Cell Biology

Code:

MV112

Acronym:

BC

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Basic Sciences

Instance: 2014/2015 - 1S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Microscopy
Course/CS Responsible:	Integrated Masters Degree in Veterinary Medicine

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
MIMV	60	Plan 2007 to 2017	1	-	4	60	108

Teaching language

Suitable for English-speaking students

Objectives

Aims:

Students should acquire the basic concepts of the structure and functionality of the animal cell.

Learning outcomes and competences

Skills and Learning Outcomes:

The student should end the semester with knowledge, key skills and attitudes including:
-General and specific notions of the different cellular components and of their function.
-Identification of all organelles and cellular structures by optic and electron microscopy.
-Management of the optic microscope and fluorescence microscope.
-Fundamental laboratory techniques for optic microscopy, histochemistry and imunohistochemistry.
-Fundamental laboratory techniques for electron microscopy.
-General notion of the different types of microscopy.
-Team working and debating.
-Learn to be disciplined, polite and respectful in relation to the institution, teachers and colleagues.

Working method

Presencial

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

Students have to possess the basic concepts of molecular and cell biology at the level of the 12º year of the high school.

Program

Programme:
THEORETICAL MODULES:
-Cellular evolution, Cellular Diversity.
-Microscopy and the different types of microscopes; Techniques of microscopy; other means of cell analysis.
-Cellular Membrane: structure and function.
-Cellular Membrane: transport of small molecules.
-Cytoskeleton: microtubules, cilia and flagella; structure and function.
-Cytoskeleton: microfilaments, microvilly, intermediary filaments; structure and function.
-Nucleic acids: replication; repair.
-Nucleic acids: transcription; splicing.
-Nucleolus: rRNA synthesis.
-Nucleic acids: ribosomes; translation.
-Nucleic acids: iRNAs.
-Cellular nucleus: chromosomes; chromatin; structure and function.
-Cellular nucleus: nuclear lamina; nuclear envelope; nuclear pores; nuclear-cytoplasmic transport; structure and function.
-Mitosis, Meiosis: mechanisms; structure and function.
-Cell Cycle: mechanisms; structure and function.
-Endoplasmic Reticulum: structure and function; processing of proteins and lipids.
-Golgi Apparatus: structure and function; exocytosis.
-Lysosomes: structure and function; endocytosis.
-Mitochondria, Store inclusions: structure and function.
-Peroxisomes: structure and function.
-Intercellular Junctions, Cellular Adhesion, Basal Lamina: structure and function.
-Cellular motility, Cell Signalling: structure and function.
-Programmed Cell Death: structure and function.

PRACTICAL MODULES:
-Optical microscope. Optic microscopy handling. Focus.
-Normal microscopic morphology: human skin.
-Extemporaneous Preparations. Chloroplasts/Mitochondria cyclosis (Elodea, vascular plant). Endoplasmic reticulum/Golgi apparatus cyclosis (Nitella, green algae).
-Biologic material processing for optic microscopy. Includes video.
-Topographic Staining: (mouse liver) staining with hematoxylin-Eosin (He-Eo); microtomy.
-Biologic material processing for transmission electron microscopy (TEM), including video; visit to the ultramicrotome room, TEM (operation and observation of the different cellular structures and organelles).
-Histochemistry.
Detection of DNA (Feulgen-Rossenbeck) in mouse liver; atlas of TEM images for nucleic acid detection at the ultrastructural level.
Detection of polysaccharides: glycogen (mouse liver); basic polysaccharides (PAS: goblet cells of mouse duodenum); acid polysaccharides (Alcian blue: goblet cells of mouse duodenum); atlas of TEM images for polysaccharides detection at the ultrastructural level.
-Mitosis (Allium cepa), Meiosis (mouse ovary and seminiferous epithelium).
-Histochemistry.
Detection of proteins (DMAB-Nitrito) in mouse exocrine pancreas; atlas of TEM images for protein detection at the ultrastructural level.
Detection of lipids (Sudan black) mouse skin; atlas of TEM images for lipid droplets observation at the ultrastructural level.
-Cellular specializations: microvilli (duodenum); sterocilia (epididymis); cilia (trachea, Falopium tube), flagella (human semen smear), focal desmosomes (skin); atlas of TEM images for cellular specializations and intercellular junctions observation at the ultrastructural level.
-Atlas of TEM images for cellular structures and organelle observation at the ultrastructural level: Nucleus; Cytoplasm; Membrane specializations; Intercellular junctions; Cytoskeleton; Special techniques.
-Apoptosis. Imunodetection (TUNEL assay) of apoptotic cells in human and dog ganglionar lymphoma paraffin sections; atlas of TEM images for apoptotic cells observation at the ultrastructural level.
-Self-assessment examination: TEM images.

Mandatory literature

Azevedo Carlos 340; Biologia celular e molecular. ISBN: 978-972-757-692-0
Alberts Bruce; Molecular biology of the cell. ISBN: 978-0-8153-4105-5

Complementary Bibliography

ULL; Molecular and Cellular Biology. ISBN: 0270-7306

Comments from the literature

-Students can not exceed the number of absences corresponding to 25% of the Practical Classes.

-STUDENTS HAVE TO USE A WHITE COAT IN ALL PRACTICAL CLASSES.

-THE FIRST PRACTICAL CLASSE IS MANDATORY.

 

Teaching methods and learning activities

Teaching Methods
THEORETICAL MODULES:
-Lecture and tutorial rooms equipped with whiteboards and overhead projection facilities, and computer links with internet.
-Wide range of learning resources: Library, up to date key books, texts and scientific journals, databases and e-learning facilities.
-SIGARRA platform (University of Porto) online with all THEORETICAL presentations and additional support text and images.

PRACTICAL MODULES:
-Laboratorial experimentation and techniques with individual or group assignments.
-Modern laboratory with up-to-date equipment.
-Laboratory equipped with 24 optic microscopes Zeiss Primo Star for individual learning and a fluorescence microscope Leitz dialux 20 incorporated with a camera and overhead projection facilities for demonstration purposes.
-Wide range of learning resources, such as up to date Books, key texts, scientific journals, and experimental protocols. Library of histological slides. An Atlas with optical, histochemical and electron microscopy images.
-SIGARRA online with all PRACTICAL presentations and additional support text and images.

keywords

Health sciences

Evaluation Type

Evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Exame	100,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	50,00
Frequência das aulas	50,00
Total:	100,00

Eligibility for exams

Assessment Type:

-Assessment only with final exam.
Final examination (January) and Retest examination (February).

Admission to Exams:

-Final examination (January) and Retest examination (February).
-Without middle examinations.

-Students can not exceed the number of absences corresponding to 25% of the Practical Classes.

Calculation formula of final grade

Final Grade:

CLASSIFICATION:
Final exam: 90 minutes, 20 marks.

Multiple choice questions. Each multiple choice question with 5 alternatives, four of them are correct and only one is totally incorrect. Only one alternative can be answered. The wrong answers are not discounted. Total of 14 marks.

The final part of the exam contains light and electron microscopy images, with 25 labelled structures and organelles. The student has to identify each by writing. The wrong answers are not discounted. Total of 6 marks.

Examinations or Special Assignments

none.

Internship work/project

none.

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

First week of September.

Classification improvement

Retest examination (February).

Observations

-Doubts Schedule:
Laboratory of Cell Biology
2ªF: 13-15h; 3ªF: 13-14h; 4ªF: 13-15h; 6ªF: 13-15h.

 

-CRITICAL COMMENTS:

-STUDENTS HAVE TO USE A WHITE COAT IN ALL PRACTICAL CLASSES.

-THE FIRST PRACTICAL CLASSE IS MANDATORY.

 

-TEACHERS
Mário Sousa, MD, PhD, Full Professor, Ruler
Rosália Sá, PhD, Assistant Professor
Alexandre Lobo da Cunha, PhD, Full Professor
Beatriz Porto, PhD, Assistant Professor
Carlos Azevedo, PhD, Full Professor, Emeritus, Guest
Isabel Malheiro, PhD, Associate Professor, Retired, Guest

-TECHNICEANS
-Elsa Oliveira, Technical Specialist 1st class of Pathology, Cytology and Tanatological Area of Diagnosis and Therapy.
-Ângela Alves, Technical Assistant for education and research.
-Ana Paula Sousa, Technical Assistant for Practical classes and research.