Cell and Molecular Biology

Basic knowledge of Biology.

– Use of audiovisual media for interactive and expositive classes.
– Group work for presentation and discussion of related scientific articles.
– Possibility of performing some 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 previous school years lectures.
– Availability of attendance at the Institution in a schedule defined every semester, or to be agreed with the student.

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

1 – History of Biology              (1 H)

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

CELL BIOLOGY:
3 – The cell                                 (1 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:                                                      (4 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 – The chloroplast and photosynthesis                                             (2 H)

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

11 – Cytogenetics and chromosomes                                                 (2 H)

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

MOLECULAR BIOLOGY:                                                                         (12 hours)
13 – Structure and chemistry of nucleic acids – DNA and RNA.

14 – DNA replication.

15 – Transfer of information – from DNA to protein: the mechanisms of transcription and translation.
        The RNA molecules: messenger, ribosomal and transfer.

16 – Genetic code and protein synthesis.

The nº of lessons/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.