Cellular Biology of the Human Development

Recommended Prerequisites

Cellular and Molecular Biology; Biochemistry.

Teaching Methods

Traditional lectures, where it is the sole responsibility of the teacher to present general concepts of regulation and control within a cell, a tissue and an organism.

Theoretical and practical lessons in the form of oriented seminars with presentations by students of proposed topics, followed by a period of discussion among students, coordinated by the teacher; these contacts are terminated by a comment and questions from the teacher.

Learning Outcomes

Explain through concepts and technologies common to Cellular and Molecular Biology, Biochemistry and Genetics how the cells develop, propagate, communicate and control their activity. How do they deviate from this pattern of behaviour and what are the clinical consequences of these deviations for cell survival as a unit and the individual as a whole. To apply / choose appropriate technologies to study cellular functions. Integrate knowledge. Present and interpret experimental results and evaluate the possibilities and implications of the diagnoses.
Apply and integrate the knowledge gained in: the understanding of the molecular mechanisms of disease, the interpretation and solution of problems related to such knowledge. Develop the capacity for self-learning, research and information selection.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

METABOLIC CHARACTERISTICS OF DIFFERENT TISSUES
General organization of cellular metabolism
Major metabolic pathways
Hierarchy to store and burn energy substrates
General principles of metabolic management at the level of the organism
General principles of metabolic management at the cellular level
Cellular processes in the hepatocyte and adipocyte
Cellular processes in the neuron and myocyte
CELL COMMUNICATION
Cellular homeostasis; Regulation and control
General principles of cell communication
Revisiting enzyme kinetics; Alosteria and control
Enzymes, engines and decision-makers; Enzyme inhibition
Cell receptors
Second messengers
Integration of signalling cascades
MECHANISMS OF CELL DIFFERENTIATION
Development in mammals.Cell specification, toti,pluti,multi,unipotency
General embriology: fertilization and segmentation
Formation of the embryo and annexes
Cellular mechanisms of development
Molecular mechanisms of development
Genetic manipulations to study development.

Head Lecturer(s)

Rodrigo Pinto Santos Antunes Cunha

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Report of a seminar or field trip: 30.0%
Mini Tests: 30.0%
Exam: 40.0%

Bibliography

Gilbert, S.F. ‘Biologia do Desenvolvimento’, Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian, 2008

Slack, J.M.W. ‘Essential Developmental Biology’ (2nd Ed.),Blackwell, 2006

Koolman, J., Röhm, K.H. ‘Color Atlas of Biochemistry’, Thieme, 1996.

Cunha, R.A. ‘Regulação Bioquímica’, Cap. 17 in ‘Bioquímica – Organização Molecular da Vida’ (Quintas, A., Freire, A.P., Halpern, M.J.), 2009.