Biology

 Basic knowledge in Biology.

– Use of audiovisual media for interactive and expository lessons.
– Group work for presentation and discussion of related scientific articles.
– Possibility of performing some techniques individually as well as study visits to laboratories for contact with advanced techniques in cellular and molecular biology.
– Indication of a list of recommended bibliography for the discipline at the beginning of the academic year.
– Availability of recordings of classes from the previous school year.
– Availability of attendance at the institution at a time set every semester, or to be arranged with the student.

With this curricular unit the student should acquire and apply skills in order to integrate their knowledge with other areas of science, such as physiology or biochemistry.
The skills to be developed are:
– To hold a global vision of the cell, in particular the eukaryotic, understanding the phenomenon of life in all its diversity and manifestations.
– Acquire knowledge about the molecular composition of the cell and the function of macromolecules;
– Understand the cell as a basic unit of life and know the different cell types;
– Know how to identify organelles and cellular structures and their structure-function relationship;
– Know the main basic bio-energetic relationships;
– Know the importance of the processes of cell division, mitosis and meiosis, in reproduction, growth, repair and maintenance of life.

1 – History of Cell Biology          (1 H)

2 – The chemistry of life             (4 H)
– Properties of water
– Carbon and the molecular diversity of life
– The structure of macromolecules
– Introduction to metabolism

3 – The cell                        (2 H)
– The cell as a fundamental biological unit
– Levels of cell organization and cell types

4 – Structure and function of biological membranes              (2 H)

5 – The endomembranous system                      (6 H)
       endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, lysosomes, vacuoles

6 – Other organelles: peroxisomes, liposomes                    (1 H)

7 – The cytoskeleton                        (3 H)

8 – Mitochondria and respiration (aerobic and anaerobic)                   (4 H)

9 – Structure and function of the nucleus                (1 H)

10 – Cytogenetics and chromosomes                       (1 H)

11 – Information transfer – from DNA to protein: the mechanisms of replication, transcription and translation.                   (3 H)

12 – Cell reproduction:                             (5 H)
         Mitosis and meiosis

13 – Cell control and tumor cell.           (1h)
– The cell and the effect of radiation:
– Ionizing and non-ionizing radiation.
– Abnormal cell division – cancer cells.

14 – Apoptosis (3h)
– Apoptotic mechanisms
– Causes and functions of apoptosis

15 – Presentation and discussion of related articles (5h)
 

The no. of lectures/hours missing are for presentation and evaluation.

NAO

Primary bibliography:

1 – Biologia Celular e Molecular. Carlos Azevedo e Cláudio E. Sunkel,. 2012. 5ª edição. Lidel. Portugal.

2 – Molecular Biology of the Cell. Bruce Alberts, Alexander Johnson, Julian Lewis, David Morgan, Martin Raff, Keith Roberts, Peter Walter. 2014- 6th edition. Garland Publishing. New York & London.

3 – Molecular Cell Biology. Lodish, H. et al 2016, 8th edition, Freeman & Co, USA

4 – Campbell Biology. Jane B. Reece.2013, 10th Ed. The Benjamin / Cummings Publishing. California. USA.

5 – Biology. N. A. Campbell. 1993, 4th edition. The Benjamin / Cummings Publishing. California. USA.

6 – Biologia Celular y Molecular. E. D. P. de Robertis, E. M. F. de Robertis. 1996. Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian. Lisboa. Portugal.