Cell Biology

Code:

BIOL1021

Acronym:

BIOL1021

Level:

100

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Biology

Instance: 2024/2025 - 1S

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

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
L:BIOINF	34	Official Study Plan	1	-	6	48	162
L:BQ	97	Official Study Plan	1	-	6	48	162

Teaching language

Suitable for English-speaking students

Objectives

The Cell is the fundamental unit of life and its structure and functions are central to Biology. The Curricular Unit (UC) Cell Biology (BC) aims to provide the knowledge necessary to understand the architecture of the cell and the integrated functioning of cellular life. It is also the objective of this UC to work its contents in an application context, and to provide hands-on contact with different types of cells, organelles and cellular processes, as well as with some of the fundamental techniques and methodologies for the construction of the knowledge in Cell Biology (eg, optical microscopy, electron microscopy, cellular fractionation).

Learning outcomes and competences

The UC Cell Biology expects that the students acquire and develop the following knowledge, attitudes and skills:

• consistent knowledge about the general characteristics of the structure and ultrastructure of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells;
• consistent knowledge about the major structural and functional aspects of all subcellular compartments and structures of the eukaryotic cell;
• consistent knowledge about the main cellular processes, namely transmembrane transport, communication and signalling, protein sorting, intracellular membrane traffic, energy flow processes (chemiosmosis, glycolysis, photosynthesis, respiration), cell division, and programmed cell death;
• recognition of cell biology as a rapidly evolving cutting-edge area;
• critical spirit and curiosity towards the area of ​​cell biology and to science in general;
• capacity to search and deepen topics directly or indirectly related to cell biology;
• capacity to interpret, interconnect and / or apply concepts of cell biology in varied contexts, namely in other fundamental and applied areas of life sciences (eg physiology, development, biotechnology, medicine);
• basic communication skills in cell biology;
• capacity to work autonomously with an optical microscope;
• capacity to understand and correctly execute simple experimental methodologies of cell biology.

Working method

Presencial

Program

THEORETICAL PROGRAM

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Module I - The Cell and its study

The cell as the basic unit of all living organisms. The prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell. Evolution of the cell. The chemistry of life and its singularities. General characteristics of biological macromolecules. Basic structure and function of carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and nucleic acids. Introduction to cell study techniques and methodologies: cell fractionation, bright field optical microscopy, fluorescence, confocal and electron microscopy.

Module II - Biological membranes and the social / environmental context of the cell

Universal characteristics of biological membranes. Composition, architecture and dynamics of membranes. Transport of solutes through biological membranes. Types of transport molecules and their transport mechanisms. Social / environmental context of the cell: adherence and communication. Extracellular matrix and intercellular binding structures. Types of signals, mechanisms of perception and mechanisms of signal transduction. Receptors, molecular switches, secondary messengers and signaling complexes. 

Module III - Structural and functional compartmentalization of the cell

Cell compartmentalization and intracellular protein sorting. Secretory or endomembrane system. Endoplasmic reticulum: structure and functions. Golgi apparatus: structure and functions. Synthesis, processing and transport of proteins, lipids and carbohydrates in the secretory system. Exocytosis, endocytosis and lysosomes.Transit of membrane vesicles. Peroxisomes: structure, functions and ontogeny. Cytoskeleton. Structure and function of actin filaments, microtubules and intermediate filaments. Motor proteins, cillia and flagella.

Module IV - Energy flow in the cell

Conservation and flow of energy in living beings. The central role of nucleotides in energy metabolism. Chemiosmotic synthesis of ATP. The role of membranes in bioenergetics. Photosynthesis. Plastids: general characteristics and plasticity. Capture of light energy. Photosystems. The thylakoid electron transport chain. The Z-scheme. Photophosphorylation. The carbon fixation cycle. Photorespiration. C4 photosynthesis and CAM photosynthesis. Glycolysis and fermentation. Aerobic respiration and anaerobic respiration. Mitochondria: general characteristics. The mitochondrial genome. The tricarboxylic acids cycle. Electron transport chain and oxidative phosphorylation. Diversity of central metabolic pathways. Classification of organisms regarding the source of carbon and the source of electrons.

Module V - The cell cycle

Life cycle of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Nucleus, nucleolus and other sub-nuclear structures. Chromosome organization and chromatin structure. Mitosis and meiosis. Cytokinesis in animal and plant cells. Regulation of the cell cycle: checkpoints and control by cyclin-dependent kinases and the cyclosome. Programmed cell death in animals and plants. Apoptosis: regulation and execution by caspases; extrinsic pathway and intrinsic pathway.


PRACTICAL PROGRAM

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I - The cells under the microscope. Observation of different cell types under the bright field optical microscope and the respective ultrastructure as seen in electron microscopy images.

II - The biochemistry laboratory: most common materials, safety standards and material handling. Preparation of solutions. Buffer solutions.

III - Spectrophotometry in biochemistry. Spectrophotometric determination of a methylene blue solution.

IV - Chloroplast isolation by cell fractionation and study of the Hill reaction.

V - Mitosis and the cell cycle. Observation of the different mitosis and cell cycle phases at the bright field optical microscope.

Mandatory literature

Alberts Bruce 070; Molecular biology of the cell. ISBN: 9780815344643

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

Theoretical classes with a component of formal lecture and, sometimes, a component of interactive activities teacher/student and student/student. Use of explanatory/power point classes recorded in video, and quizzes for autonomous study. 

Practical lab classes including experimental planning, execution of practical procedures, and treatment and discussion of results.

keywords

Natural sciences > Biological sciences > Biology > Cell biology

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation without final exam

Assessment Components

designation	Weight (%)
Teste	95,00
Apresentação/discussão de um trabalho científico	3,50
Trabalho escrito	1,50
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	114,00
Frequência das aulas	48,00
Total:	162,00

Eligibility for exams

Compulsory practical classes (minimum attendance to 75% of classes).

Student workers: 2/3 of the practical assignments.

 

Calculation formula of final grade

Assessment of the Theoretical Component (T)

Mode 1 - Based solely on class attendance. Final grade = average of two assessments.

The first assessment is mid-semester and the second is scheduled for the normal exam period. Each assessment is graded on a scale of 0-20 points.

A minimum grade of 7.0 is required for each assessment. Only students who obtain a grade of 7.0 or higher on the 1st assessment may take the 2nd assessment. Students who are unable to take the 2nd assessment will be automatically enrolled in a comprehensive theoretical exam during the appeal period.

Mode 2 (optional but strongly recommended) - Class attendance + online quizzes. Final grade = average of the two assessments (90%) + average of the best 4/5 online quiz grades (10%).

Online quizzes will be made available at the end of each class and at the end of each of the 5 modules, with strict time limits.

Final Theoretical Grade - will be the highest between the calculation made by the two modes (since Mode 2 includes Mode 1).

Assessment of the Practical Component (P)

Comprehensive theoretical-practical test (TP) at the end of the course, graded out to 20 points, covering the material from the practical classes - 85%.

Assessment activities during practical classes - 15%.

The comprehensive test has a minimum grade of 7.0. In case of failure, it is possible to retake the TP test during the appeal period.

Appeal and Improvement

The assessments of the theoretical and practical components are independent in terms of appeal and improvement periods. That is, during the appeal period, it is only necessary to retake the assessment for the component that was not passed or whose grade you wish to improve.

FINAL GRADE = (2T+P)/3

Classification improvement