Biological Sciences

Code:

EQ0069

Acronym:

CB

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Natural Sciences (Biological Sciences)

Instance: 2011/2012 - 1S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Chemical Engineering
Course/CS Responsible:	Master in Chemical Engineering

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
MIEQ	76	Syllabus	2	-	6,5	63	175,5

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

Students should understand basic concepts in microbiology, genetics, biology and physiology using examples from biotechnology. Students should become acquainted with the use of biological systems as means to obtain specialties or commodities that can not be obtained by chemical synthesis or as a strategy to add value to established chemical processes.

On the laboratory classes students will acquire the necessary skills for manipulation of microorganisms and the techniques involved on their characterization.

Program

1. BIOTECHNOLOGY

a) A definition for biotechnology
b) Biotechnology areas
c) Diagram of a biotechnology process
d) Historical milestones
e) Comparison between biotech and traditional chemical processes

2. CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF THE CELL

a) Major chemical components
b) The role of water as a solvent in biological systems
c) The building blocks of cells: Polysaccharides, Nucleic acids, Lipids, Proteins

3. BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY

a) Universal phylogenetic tree
b) Microbial diversity: prokaryotes, eukaryotes and virus
c) Structure and morphological diversity
d) Virus: morphology, infection e multiplication.

4. CELLULAR STRUCTURES ON THE 3 BIOLOGICAL DOMAINS

a) Cytoplasmic membrane and cell wall
b) Organelles: Endoplasmatic reticulum, Golgi complex, lisosomes, nucleus
c) Flagella and motility: chemotaxis
d) Resistance forms (endospores, spores e cysts)
e) Intracellular and extracellular polymeric substances (glycocalyx and storage materials)

5. COMMONLY USED ORGANISMS IN BIOTECHNOLOGY

a) Most used organisms (bacteria, fungi, yeast, animal cells, plants and transgenic animals)
b) Advantages and disadvantages of common host systems

6. BIOTECHNOLOGY PROCESSES

a) Main products obtained by biological systems
b) Raw materials used

c) Metabolism
c1) Anabolism and catabolism: Classification of the organisms regarding the carbon and energy source
c2) Catabolism: High energy compounds, redox reactions and electron tower
c3) Enzymes
c4) Catabolic processes: Glycolysis, Krebs cycle and aerobic respiration
c5) Fermentation
c6) Anaerobic respiration
c7) Lithotrophy
c8) Photosynthesis (anoxygenic and oxygenic)

d) Factors that control microbial growth
d1) Nutrients, temperature, pH, water activity, pressure and oxygen

e) Cellular reproduction
e1) Prokaryotes: binary fission
e2) Eukaryotes: mitosis and meiosis

f) Microbial growth, quantitation
f1) Total count and viable count
f2) Biomass determination and turbidimetry

g) Fermentation
g1) Growth curves (kinetics)
g2) Cellular death, sterilization
g3) Batch cultivation
g4) Continuous cultivation
g5) Fed-batch cultivation

h) Biological reactor design
h1) Mixture
h2) Gas transfer
h3) Mass and heat transfer
h4) Non-conventional geometries

i) Product recovery
i1) Cell rupture, product capture, polishing and formulation

7. MICORBIAL GENETICS OVERVIEW

a) DNA replication
b) Genetic information transfer
c) Transcription
d) Genetic code
e) Ribosomes
f) Protein synthesis (translation)
g) Contrasts in gene expression between prokaryotes and eukaryotes
h) Genotypic variability versus phenotypic traits
i) Genotypic variability: Mutations and mutagenic agents
j) Prokaryotic genetic recombination (transformation, transduction and conjugation)

8. GENETIC ENGINEERING

a) PCR reaction
b) Cloning vectors
c) Organism improvement
d) Recombinant DNA and transgenic organisms

9. ENZYMATIC ENGINEERING

a) Stability and activity
b) Enzymatic reactors
c) Enzymatic regulation (Feedback, induction, repression)

10. BIOMEDICAL APPLICATIONS

Laboratory component:

- Microorganism purification
- Concentration estimation and morphological characterization
- Biochemical characterization

Mandatory literature

Madigan, Michael T; Biology of Microorganisms. ISBN: 0-13-571225-4

Complementary Bibliography

Stryer, Lubert; Biochemistry. ISBN: 0-7167-2009-4
Pelczar, Jr., Michael Joseph; Microbiologia. ISBN: 85-346-0196-8 (vol.1)

Teaching methods and learning activities

Oral exposition of the subjects supported by the blackboard and tslides. Students are motivated to participate and to deduce the subjects.

Laboratory component: 3 experimental sessions and a class session for discussion of results

Software

Office 2000

keywords

Natural sciences > Biological sciences
Natural sciences > Biological sciences > Biological engineering

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation without final exam

Eligibility for exams

Admission to exams is granted by participation in classes according to the rules of the institution and if the grade attained on the lab component is higher than 7/20 points. Lab sessions are compulsory and failures in attendance will result in a classification of 0/20 on the corresponding session.

Calculation formula of final grade

Final classification (CF) is calculated by:

CF = C1 + C2

C1 = 0.35 T1 + 0.35 T2 + 0.3 Lab

where:

T1 - Test 1 scheduled for October 31st 2011, minumum grade is 6/20 points
T2 - test 2 scheduled for the first call of the exams period, , minumum grade is 6/20 points

Lab - laboratory mark

Lab = 0.75 AC + 0.25 Rel

where

AC - continuous evaluation. For admission to exam this component has to be higher than 7/20 points.

Rel - mini-reports. For admission to exam this component has to be higher than 7/20 points.


C2 - continuous evaluation from the TP classes. Each student will be evaluated at least once during the semester either by making a short presentation with the highlights from the previous class or by answering 2 questions on separate classes. Grades will be situated on the following interval [-1.5, 1]. Students that are no present in class when they are called (or were not present on the previous class in the case of the presentation) will be graded with -1.5 points. Students that choose not to present or not ro reply to the questions will be graded with -0.5. Sutdents that choose to make the presentation or answer the questions wil be marked between [-1, 1.


Studenst that were unble to reach the minimal grade in at least one of the tests (T1 ot T2) willl be evaluated by final exam (in the resit period) and their grade will be calculated as:


CF= C1+C2
C1 = 0,7 E + 0,3 Lab

where:

E - final exam



For approval, final mark must be higher or equal to 10/20 points

Examinations or Special Assignments

Not applicable

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

Final exam according to general rules.
Students who did not attend the laboratory sessions due to s special status must execute one experimental work (choosen by the instructor) at a day to be arrnaged and must prepare a full report about that experimental work. Students will also undergo an oral examination of their experimental work where the experimental details and the main results and conclusions will be discussed.

Classification improvement

Students who want to improve their classification may take an exam in the resit period.