Molecular and Cellular Biology

Code:

B103

Acronym:

B103

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Biology

Instance: 2015/2016 - 1S

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

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
L:AST	0	Plano de Estudos a partir de 2008	3	-	5	-
L:F	1	Plano de estudos a partir de 2008	2	-	5	-
			3
L:G	1	P.E - estudantes com 1ª matricula anterior a 09/10	3	-	5	-
		P.E - estudantes com 1ª matricula em 09/10	3	-	5	-
L:M	1	Plano de estudos a partir de 2009	3	-	5	-
L:Q	3	Plano de estudos Oficial	3	-	5	-

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

The Cell is the fundamental unit of life, and the knowledge of its physiology forms the foundation upon which all Biology as well as its applications are built, e.g. modern Medicine. The objective of this UC is to make the student discover the Biology of the Cell at a global level, including the main structures and functional processes, and their respective molecular basis, as well as the experimental methodologies used to build that knowledge. 

Learning outcomes and competences

The students should acquire the ability to understand, use, communicate and apply the basic concepts concerning the structure and functioning of cells, including their chemical composition, the role of membranes, the cell division, and the flow of information and energy. They should also acquire theoretical  and practical skills in methods of study the cell, such as microscopy and the technology of recombinant DNA.

 

Working method

Presencial

Program

Program of Theoretical classes:1- The cell 1.1 - Cell versus life. Cell theory- from cellular anatomy to cell physiology. 1.2 - Cellular organization - prokaryotic cell and eukaryotic animal and plant. Cell dimensions. 1.3 - Evolution of the cell. 1.4 - Study of the cell. 1.4.1 - Optical microscopy. 1.4.2 – Fluorescence microscopy 1.4.3 -Confocal microscopy. 1.4.4 - Electron microscopy. 1.4.5 - Techniques of color, contrast and specific location - cytochemistry and immunocytochemistry. 2 - The chemistry of the cell / life 2.1 - Water. 2.2 - Carbohydrates. 2.3 - Lipids. 3 - The workers of the cell: structure and function of proteins 3.1 - Primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary domains. 3.2 - Relationship structure / function - antibodies and enzymes. 3.3 - Regulation of the biological activity of a protein 3.4 - Establishment of three-dimensional structure: chaperones. 3.5 - Life Cycle: degradation by the ubiquitin pathway. 4 - Flow of information 4.1 - Nucleotides and nucleic acids. 4.2 - Structure of DNA-Watson and Crick model. 4.2 - Duplication and DNA repair mechanisms. 4.3 - Organization of DNA in chromosomes and chromatin. 4.4 - Types of RNA and its function. 4.5 - Transcription and RNA processing. 4.6 - Genetic code. 4.7 - Translation. 4.8 – The regulation of gene expression 4.9 - Mechanisms of genetic recombination. 4:10 - Transposons and viruses. 4.11 - Organization and evolution of the genome. 4.12 - Recombinant DNA Technology. 4.12.1 - Fragmentation, segregation, recombination and DNA sequencing. 4.12.2 - Cloning a DNA fragment. 4.12.3 - Polymerase chain reaction (PCR), variants and applications. 4.12.4 - Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology 5 - Organization and functioning of the internal cell 5.1 - The biological membranes and their role in cell / life. 5.2 - Transport across membranes 5.3 - Structure and functions of the cytoskeleton. 5.4 - Structure of the nucleus. 5.5 - Structure and functions of the secretory system, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi Complex: vesicles and transit. 5.6 - Structure and function of lysosomes. 5.7 - Structure and functions of peroxisomes. 6 - Flow of energy in the cell 6.1 - Overview of flow of energy in cells and in the living world. 6.2 - Evolution of the processes involved in the energy flow in the living world. 6.3 - breathing in the absence of oxygen, glycolysis and types of fermentation. 6.4 - The chemiosmotic theory and the role of membranes in energy conversion. 6.5 - Photosynthesis and structure; diversity and evolution of plastids. 6.6 - Aerobic respiration and structure and evolution of mitochondria. 7 - Cell cycle and cell division 7.1-M phase: Mitosis. cytokinesis 7.2-Meiosis 7.3 - Regulation of cell cycle.
Program of Practical classes:1 - Laboratory equipment and safety rules. 2 - Preparation of solutions. 3 - Measurement of the pH of a solution. 4 - Observation and measurement of different types of cells under an optical microscope. 5 - Spectrophotometry and determination of chlorophyll concentration. 6 - DNA extraction, PCR amplification and analysis of the amplification products by electrophoresis in agarose gel. 7 - Observation of mitosis in onion root tips.

Mandatory literature

Azevedo, C. and Sunkel, C; Biologia Celular e Molecular, Lidel, 2012
Bruce; Molecular biology of the cell

Teaching methods and learning activities

Lectures using PowerPoint presentations and interaction with students. Laboratory classes "hands on".

keywords

Natural sciences > Biological sciences > Biology > Cell biology
Natural sciences > Biological sciences > Biology > Molecular biology

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

designation	Weight (%)
Exame	90,00
Teste	10,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

designation	Time (hours)
Frequência das aulas	23,00
Trabalho laboratorial	18,00
Total:	41,00

Eligibility for exams

Lectures are optional. Practical classes are obligatory with a limit of maximum 4 absences. It is mandatory to obtain a medium of 50% in the mini-tests made in the practical classes.

Calculation formula of final grade

he assessment will include the following components

1) Frequency 1 and 2 for the theoretical part, in alternative with a final exam. Each frequency is quoted for 10 points and has a minimum mark of 4 points. The final exam is quoted for 20 points and has a minimum mark of 8 points.

2) Frequency 1 and 2 for the theoretical-practical part, in alternative with a final exam. Each frequency is quoted for 9 points and has a minimum mark of 3.5 points. The final exam is quoted for 18 points and has a minimum mark of 7.5 points.

3) Mini-tests in practical classes - MT. Worth 2 points of the practical mark (P).

Calculation of the final mark:  (2xT + 1xP) / 3

T - Theoretical mark - may be obtained by addition of the two theoretical frequencies, with a minimum grade of 4/10 for each one. If the minimum grade is not achieved in any of them, the student is required to take the final exam. In case of approval on the frequencies, improvement of the mark can be done on the final exam of any of the two seasons, the highest mark being the valid one.

P - Practical grade = MT (minitests quoted for 2 points) + TP (theoretical-practical mark - may be obtained by addition of the two theoretical-practical frequencies, with a minimum grade of 3.5/9 for each one. If the minimum grade is not achieved in any of them, the student is required to take the final exam including all the theoretical-practical subjects. In case of approval on the frequencies, improvement of the mark can be done on the final exam of any of the two seasons, the highest mark being the valid one.)

Observations

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