Blue Biotechnology

Code:

BIOL4064

Acronym:

BIOL4064

Level:

400

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Biology

Instance: 2022/2023 - 2S (of 02-03-2023 to 09-06-2023)

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Biology
Course/CS Responsible:	Master in Applications in Biotechnology and Synthetic Biology

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
M:ABBS	18	The study plan from 2019/20	1	-	6	42	162

Teaching language

Portuguese and english

Objectives

(i) The program is prepared to provide advanced theoretical and practical knowledge in Marine Biotechnology; (ii) to provide knowledge on the relevance of genetic diversity, (iii) genomic analyzes in Blue Biotechnology; (iv) to provide a knowledge basis on the diverse methodologies of biomass production, extraction and isolation of new compounds, (v) analysis of the bioactivity of marine natural products, its structural elucidation and (vi) economic valorization;

Learning outcomes and competences

Students will be able to analyze problems, experimental data and possible solutions critically. The program will be particularly focused on developing creativity, autonomous and rigorous thinking of the students, skills that are crucial in any area that requires professional experts in blue biotechnology; (ii) methodologies of analyses of genetic biodiversity, (iii) genome analyses,  (iv) methodologies of biomass production, extraction, selection and analysis of the best bioactivity assays, (v) A the end, it is intended that the students acquire the needed competences to approach problems of blue biotechnology in a critical and independent manner and ability to work in research or industry.

Working method

Presencial

Program

General aspects and fundamental concept in Blue Biotechnology. Biodiversity with interest for Blue Biotechnology.

Advantages of genomic studies applied to Blue Biotechnology. Structure and function of genes and their products, gene expression and their regulation. Analysis of genomes, transcritomas and proteomes in the characterization of biomolecules. In Silico "omics" technologies. Next-generation DNA sequencing. Manipulation of molecular databases. Exploration of genomic annotation and gene mining tools. Design and optimization of primers. Synteny analysis of genes. Sequence alignment, phylogenetic analyzes and their applications. Molecular adaptation and relevance in the identification of new bioproducts.

Concept of biorefinery; biomass production, extraction processes, evaluation of bioactivity, structural elucidation of new products and optimization of production processes.

Allelopatic,  ecotoxicological, antimicrobial, antifouling, teratogenic assays and cell line assays, including screenings for potential anticancerigenous activity and immunopotentiation. Anti-obesity assays.

Economic valorization of blue biotechnology products. Road map of blue biotechnology in Portugal and Europe.

Mandatory literature

Committee on Marine BiotechnologyBiomedical Applications of Marine Natural Products National Researc; Marine biotechnology in the twenty-first century. ISBN: 9780309083423

Complementary Bibliography

Vitor Manuel de Oliveira e Vasconcelos; Toxicologia de cianobactérias

Teaching methods and learning activities

After an introduction to Blue Biotechnology and its specific terminology, teaching will be based in the presentation of case studies, taken into account the experience of the professors involved in the course but also from other sources..  The course will be taught based audiovisual presentations and case studies.

Evaluation will be based on the presentation and discussion of research papers and in a final exam (50%) each.

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

designation	Weight (%)
Exame	50,00
Trabalho escrito	50,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

designation	Time (hours)
Frequência das aulas	42,00
Estudo autónomo	70,00
Trabalho escrito	50,00
Total:	162,00

Eligibility for exams

Presentation of two works

Calculation formula of final grade

50% each part