Molecular Biology

Code:

BIOL1024

Acronym:

BIOL1024

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Biology

Instance: 2024/2025 - 2S (of 17-02-2025 to 06-06-2025)

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Molecular Biology
Course/CS Responsible:	Bachelor in Bioinformatics

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
L:BIOINF	31	Official Study Plan	1	-	6	48	162

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

The main objective of this curricular unit is for students to understand the bases of biological organization and the central role that the molecule that contains the genetic information has in these processes: how the information needed to build and maintain an organism is encoded in the genome, how this information is expressed during the different processes that lead to biological organization; and how different intrinsic and environmental factors contribute to the regulation of genetic expression. It is also fundamental to understand not only the need to maintain the stability of genetic information but also how this information is changed over time in normal and sometimes in dysfunctional situations, such as in tumor cells. Students will also become familiar with approaches and methodologies used in molecular biology, with a special focus on the ones used for DNA, RNA and protein sequence, as well gene expression analysis.

Learning outcomes and competences

During this course students will acquire a solid knowledge of key concepts in molecular biology. This knowledge is intended to allow them to work in the field of molecular biology and to communicate clearly both with non-experts and experts in this field. Furthermore, this curricular unit intends to foster both critical thinking and problem analysis in molecular biology. At its end, students should be able to apply principles of molecular biology to solve scientific questions; to evaluate hypothesis and experiments designed in this context critically; to analyze and interpret experimental data so as to extract meaningful and valid conclusions.

Working method

Presencial

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

Cell Biology

Program

Introduction: Fundamentals of Molecular Biology

Structure and Organization of Nucleic Acids

DNA Replication

Transcription: from DNA to RNA

Translation: from RNA to Protein

Regulation of Gene Expression

Recombinant DNA Technology and its Applications

DNA Mutation, Repair Mechanisms and Genome instability

Bioinformatic analysis of DNA, RNA and proteins

Mandatory literature

Jocelyn E. Krebs; Lewin.s genes XII. ISBN: 978-1-284-10449-3

Complementary Bibliography

Bruce Alberts; Molecular biology of the cell. ISBN: 0-8240-7282-0

Teaching methods and learning activities

Theoretical classes with incentives for student participation with general questions from the teacher. Theoretical-Practical classes with the aim of introducing some of the basic laboratory techniques in the light of Bioinformatics in a hands-on approach through guided problem-solving assignments.

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Exame	85,00
Trabalho prático ou de projeto	15,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	114,00
Frequência das aulas	48,00
Total:	162,00

Eligibility for exams

Participation in 75% of theoretical-practical classes

Calculation formula of final grade

15% of the final grade corresponds to 11 weekly mini-quizzes. The top 9 results will be averaged.

85% of the final grade corresponds to a final exam. 80% of this exam will focus on theoretical classes and 20% on theoretical-practical classes.

Examinations or Special Assignments

Optional: At the end of each theoretical class, students will have the opportunity to answer a question to obtain a bonus on the final grade of up to 2/20. All questions throughout the semester will weigh the same for this bonus.

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

Students with special circumstances should discuss their situation with the course coordinator.