in the students skills in the creation of new business ventures in the area of life sciences, integrating both a theoretical and a strong practical component. The presentation and discussion of concepts and methodologies, will aim to validate the application of the market potential of a concrete business project in the area of biosciences.

At the end of the course, students should:

1 Understanding the challenges of the creation, validation and start-up of new business process projects;

2. Knowing the different functional areas of management and how they interrelate in the definition of a startup technology-based strategy.
3. Able to apply a set of concepts, methods and management tools for the analysis, discussion and implementation of knowledge-intensive business projects in the area of life sciences.
4. Able to develop teamwork.

BIOL4010 - ECTS

Provide students with basic knowledge of in vitro plant cell cultures and practical applications,  including micropropagation and transformation of plants. Provide students with basic knowledge of manipulation in aseptic conditions.

BIOL4019 - ECTS

During a normal period of one year, and as a basic part of their training, students should develop an original research project in the field of fundamental or applied Biotechnology and functional Biology of Plants. This work will lead to the drafting of a final dissertation that will form the keystone of the evaluation of the student. This work should still result in publications in international journals with peer review system.

Alternatively the student may perform an internship and prepare a final report which will form the basis of their evaluation.

BIOL4020 - ECTS

During a normal period of one year, and as a basic part of their training, students should develop an original research project in the field of fundamental or applied Biotechnology and functional Biology of Plants in a comapny context. This work will lead to the drafting of a final report that will form the keystone of the evaluation of the student. This work may still result in publications in international journals with peer review system.

BIOL4017 - ECTS The course project has as its primary goal the theoretical development of that which will constitute the project of research leading to the preparation of the student master dissertation. This course will improve in student the skills and competencies for the development of a scientific project with a strong experimental component on the area of Plant Biology.

BIOL4018 - ECTS The course project has as its primary goal the theoretical development of that which will constitute the project of of internship  leading to the preparation of the student Internship report . This course will improve in student the skills and competencies for the development of a scientific project with a strong experimental component on the area of Plant Biology.