Cellular Biology

Code:

MI071102

Acronym:

BIOCEL

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Natural Sciences

Instance: 2022/2023 - 1S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Biochemistry Laboratory
Course/CS Responsible:	MSc in Pharmaceutical Sciences

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
MICF	275	Official Curriculum	1	-	6	65	162

Teaching language

Suitable for English-speaking students
Obs.: Atendimento em inglês aos estudantes; materiais de estudo em inglês; avaliação em inglês (Assistance in English to students; English study materials; English assessment)

Objectives

It is intended that the student:

• Acquires and consolidates knowledge about the basic concepts of Cell Biology/Biochemistry, and the main experimental methodologies for cell studies.
• Understand the structural characteristics common to all eukaryotic cells: internal and functional organization, expression and transmission of genetic information, structure, and function of proteins.
• Understand the molecular, structural, and functional complexity of the cell.
• Achieve the proposed objectives gradually throughout the semester.

In the context of transversal competences, this curricular Unit aims to contribute to the development of the following:

• Cognitive Skills: analytical, critical, reflective, and creative thinking.
• Methodological Skills: time management, planning and digital skills.
• Social Competences: interpersonal communication of scientific information as well as collaborative work.

Learning outcomes and competences

• Acquisition of knowledge about the biological mechanisms essential to the functioning of the cell.


• Understanding and recognizing the importance of the cell in pathophysiological mechanisms.


• Acquisition of laboratory skills, particularly in handling and observation under the optical microscope. Recognition of experimental techniques essential to cell study, inherent to research in the area of biological sciences, but also inherent to the standard laboratory practice.


• Relate the concepts covered in the theoretical component with the practical-laboratory component.

Working method

Presencial

Pre-requirements (prior knowledge) and co-requirements (common knowledge)

not aplicable

Program

Theoretical Component:

• The evolution of the cell. Chemical components of the cell.
• Protein structure and function. Methodologies for fractionation and study of proteins.
• Nucleic acids and basic genetic mechanisms: transcription, replication, and translation of DNA.
• Cellular organization: biological membranes, cytosol, structure, and function of the various cellular organelles.
• Methodologies for visualizating and studying cells.
• Cell function: transmembrane transport of molecules and ions; basic concepts of cellular energy; protein synthesis and protein movement in membranes and cellular organelles; protein degradation. Vesicular traffic and secretory pathway of proteins.
• Cytoskeleton
• Cell cycle: interphase and mitosis. Meiosis.
• Cell junctions, cellular adhesion and extracellular matrix.
• Cell communication.
• Cell Death. Methodologies for studying cell death.
• Cancer.

 

Laboratory Component:

• Optical microscope.
• Histological preparations: Wet mounts, final preparations without inclusion and final preparations with inclusion.
• Cytochemical and immunohistochemical staining. Histological micrometry.
• Cell culture and observation of cells under the inverted optical microscope. Observation of cytological preparations with fluorescent cell staining under the fluorescence microscope.
• Literature search on topics related to the content taught in the theoretical and laboratory components.

Mandatory literature

Harvey Lodish; Molecular cell biology. ISBN: 978-1-4641-8339-3

Complementary Bibliography

Bruce Alberts; Molecular biology of the cell. ISBN: 978-0-8153-4464-3

Comments from the literature

All classes, Theoretical and Laboratory, will be presencial. However, depending on the scenarios associated with COVID 19, there may be changes. In case it is necessary to apply a restrition  plan, lectures will be presential with simultaneous transmission to the distance learning platform. In order to comply with the capacity limitations of the laboratories, the laboratory classes will be presential with the division of the class in 2 shifts with weekly face-to-face alternation.

Teaching methods and learning activities

Lectures (3 hours/week): The lectures will be magisterial, and taught using a system of slides presentation in data-show (Power-Point). At the beginning of the semester, there will be a class to explain the experimental works and the bibliographical research to be done in the laboratory. The laboratory assignments (2 hours/week) will be performed individually by the students and according to a previously established schedule. Students will perform bibliographic research alternately, on topics proposed by the teacher in laboratory classes, preferably in groups of three. Students will produce a report on the bibliographical research during the laboratory classes, and at the end, they will have to submit it on the Moodle platform (https://moodle.up.pt). Students will be accompanied by the teacher during the execution of the experimental works for explanation and clarification of doubts. During the bibliographical research, the students will be accompanied by the teacher whenever possible, promoting the articulation between the students, the analysis and interpretation of information and clarification of doubts. Lecturers will be available during the hours of student attendance, announced at the beginning of the semester, and during the exam period by appointment.

 

Depending on the possible COVID-19 scenarios, changes might happen in the theoretical and laboratory components and, in the evaluation methods of this curricular unit. Presential classes are subject to room and lab capacity limitations and there may have to be some distance learning classes. The schedule of classes and distributed assessment may be adjusted according to the situation at the time and made available on Moodle.

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

designation	Weight (%)
Exame	80,00
Trabalho escrito	10,00
Trabalho laboratorial	10,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	97,00
Frequência das aulas	65,00
Total:	162,00

Eligibility for exams

Theoretical classes are not mandatory. Laboratory classes follow the assessment rules in force, i.e. the student cannot exceed the absence limit corresponding to 25% of the scheduled classes.

Attendance is valid for the current academic year and for the following two academic years. Thus, for the current academic year, the frequencies obtained in the academic years 2020/21 and 2021/22 are still considered valid.

.

Calculation formula of final grade

The final grade is the sum of the final exam (80%) and distributed evaluation (20%).  

The distributed evaluation is composed by i) reports in laboratory classes ii) examination held in the last laboratory class.

Assessment is expressed on a scale of 0 to 20. Students rated below 9.5 are considered disapproved. There are no oral exams.

Examinations or Special Assignments

not applicable

Internship work/project

not applicable

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

According to the legislation in force, students who may be excused from attending laboratory classes must take the laboratory examination during the last week of laboratory classes (according to the pre-established schedule) or during the regular or appeal periods. The approval of this exam is a prerequisite for the student's admission to the final written exam.

Classification improvement

Students may apply for grade improvement only once per subject, one of the two times, normal or appeal, immediately subsequent to that they received approval.

The final classification will be the highest of those obtained in the two tests performed.

Observations

Basic knowledge of Chemistry and Biology taught at secondary school is assumed.

In addition to students that can rapidly develop Portuguese comprehension skills (namely Spanish and Italian), mobility students with fluency in English are also accepted. The UC is taught in Portuguese; however, teachers provide bibliography and support to mobility students in English. The evaluation processes of mobility students may take place at their request, in English.