Cell Biology

Code:

BIOL1021

Acronym:

BIOL1021

Level:

100

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Biology

Instance: 2025/2026 - 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	37	Official Study Plan	1	-	6	48	162
L:BQ	105	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 foundations of Biology. The Cell Biology (BC) course has as its main objective the in-depth acquisition of functional knowledge* about the complex structure of the eukaryotic cell and the integrated functioning of its cellular life, including the following aspects: biological membranes, social/environmental context, structural and functional compartmentalization, energy flow and life cycle.

BC also aims to provide functional knowledge* about the main methodological strategies and tools that enable the construction of knowledge in the field of cell biology.

Another goal of this course is to work its contents in an applied context and to provide practical hands-on experience with different types of cells, organelles, and cellular processes, as well as with some of the fundamental techniques and methodologies for building knowledge in cell biology (e.g., optical microscopy and cell fractionation).

* functional knowledge - ability to describe, interpret, analyse, synthesize, apply, and critically evaluate

Learning outcomes and competences

At the end of the BC course, the students should have aquired knowledge and competences to:

• understand and explain the main structural and functional aspects of all compartments and subcellular structures of the eukaryotic cell;
• recognize different types of cells and organelles in images of optical and transmission electron microscopy;
• understand and explain the main cellular processes, namely: transmembrane transport, communication and signaling, protein sorting, intracellular membrane trafficking, energy flow processes (chemiosmosis, glycolysis, photosynthesis, respiration), cell division, and programmed cell death;
• comply with the safety rules for working in a cell biology laboratory;
• work independently with a light microscope;
• perform correctly simple experimental methodologies in cell biology (individually and as a team), and analyze and interpret the results of these experiments;
• transfer/apply basic knowledge of cell biology to other undergraduate courses and to other areas of knowledge in various contexts;
• understand and properly interpret new discoveries and applications in the field of cell biology;
• investigate and deepen topics directly or indirectly related to cell biology;
• develop communication and discussion activities on cell biology topics with rigor and accuracy;
• possess critical thinking regarding the field of cell biology and science in general.

Working method

Presencial

Program

THEORETICAL PROGRAM

_____________________________________

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, cell imaging, 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

_________________________


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

II - 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.

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

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

V - Strucutre of a scientific report.

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

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

• Include a central expository component using PowerPoint presentations.
• Include sometimes interactive activities, such as guided and discussed resolution of formative quizzes, case study analysis, and autonomous bibliographic research under guidance.
• Video recordings of some classes are made available for autonomous  study.
• A formative quiz is made available on Moodle for each theoretical class and must be completed within one week after the class.

Practical Classes

• Are composed of hands-on laboratory work, including experimental planning, execution of practical procedures, and analysis and discussion of results.

• Involve both individual and group work, with the designation of a group coordinator for complex activities.

• Self-assessment exercises are provided, which students must complete at home and present to the teacher.

• Include a final group presentation of each main experimental work (by different groups), which allows for: better appropriation of the work carried out, training in analytical, communication, and critical thinking skills, and a critical review of the work developed throughout all practical classes.

keywords

Natural sciences > Biological sciences > Biology > Cell biology

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

designation	Weight (%)
Teste	35,00
Trabalho escrito	1,70
Exame	60,00
Trabalho prático ou de projeto	3,30
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	102,00
Frequência das aulas	48,00
Trabalho laboratorial	8,00
Trabalho escrito	4,00
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

FINAL GRADE = (2T+P)/3


T - Assessment of the Theoretical Component 

Mode 1 - Exclusively through the Theoretical exam

• minimum grade of 7.0/20
• performed in the exam periods

Mode 2 (optional but strongly recommended) - Exam T + online quizzes.

• T = exam T (90%) + average of the best 4/5 online quiz grades (10%)
• online quizzes will be made available at the end of each class, with strict time limits

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

P - Assessment of the Practical Component

1. Theoretical-practical test (TP) at the end of the class period, graded out to 20 points, covering the material from the practical classes - 85%. It has a minimum grade of 7.0. In case of failure, it is possible to retake the TP test in the appeal exam period.
2. Assessment activities during practical classes - 15%. Include the timely completion of self-assessments (2%), the individual submission of a worksheet with the planning of Activity A3 from Unit IV (3%), and the group presentation of one of five works (10%).

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.

Classification improvement

 

Observations

Coordination: Mariana Sottomayor
Juri: Mariana Sottomayor and Luís Gustavo Pereira