Tissues, cells and molecules

Objectives

The UC Tissues, Cells and Molecules aims to teach in an integrated manner human molecular and cell biology, and histology. This course provides students with a fundamental knowledge that is the basis for future understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms of disease. The overall objective of the course is materialized in the acquisition of the following theoretical knowledge and practical skills; To understand how the cells that form the human body work, how they are organized internally, and what are the functions of the molecules that constitute them; To know how cell signalling, communication and differentiation processes work; To identify and characterize different tissue types that exist in the human body and the corresponding cells and other components; To know the different organs and systems in the perspective of the different cells that make them.

General characterization

Code

11105

Credits

13

Responsible teacher

Prof. Doutor António Alfredo Coelho Jacinto

Hours

Weekly - Available soon

Total - Available soon

Teaching language

Portuguese

Prerequisites

 

Bibliography

Molecular Cell Biology

Lodish, Harvey et al.; Molecular Cell Biology; 6º ou 7º Edição; W. H. Freeman and Company

Alberts, Bruce et al.; Molecular Biology of the Cell; 5ª ou 6ª edição;  Garland Garland Science,  Taylor & Francis group

Azevedo, Carlos e Sunkel, Claudio; Biologia Celular e Molecular; 5ª Edição; Lidel Edições Técnicas Lda

Quintas, Alexandre et al; Bioquímica-Organização Molecular da Vida. Lidel Edições Técnicas Lda

 

Histology

Kierszenbaum, Abraham and Tres, Laura T. Histology and Cell Biology: An introduction to Pathology; 3º ou 4º Edição; Mosby Elsevier

Young, B and Heah J. W.; Wheater’s Functional Histology, a text and colour atlas. 4ª Edição; Mosby Elsevier

Ross, Michael H. e Pawlina, Wojcieh; Histology: A Text and Atlas, with correlated Cell and Molecular Biology, 6ª Edição; Walters Klwer/Lippincott Willliams &Wilkins

Junqueira, Luiz C e Carneiro, José; Histologia Básica; 11ª ou 12ª Edição; Guanabara Kogan

Teaching method

The course is organized in lectures and practical classes. Lectures: weekly sessions for all students with a duration of 50 min. Practicals: 4 hr per week divided into two sessions of 2 hr. The classes are conducted in laboratory with a maximum of 16 students per class.

Evaluation method

The evaluation includes the practical component and a final exam, both graded from 0 to 20. The evaluation of practical component is continuous, corresponds to 40% of the final grade, and takes into account the following criteria: performance and attendance of students in classes; quality of the practical reports; attitude and knowledge demonstrated by the student; and two practical tests. The final exam is 60% of the final grade, it is a multiple choice written exam, and it covers all the theoretical and practical topics taught. The assess to the final exam is conditioned by the attendance to at least 2/3 of the practical classes and a practical grade of at least 9.5.

Subject matter

Lectures (50 classes)

Molecules: Membranes, protein structure and function.

Cells: Cell Cycle, molecular and cytoplasmatic and nuclear processes.

Cell Signalling: Signalling strategies. Tyrosine kinase receptors and TGFb, G proteins, GTPases.

Cell Behaviour: Cell differentiation, apoptosis, cell movement and chemotaxis.

Histology: Tissue organization, epithelia, connective tissue, bone and cartilage, muscle, blood and hematopoiesis, lymphatic system; heart and vessels, respiratory, urinary, genital tracts and endocrine system.

Seminars integrating multiple topics.

 

 

Practical’s (24 classes)

Introduction

Molecules (Proteins): Protein study methods, protein electrophoresis, size exclusion chromatography, enzymatic activity. Signalling (case studies).

Cells: DNA extraction, organelle identification by EM, cell culture Introduction.

Histology: Microscopy concepts and tissue preparation techniques. Observations of epithelia, connective tissue, cartilage and bone, muscle, skin, blood lymphatic system, heart and vessels, respiratory, urinary, genital tracts and endocrine System.

 

Programs

Programs where the course is taught: