Laboratory Methodologies

Recommended Prerequisites

The students should have basic knowledge on chemistry and biology acquired in the secondary education. 

Teaching Methods

The discipline works in modular regime with integrated lectures and practical classes. The theoretical component is presented through lectures. In the Laboratory classes the students are organized in groups and perform experiments about the topics given in the theoretical component.

Learning Outcomes

The main objectives of this course unit are:

a) Alert the students for the safety and behavior rules in a laboratory;

b) Providing the learning of basic chemical and biological methodologies which are fundamental in the bioanalytical process;

c) Enable students to have a first contact with simple physical methods of analysis with bioanalytical application.

At the end of the semester, the students should be able to execute basic laboratory operations in the following fields: analytical chemistry, organic chemistry, biochemistry and microbiology, all of them intrinsic to the bioanalytical sciences and essential to other course units. 

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

Theoretical

Mod1:Measurements in chemistry and preparation of solutions. Error and uncertainty in analytical measurements. Fundamentals of refractometry, polarimetry and osmometry

Mod2:Unit operations and methodologies of purification and separation

Mod3:Biological samples for analysis: sample collection, prior treatment operations and conservation

Mod4:Safety rules and definition of the security levels in a microbiology laboratory. Culture media used in microbiology and quality control

Practical

Mod1:Glassware calibration and preparation of different types of solutions. Practical applications of the physical methods of analysis

Mod2:Simple and multiple extraction of an aqueous solution of crystal violet. Identification of a liquid through its boiling point determination. Purification of an impure solid sample by recrystallization

Mod3:Analysis of glutathione in cell cultures under stress conditions

Mod4:Preparation of the material to be used in autoclave. Preparation of culture media

Head Lecturer(s)

Ricardo António Esteves de Castro

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Laboratory work or Field work: 10.0%
Mini Tests: 15.0%
Exam: 75.0%

Bibliography

1)Harris, D.C., Quantitative Chemical Analysis, 6th ed. (Chap.2), Freeman and Company, New York (2003)
2)Skoog, D.A. and West, D. M., Analytical Chemistry: An Introduction, 7th ed. (Chap. 2), Saunders College Publishing, Philadelphia (1999)
3)Castanho, M.A.B., Castro, C.A.N.C., Lampreia, I.M.S., Norberto, M.F., Panplona, M.T., Meireles, M.M., Mira, L., Santos, F.J.V., Simões, J.A.M., Guia do Lab de Química e Bioquímica. Lidel, Lisboa (2000).
4)Pombeiro, A.J.L.O., Técnicas e Operações Unitárias em Química Laboratorial. Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian (1983)
5)Bettelheim, F.A. and Landesberg, J.M., Laboratory experiments for general, organic, and biochemistry, 4th ed.. Harcourt Brace College, Orlando, Florida (2001)
6)Microbiology. Prescott, Harley and Klein ed. 6th ed. McGraw Hill, Inc.( 2005)
7)Microbiologia. Wanda Ferreira e J. C. Sousa. Volume 1. Lidel (1998)
8)Gault V.A and McClenaghan N.N. Understanding Bioanalytical Chemistry. Principles and Applications. Wiley-Blackwell (2009)