Molecular and Cell Biology I

Code:

MD1102

Acronym:

BCM I

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Biology

Instance: 2010/2011 - 1S

Active?	Yes
Web Page:	http://moodle.up.pt/course/view.php?id=1777
Responsible unit:	Mestrado Integrado
Course/CS Responsible:	Integrated Master in Dental Medicine

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
MIMD	103	PLANO OFICIAL 2007/2008 BOLONHA	1	-	6	90	162

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

The purpose of this course is to provide the student with a solid knowleadge about the cell molecular biology and organization.

Program

The Cell: concepts and evolution. Universal characteristics of the cells. Eukaryote and procaryote cells.

DNA: structure and function. Genes and chromosomes. The Human Genome: Principal findings and future perspectives for medical practice.
DNA Replication,mutation and repair. General Recombination and site-specific recombination. Mobile genetic elements and evolution. Structure and organization of Viruses.

RNA: Structure and function. rRNA, tRNA and mRNA .

From RNA to Protein: Translation. Protein structure and function. Gene expression and mechanisms of control. Molecular genetic mechanisms that create specialized cell types .

Cell study methods: Isolating cells and growing them in culture. Microscopy. Molecular Biology techniques and its application in medicine. Studying gene expression and function. Biological models of study in biomedicine.

laboratory/practical issues:

Lab safety rules
Learning how to use an optical microscope
Preparing samples for microscopy
Cell types
Especial techniques in microscopy
DNA extraction
DNA amplification, PCR
DNA electrophoresis
DNA Cloning
Western Blotting and other molecular techniques
Concepts for drafting a scientific report

Complementary learning:

Analysis and discussion of the following articles:

- "Old and New Ideas about genes and behaviour" Marianne Rasmuscn, Hereditas 146: 198-203 (2009)

- “Faith and the Human Genome”. Fancis Collins, ASA Annual Meeting at
Pepperdine University, Malibu, California (2002)

- “Unlocking the potential of the human genome with RNA interference” Gregory J. Hannon & John J. Rossi, Nature 431: 371- 378 (2004)


Science Case Studies (National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science)

- Genetic tests in women athletes
- How genetics can treat disease: Acute lymphocytic leukemia
-beta thalassemia
-Cloning

Mandatory literature

Bruce Alberts et al.; Molecular Biology of the Cell, Garland Science; 5 edition , 2008. ISBN: 0-8153-4110-5

Complementary Bibliography

Alberts Bruce 070; Molecular biology of the cell. ISBN: 0-8153-4072-9
Cooper Geoffrey M.; The^cell. ISBN: 0-87893-220-7
Alberts Bruce 070; Essential Cell Biology. ISBN: 978-0-8153-4129-1
Lodish Harvey; Molecular cell biology. ISBN: 0-7167-4366-3

Teaching methods and learning activities

Active learning

Software

Moodle

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation without final exam

Assessment Components

Description	Type	Time (hours)	Weight (%)	End date
Attendance (estimated)	Participação presencial	88,00
Theory test	Exame	2,00		2011-01-13
Problems	Teste
paper discussions	Teste
Exercises evaluating understanding of laboratorial techniques	Exame
Practical reports	Defesa pública de dissertação, de relatório de projeto ou estágio, ou de tese
Laboratory manipulation	Trabalho laboratorial
	Total:	-	0,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Description	Type	Time (hours)	End date
science study cases	Frequência das aulas	9
	Total:	9,00

Eligibility for exams

Theory(T) and Continuous evaluation (C) : laboratory and complementary learning

Theory : 1 test (two hours)
Complementary learning : Laboratory work and reports, problem resolution, paper discussions.


The student needs to score at least 9/20 as a minimal grade in each component (Theory and Continuous evaluation).

The student must attend at least 75% of all classes and have a final mark of at least 10/20 to pass the course

Calculation formula of final grade

The Final grade is calculated using the following values:

Theory test (T) (maximum score 9/20) + Laboratory (maximum score 5/20) + Complementary learning (maximum score 4/20) + class attendance (maximum score 2/20)

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

These students will be alowed to have alternative exam dates, in accordance with the law.

Classification improvement

It is obligatory to evaluate theory and laboratory components of the discipline.