Elements of Biophysics

Recommended Prerequisites

This curricular unit is aimed at students who have appropriate knowledge of Mathematics and Physics and basic notions of Chemistry and Biology. In order to attend this curricular unit, students should have knowledge regarding the following curricular units or similar curricular units: Mathematical Analysis I, General Chemistry I and General Physics II.

Teaching Methods

Theoretical classes mainly using audio-visual media and tutorial classes will be delivered. In these classes the themes of the summary assignments and their specific characteristics will be established. In addition, methods of study and methods for the presentation of the assignments will be discussed including the acquisition and reading of the bibliography and the computer tools to be used.

Learning Outcomes

The objective of this curricular unit is to teach the fundamentals of bioelectricity, especially the electrical properties of nervous cells on the formation,propagation and transmission of the nervous impulse and other excitable cells namely sensory and muscle cells.In addition this curricular unit is also intended to provide students with an overview of the current state of knowledge concerning the main approached subjects and their physical correspondents.Other aim is that students develop their ability to do research and communicate orally and in writing.
Generic competences:Competences in analysis and summary.Competences in organization and planning.Competences in oral and written communication.Knowledge of a foreign language.
Knowledge of informatics concerning this field of study.Competences to solve problems.
Use of the internet as a means of communication and source of information.Competences in critical thinking.Competences in autonomous learning.Competences to do research.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

1.Introduction to bioelectrical phenomena.
2.Structure and functions of the nervous cell.
3.Diffusion and transportation across membranes.
4.Resting potential of the membrane.
5.Electrical properties of the excitable membrane.
6.Functional properties of dendrites.
7.Action potential and Hodkin-Huxley model.
8.Gating chains and mechanisms.
9.Different ion channels which are dependent on the potential.
10.Molecule structure and individual channel chains.
11.Synaptic transmission: pre-and postsynaptic mechanisms.
12.Synaptic plasticity.

Head Lecturer(s)

Maria Emília Oliveira Quinta Ferreira

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Oral presentation of the summary assignment : 10.0%
Synthesis work: 10.0%
Exam: 80.0%

Bibliography

JOHNSTON, Daniel;WU,Samuel M.-S.- Foundations of Cellular Neurophysiology
Cambridge, Massachusetts,The MIT Press,1995,676 p.ISBN 0-262-10053-3
HILLE,Bertil-Ionic Channels of Excitable Membranes
3ª ed. Sinauer Associates,Inc.,Massachusetts,2001,841 p.ISBN 0-87893-321-2
FAIN,Gordon L.-Molecular and Cellular Physiology of Neurons
Cambridge,Massachusetts,Harvard University Press,1999,693 p.ISBN 0-674-58155-5
HOPPE, Walter; LOHMANN, Wolfgang; MARKL, Hubert, ZIEGLER, Hubert,Eds.
Biophysics.
Berlin,Springer-Verlag,1983,941 p.ISBN 3-540-12083-1