Biochemical & Molecular Techniques in Ecology

Recommended Prerequisites

NA

Teaching Methods

This course will be taught intensively, during two weeks, with lectures, laboratory practices and visits to research laboratories that apply these technologies to different areas of knowledge. Several articles will be given to the students  that they should critically examine, analyze the potential of the techniques used and discuss orally. Students will prepare a small project, which will be presented orally and in a writen report. Tutorial support will be given to clarify doubts, to help the development and presentation of the project as well as theoretical and practical  issues.

Learning Outcomes

This unit is essentially a practical course where students have the opportunity to update and deepen their knowledge of biochemical and molecular techniques used in ecology, analyze the potential of these techniques and their applications in different aspects of ecology. Therefore, the main goals are: To acquire knowledge on the most common biochemical and molecular methods in ecology and to gain practice on the performance of these methods and on the interpretation of the obtained results.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

1. Biochemical techniques

1.1. Protein assays

1.2. Protein quantification

1.3. Electrophorectic techniques

1.4. Gel analysis and interpretation

1.5. Advantages e disadvantages of these techniques as indicators in Ecology

2. Molecular techniques

2.1. PCR based techniques including q-PCR (*)

2.2. DNA sequencing technology

2.3. Microarrays.

2.4. New technologies

3. Imunological techniques

3.1. Monoclonal and policlonal antibodies

3.2. Phage display antibodies technique

3.3. ELISA tests

4. Application and evaluation of the techniques in proteomics and genomics (*)

 

(*) A visit to a private company rendering services on molecular techniques will allow the students to enter in contact with different sequencing and bioinformatic methods.

Head Lecturer(s)

Isabel Luci Pisa Mata da Conceição

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Resolution Problems: 10.0%
Report of a seminar or field trip: 10.0%
Project: 20.0%
Laboratory work or Field work: 30.0%
Exam: 30.0%

Bibliography

Glick; B.R. & Pasternack; J.J. (2003). Molecular Biotechnology: Principles and applications of recombinant DNA. ASM Press; Washington; USA.

Shena; M. (2002). Microarray analysis. John Wiley & Sons; Inc; New York; USA.

Switzer; R. & Garrity; L. (1999). Experimental Biochemistry. W.H. Freeman and Company; New York; USA

Recent papers in the literature (variable from year to year)