Analytical Biochemistry

Recommended Prerequisites

Biochemistry; Metabolism; Analytical Chemistry; Analytical Technologies.

Teaching Methods

Lectures supported by visual material (PowerPoint presentation) where the participation of the students is encouraged by questions and correlation of knowledge.

Motivation for self-knowledge by the reading and understanding of a scientific article in the scope of Analytical Biochemistry
Laboratory classes where students perform analytical determinations using several techniques such as spectroscopy, a technique widely used in Biochemical analysis, and immunochemical techniques.

In addition the student is stimulated to organize and plan practical work and in the end the results are discussed.

Learning Outcomes

The main objective of this Course is that the students acquire skills that enable them to select a technique or series of techniques appropriate to the resolution of an analytical problem, as well as to choose the most appropriate sample within the scope of the analysis to be performed. So, it is important that they are aware of: i) the diversity of biological samples, ii) the procedure for obtaining the same iii) the importance of the quality of the sample in the validity of the result and, on the other hand, to acquire knowledge about the techniques and methodologies commonly used in the field of biochemical analysis.

In addition, it is intended that they acquire laboratory practical skills and are able to express themselves through oral and written language by applying specific terminology.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

Theory:

General Principles of Analytical Biochemistry.
Biological samples: types, conservation and quality of human biological samples.
Separation methods: principles of separation techniques and general methods of separation. Particular emphasis to chromatographic techniques and centrifugation.

Techniques of cell culture.
Enzymatic determination and enzymatic methods.

Radioisotopes and radioactivity. Use of radioisotopes as analytical methodology.
Immunochemistry and immunochemical techniques. Tumor markers as an example the relevance of the immunochemical techniques.

Clinical applications and international guidelines for the clinical use of tumor markers.
Analytical characteristics of biomolecules and associated methodologies.
Analysis of proteins. Diversity of methods which may be used in the analysis of proteins in biological fluids according to the intended purpose.

Pratical:
Analytical determinations in order to apply and complement theoretical knowledge.

Head Lecturer(s)

Armanda Emanuela Castro Santos

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Laboratory activity report: 25.0%
Oral presentation and discussion of a scientific paper: 25.0%
Exam: 50.0%

Bibliography

Holme, D. J. and Peck, H., Analytical Biochemistry, 3d edition. Pearson Education, 1998.

Wilson, K. & Walker, J. (Eds), Principles and Techniques of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 7th Edition. Cambridge University Press, 2010.

Burtis C., Ashwood E., Bruns D. (Eds), Tietz Fundamentals of Clinical Chemistry, 6th Edition. Saunders, Elsevier, 2008.

Artigos científicos./ Scientific papers.