Molecular Biology

Code:

B101

Acronym:

B101

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Biology

Instance: 2015/2016 - 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	197	Plano de estudos a partir de 2008	1	-	5	42	135
L:F	0	Plano de estudos a partir de 2008	2	-	5	42	135
			3
L:G	1	P.E - estudantes com 1ª matricula anterior a 09/10	3	-	5	42	135
		P.E - estudantes com 1ª matricula em 09/10	3	-	5	42	135
L:M	0	Plano de estudos a partir de 2009	3	-	5	42	135
L:Q	2	Plano de estudos Oficial	3	-	5	42	135

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

The Molecular Biology course aims to provide the students with the basic knowledge on the structure, organization and replication of the genetic material, the type of information contained in the genome, the mechanisms of transcription and translation, the regulation of these processes, and the structure and function of proteins and other biomolecules. In parallel, and strongly supported by the laboratory component of the course, aims to provide knowledge about basic molecular biology techniques.

Learning outcomes and competences

The students should acquire basic knowledge on the Molecular Biology field, and develop the skills needed for the implementation, analysis and interpretation of results derived  from the use of basic molecular biology techniques.

Working method

Presencial

Program

Lectures

Major chemical constituents of the cells. Water: structure and biological importance. Structure of nucleotides and nucleic acids. Base-pairing and Chargaff rules. Physico-chemical properties of DNA. DNA duplication, replication mechanisms in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Mechanisms of DNA repair. Transcription and translation. Messenger RNA processing. Mechanisms of intron splicing. Regulation of gene expression in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Recombinant DNA technology. Restriction enzymes and DNA ligase. Cloning vectors. Vectors and expression systems. cDNA and genomic libraries. DNA amplification by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Complementarity and nucleic acids hybridization. Probes and search of genes in libraries. Southern and Northern blotting. Sequencing. Sequencing of genomes and knowledge derived from the analysis of genomes. Evaluation of gene expression using microarrays and deep sequencing. Importance and applications of recombinant DNA technology (GMOs). Introduction to Synthetic Biology. Amino acids and proteins. The structural levels of proteins. The principles governing the acquisition of protein conformation and the action of molecular chaperones. Proteins as pathogenic agents: prions. Protein synthesis. The universal genetic code. Proteins separation and identification techniques. Cell fractionation and differential centrifugation. Density gradient centrifugation. Electrophoresis under non-denaturating and denaturating conditions, isoelectric focusing and two-dimensional electrophoresis. Solid phase immunoassays. Mass spectrometry. Gel filtration chromatography, ion exchange and affinity. Introduction to Synthetic Biology. Carbohydrates: definition and classification. Monosaccharides: structure; aldoses and ketoses. Monosaccharides derivatives with biological importance. Disaccharides (sucrose, lactose, maltose). Polysaccharides: homo-and heteropolissacarídios. Storage and structural polysaccharides. Structural and storage lipids. Saturated and unsaturated fatty acids. Triglycerides. Phospholipids and glycolipids. Compounds derived from isoprene (terpenes, steroids, carotenoids and polyisoprenes).

 Laboratory classes

Introduction to the basic techniques of molecular biology. Material and laboratory safety rules. Preparation of solutions. Isolation and quantification of DNA. Digestion of DNA with restriction enzymes. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Separation of DNA fragments by agarose gel electrophoresis. Competent cells and transformation of Escherichia coli with the plasmid pGLO. Regulation the ara operon, and expression of the green fluorescent protein in E. coli.

Mandatory literature

Alberts Bruce 070; Molecular biology of the cell. ISBN: 9780815344643
Lodish Harvey F. 070; Molecular cell biology. ISBN: 9781464109812
Nelson David L. David Lee 1942-; Lehninger principles of biochemistry. ISBN: 978-1-57259-931-4
Videira Arnaldo 340; Engenharia genética. ISBN: 9789727577439
Baldwin Geoff 070; Synthetic biology. ISBN: 9781848168633

Teaching methods and learning activities

This discipline is organized in two lectures per week, of one hour each, and laboratory classes of 1,5 hours per week. For pratical reasons the laboratory classes are arranged in blocks of three hours every other week. The lectures are intended for all students attending the course. The presentations are accompanied by the projection of images that illustrate conveniently the subjects, and when possible, with animations. The students should complement  the lectures by consulting bibliography: textbooks, websites, and carefully selected scientific articles. For the laboratory classes, it will be provided a practical guide containing the experimental procedures, as well as the program and the schedules.

keywords

Natural sciences > Biological sciences > Biology > Molecular biology

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

designation	Weight (%)
Exame	66,67
Participação presencial	0,00
Teste	33,33
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

designation	Time (hours)
Frequência das aulas	0,00
Total:	0,00

Eligibility for exams

Attendance of at least 75% of laboratory classes, as well as carrying out the practical assessment test.

Calculation formula of final grade

2x final exam (20 points) + 1x TP exam (20 points)/3

Final exam minimum mark - 8 points

To improve the grade, in the current academic year, it is only possible to repeat the final exam

To improve the grade, in the next academic year, it is possible to repeat  either the practical evaluation or the final exam.

Examinations or Special Assignments

none

Internship work/project

n.a.

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

Lack of attendance of at least 75% of laboratory classes -  lab evaluation mandatory

Classification improvement

Final exam