Code: | OPT159 | Acronym: | BIOMOL |
Keywords | |
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Classification | Keyword |
OFICIAL | Medicine |
Active? | Yes |
Responsible unit: | Departamento de Biomedicina |
Course/CS Responsible: | Integrated Master in Medicine |
Acronym | No. of Students | Study Plan | Curricular Years | Credits UCN | Credits ECTS | Contact hours | Total Time |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MIMED | 17 | Mestrado Integrado em Medicina- Plano oficial 2013 (Reforma Curricular) | 2 | - | 3 | 28 | 81 |
3 |
This curricular unit has the following learning objectives:
- Understanding the purpose of molecular biology techniques used in the molecular diagnosis;
- Acquisition of theoretical concepts about several bioinformatic tools commonly used and how to apply them in the interpretation of data from molecular diagnostics;
- Execution hands-on, using a computer, of multiple software tools freely available for the molecular analysis of sequences and query of clinical information and experimental data in databases;
- Development of critical thinking about the data of molecular diagnostics, genetic counselling and therapeutic choices.
By the end of the course the participants must be able to:
- Master essential knowledge of bioinformatics analysis in the scope of molecular genetics;
- Autonomously use the bioinformatics tools presented, understanding its capabilities and limitations, and interpret the results in a self-confident manner;
- Know the multistep process of molecular diagnosis: request, techniques of molecular analysis used in laboratory, interpretation and analysis of the results, prediction of the degree of pathogenicity, generation of the report, prognostic, genetic advice and selection of the appropriate therapy.
Relevance of this optional UC for MIMED:
Bioinformatics is a science that comprises concepts of biology, mathematics, statistics and computer science, and aims to solve biological questions through the analysis of molecular data. This area of knowledge is constantly being developed and updated to cope with the exponential growth of experimental data, especially after the advent of Next Generation Sequencing (NGS). Bioinformatic tools are essential because they allow storage, through repositories or databases, data analysis and interpretation. The technological innovation of molecular biology methods and the development of new bioinformatic tools have had a very positive impact on clinical practice, facilitating the diagnosis, prognosis, genetic advice and choice of the most appropriate therapies to each clinical case. Thus, this optional UC is relevant for future physicians interested in expanding their knowledge related to bioinformatics, clinical genetics and/or investigation of pathologies originating from variations of the DNA sequence.
This curricular unit is organized in theoretical-practical (TP) sessions of 2h each in which the following syllabus are taught:
- Molecular biology techniques: Sanger versus NGS sequencing. Nomenclature and report production.
- Sequences Databases. Introduction, examples, comparison, and data retrieval. Practical exercises I.
- Sequences comparison. Sequences alignment, search for similarity, homology, motifs and protein domains. Practical exercises II.
- Sequences analysis. Infer biological functions from nucleotide and protein sequences. Primer design for gene expression analysis. Design of siRNAs. Enzymatic restriction maps. Practical exercises III.
- Gene ontology. Prediction of enriched biological processes from high throughput screenings. Databases of gene expression data. Sequence variation and mutations associated to diseases. Practical exercises IV.
- Integration of biological data. Comparison of gene lists and query of multiple databases at once for nucleic acid and protein sequence analysis. Practical exercises V.
- Use of a disease model for the application of the previously acquired knowledge on bioinformatic tools. Practical exercises VI.
- Interpretation of sequence variations and genetic counselling.
- Therapeutic approaches based on molecular diagnostics results.
The teaching, using TP sessions, will combine (i) the exposition, for each topic, of the theoretical concepts and bioinformatics tools available, (ii) the practical demonstration of these tools and (iii) their application, by the students, using a computer. The learning will be done by direct contact with the bioinformatics programs, of open access, and through the resolution of the proposed exercises. In the sessions, each students will have one computer with internet access.
Designation | Weight (%) |
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Participação presencial | 15,00 |
Trabalho escrito | 85,00 |
Total: | 100,00 |
Designation | Time (hours) |
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Estudo autónomo | 38,00 |
Frequência das aulas | 28,00 |
Trabalho escrito | 15,00 |
Total: | 81,00 |
The evaluation will take into account the following elements: (i) individual written work based on solving the proposed problems (PP) in practically all TP sessions, and (ii) continuous assessment (AC) considering oral participation in a relevante/critical point of view. The assessment will be expressed on a scale of 0 to 20 and calculated according to the following formula:
Final classification = (0.85xPP) + (0.15xAC)