Cell Biology

Code:

BIOL1016

Acronym:

BIOL1016

Level:

100

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Biology

Instance: 2016/2017 - 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	233	Official Study Plan	1	-	6	48	162
L:BQ	110	Official Study Plan	1	-	6	48	162

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

Students should acquire the ability to recognize, use, and apply the basic concepts concerning the general organization and functioning of the eukaryotic cell, including major organelles and cell structures, cell cycle, the role of biological membranes, energy flow processes, and signaling mechanisms. They should also acquire theoretical and practical knowledge of methods of cell study, notably microscopy and spectroscopy, as well as skills in planning experiments and in preparing a scientific report.

Learning outcomes and competences

The students should acquire basic knowledge in the Cell Biology field, and develop the skills needed for the implementation, analysis and interpretation of result sderived from the use of basic cell biology techniques.

 

Working method

Presencial

Program

Lectures

Major chemical constituents of the cells. Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell types. Evolution of the cell. Life cycle of the cell. The plant cell.

Study of the cell. Light and electron microscopy. Techniques for specific location of molecules in cells. Imaging in vivo.

The cell nucleus and its components. Nucleolus and other nuclear structures. Organization of chromosomes and chromatin structure. Karyotype. Changes in karyotype and chromosomes. The cell cycle. Mitosis. Meiosis. Cell cycle regulation.

Biological membranes. Universal features of biological membranes. Composition, architecture and dynamics of membranes. Solute transport across biological membranes. Types of carriers and their transport mechanisms.

Energy flow in cells. Compatibility of the general principles of thermodynamics with the appearance and maintenance of living organisms. Oxidation-reduction reactions and redox potential. Substrate level ATP synthesis. ATP synthesis by chemiosmosis. Photosynthesis. Capture of light energy. Photosystems. Composition of the electron transport chain of the thylakoid membrane. The Z scheme. Photophosphorylation. Carbon fixation and the Calvin cycle. Photorespiration. C4 photosynthesis and CAM photosynthesis. Glycolysis and fermentation. The glycolytic pathway of Embden-Meyerhoff. Lactic fermentation and alcoholic fermentation.

Cellular respiration. Mitochondria: general characteristics. The mitochondrial genome. The citric acid cycle. Electron transport chain and oxidative phosphorylation. Metabolic diversity. Diversity and plasticity of the metabolic pathways of prokaryotes. Classifying organisms according to the carbon source and the electron source.

Endeomembrane system. Endoplasmic reticulum: ultrastructural characteristics and main functions. Golgi apparatus: constitution, functions and biochemical compartmentalization. Exocytosis and endocytosis. Endosome. Lysosomes: features and functions. Peroxisomes. Structure and specific enzymes. Glyoxisomes. The glyoxylate cycle and gluconeogenesis. Lipid bodies: occurrence, morphology and ontogeny.

Cytoskeleton. Actin filaments. Microtubules. Intermediate filaments. Cytoskeleton in prokaryotes.

Intercellular connecting structures. Extracellular matrix. Occlusion junctions, adhesion and communication.

Cell signaling. Biology of tumor cell.

Laboratory classes

Observation of different cell types with bright field microscope.

Laboratory material and safety rules. Preparation of solutions. 

Spectrophotometry. Spectrophotometric determination of chlorophyll content.

Enzyme kinetics. Protein quantification. Planning and implementation of a laboratory activity to study alcoholic fermentation in yeast. Isolation of chloroplasts and Hill reaction.  Ultrastructure of the cells.

Mandatory literature

Alberts Bruce 070; Molecular biology of the cell. ISBN: 9780815344643
Lodish Harvey F. 070; Molecular cell biology. ISBN: 9781464109812

Complementary Bibliography

Nelson David L. David Lee 1942-; Lehninger principles of biochemistry. ISBN: 978-1-57259-931-4
Salema Roberto; Atlas de ultrastrutura celular
Azevedo Carlos 34040; Biologia celular e molecular. ISBN: 978-972-757-354-7

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

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

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

Eligibility for exams

Attendance of lectures non-compulsory. Laboratory classes compulsory with absence limit of 3. Working students: execute 2/3 of the practical works.

The students that have successfully attended the classes in previous academic years can request waiving of laboratory classes.

Calculation formula of final grade

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

minimum mark final exam and TP evaluation - 8 points

 

Classification improvement