Microscopy, Omic Techniques and Principles of Precision Medicine

Code:

OPT2_39

Acronym:

MTOPMP

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Medicine

Instance: 2024/2025 - 2S (of 17-02-2025 to 13-06-2025)

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

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
MIM	27	Official Study Plan	2	-	3	28	81

Teaching language

Portuguese
Obs.: Português / suitable for English-speaking students

Objectives

Learning outcomes and competences

The student must complete the semester with knowledge, skills, and attitudes, including:

• General understanding of different cell and molecular biology techniques, such as microscopy, nucleic acid, protein, and metabolite analysis methods, as well as new generation technologies.
• Learn to select the most appropriate technique for clinical cases, aiming to obtain a more accurate diagnosis.
• Understand the impact and limitations of personalized medicine in different medical specialties.
• Learn the fundamentals of the scientific method and know how to interpret a scientific article.
• Be able to work in groups and individually.
• Develop discipline, education, and respect towards the institution, teachers and colleagues.

Skills to develop:

1. Critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
2. Collaborative spirit, agility, and adaptability to the proposed challenges.
3. Initiative and entrepreneurial spirit.
4. Excellence in oral and written communication.
5. Ability to access information, analyze it, and choose the most relevant.
6. Curiosity and imagination.

What the job market demands from a graduate:

1. Mastery of basic knowledge of cellular and molecular biology.
2. Capacity for autonomy.
3. Ability to continually learn new things.
4. Ability to generate knowledge.
5. Competence to interact with people, sometimes of different nationalities, such as diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds.
6. Flexibility to adapt to new situations.

Working method

B-learning

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

Students must possess the knowledge acquired in the first year of the Integrated Master in Medicine.

Program

THEORETICAL-PRACTICAL MODULES:

The content will be presented in a detailed and practical way, using images and videos.

1. Presentation of the curricular unit.
2. Scientific method, scientific articles, and bibliographic research (online databases)
3. Microscopy: Principles and clinical applications (Part 1)
4. Microscopy: Principles and clinical applications (Part 2)
5. Clinical imaging: structural and functional. Medical genetics:
6. Genetic tests, context, and applicability.
7. Laboratory medical genetics: Conventional and molecular cytogenetics.
8. Laboratory medical genetics: Genetic and genomic analysis (Part 1).
9. Laboratory medical genetics: Genetic and genomic analysis (Part 2).
10. RNA and transcriptomic analysis.
11. Protein analysis and proteomics.
12. Genetic test reports: Interpretation of results and clinical applicability.
13. Principles of precision medicine.
14. Presentation of evaluation work.

Mandatory literature

Bruce Alberts; Molecular biology of the cell. ISBN: 978-0-8153-4464-3
Carlos José Correia de Azevedo; Biologia celular e molecular. ISBN: 978-972-757-692-0
Cooper G & Hausman R; The Cell: A Molecular Approach, ASM Press Edition, 215. ISBN: ISBN: 9781605352909
Turnpenny PD, Ellard S & Cleaver R; Emery's Elements of Medical Genetics and Genomics, Elsevier Edition, 2020. ISBN: ISBN: 9780702079665
Willard HF & Ginsburg GS; Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Elsevier Edition, 2012. ISBN: ISBN: 978-0-12-369420-1

Teaching methods and learning activities

Theoretical-Practical Modules and Continuous Assessment: In-person/B-Learning

Theoretical-Practical Modules: Every Monday, students will receive, through the Moodle Platform, class slides and support materials. The following Friday, they will have an in-person class.

• Classes will be held in amphitheaters equipped with whiteboards, projection systems, and access to computers with internet connection.
• Diversity of learning resources: library with up-to-date key books, texts, and scientific journals, as well as e-learning facilities.

Sigarra/Moodle platforms: All slides, articles and support materials will be available on these platforms, facilitating continuous access to content.

keywords

Health sciences

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Apresentação/discussão de um trabalho científico	50,00
Exame	50,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	56,00
Frequência das aulas	28,00
Trabalho de investigação	24,00
Total:	108,00

Eligibility for exams

In accordance with the regulations of the University of Porto. It is mandatory to attend at least 75% of classes taught, whether in person or remotely. The exceptions provided for in the legislation are duly covered.

INFORMATION FOR STUDENTS REPEATING THE COURSE

1. Students repeating the course who have already completed their attendance previously are exempt from attending classes again for the current academic year.
2. The classifications obtained in continuous assessments from previous curricular years will be maintained to determine the final grade of the curricular unit.

Calculation formula of final grade

Theoretical exam: 50%, 10 points.
Continuous assessment: 50%, 10 points.

Standards for continuous assessment:
Students must choose a scientific article on a topic relevant to the curricular unit, which addresses some of the methodologies included in the program and their application in a clinical area within the scope of personalized medicine. The slides created by students must be sent in digital format (to email jsmoliveira@ibmc.up.pt) before 01-06-2025.
During the last two classes, these should be presented to the teacher and fellow students.

EVALUATION PERIOD: 1h30m (one hour and thirty minutes)

Examinations or Special Assignments

None

Internship work/project

None

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

The curricular unit uses the distributed assessment method with a final exam for all registrants, meaning no special assessments are foreseen.

Worker-Student
In accordance with the Regulation of the Student Worker Statute of the University of Porto no. 192/2014 of April 28th. The student, who has been granted worker-student status, as stated in their individual Sigarra file:

• is not subject to attendance of the minimum number of classes in the curricular unit;
• is not exempt from carrying out the assessment acts established in this course sheet. However, exceptionally, at the reasoned request of the worker-student addressed to the director of the organic unit (after a statement from the pedagogical council), you may request the scheduling of any assessment tests distributed for dates other than those originally scheduled.
• You will be entitled to the normal examination period, the appeal period, and you will be able to request an additional exam outside the normal and appeal exam periods, in accordance with the provisions of the regulations mentioned above.

The curricular unit does not only use the distributed assessment modality without a final exam for all registrants, meaning that the student worker is not entitled to a special examination period in this curricular unit.

Student Association Leader
For students who enjoy the Student Association Leader Status, the rules in force in Decree-Law No. 152/91 of April 23rd, amended by Decree-Law No. 55/96 of May 22nd, will apply.

Classification improvement

The improvement in classification will only apply to the final exam component and will not be reflected in the continuous assessment. Students who choose to take the grade improvement exam will retain the higher grade between the two exams taken.

Observations

DOUBTS SCHEDULE
STUDENTS CAN SEND QUESTIONS ABOUT THE TOPICS TO THE COORDINATORS' EMAIL

COORDINATORS

MÁRIO SOUSA, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor

Cell Biology Laboratory (Director), Department of Microscopy, Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar, University of Porto (ICBAS-UP)

Email: msousa@icbas.up.pt

ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3009-3290

JORGE OLIVEIRA, MSc, PhD, Laboratory Director,

Center for Predictive and Preventive Genetics (CGPP),

Institute for Molecular and Cell Biology (IBMC), i3S

Invited auxiliary Professor

Cell Biology Laboratory, Department of Microscopy, Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar, University of Porto (ICBAS-UP)

EMAIL: jmoliveira@ibmc.up.pt

ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3924-6385

 

SUGGESTED BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Alberts B et al; Molecular Biology of the Cell, Garland Edition. 6th Edition, 2015. ISBN-13: 978-0815344322, ISBN-10: 0815344325.

Azevedo C & Sunkel CE; Biologia Celular e Molecular, Lidel Edition. 5th Edition, 2012. ISBN: 978-972-757-692-0.

Cooper G & Hausman R; The Cell: A Molecular Approach, ASM Press Edition. 8th Edition, 2015. ISBN: 9781605352909.

Turnpenny PD, Ellard S & Cleaver R; Emery's Elements of Medical Genetics and Genomics, Elsevier Edition, 8th Edition, 2020, ISBN: 9780702079665.

Willard HF & Ginsburg GS; Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Elsevier Edition, 2012, ISBN: 978-0-12-369420-1.

SUPPLEMENTARY BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Hartl DL & Cochrane B. Genetics: Analysis of Genes and Genomes: Analysis of Genes and Genomes Jones & Bartlett Learning. 9th Edition. 2017. ISBN-10: 128412293X, ISBN-13: 978-1284122930.

Hofmann A & Clokie S. Wilson and Walker's Principles and Techniques of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 8th Edition. 2018. ISBN: 9781107162273.

Ginsburg SG, Willar FW & David SP. Genomic and Precision Medicine Primary Care, Elsevier Edition, 3rd Edition, 2017., ISBN: 9780128006856.