Cell Biology

Recommended Prerequisites

Introductory subject requiring only the knowledge and skills acquired in high school. The course is taught in Portuguese, so a good understanding of the language is a requirement.

Teaching Methods

Lectures, with all students, are based on presentations with simple texts and diagrams, graphs, etc., with the media support.
Practical classes, in the laboratory with small groups of students.

Learning Outcomes

This curricular unit aims to provide essential knowledge about biology, at the cellular and molecular level. Students will know the molecular composition of a cell and know the function of the different macromolecules; know the different cellular organizations and know how to relate their structure with the function performed.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

The chemistry of life. Structure and function of macromolecules: Carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, nucleic acids.
The cell: The basic unit of life. Diversity of life: Eukarya, bacteria, archaea and viruses
Different cellular organizations (organelles and structures). Membranes and different types of transport (with emphasis on osmosis and water regulation at the cellular level). Flow of genetic information (transcription, translation and DNA replication mechanism)
Energy production (ATP): respiration, fermentation and photosynthesis.
In the practical component: Laboratory orThe chemistry of life. Structure and function of macromolecules: Carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, nucleic acids.
The cell: The basic unit of life. Diversity of life: Eukarya, bacteria, archaea and the special case of viruses
Cell architecture ganization and good laboratory practices. Use of various techniques in cellular and molecular studies (microscopy, spectrophotometry, ELISA, differential centrifugation).

Head Lecturer(s)

Armando Jorge Amaral Matias Cristóvão

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Laboratory work or Field work: 20.0%
Exam: 80.0%

Bibliography

1. Bruce Alberts (Author), Karen Hopkin (Author), Alexander Johnson (Author), David Morgan (Author), Keith Roberts (Author), Peter Walter
(Author), Rebecca Heald (Author). (2023). Essential cell biology (6th ed.). W. W. Norton & Company.
2. Sadava, D. E., Hillis, D., Heller, H. C., & Berenbaum, M. R. (2020). Life: The Science of Biology. (12 ed.) Macmillan
3. Azevedo, C. (coord.), (2012). Biologia celular e Molecular. 5 th ed. Lisboa, Porto, Coimbra: Lidel.