Molecular Biology B
Objectives
The main objective of the course of Molecular Biology B is to present the macromolecules that are essential to life processes with focus on the processes of replication, transcription and translation.
Students will be exposed to a generalist introduction of the different macromolecules that ensure viability of a cell (bacterium or eukaryotic cell) with a special attention to the molecular processes that allow the transmission and interpretation of hereditary information. The different processes will be detailed so that students are able to identify several components that perform different functions in each molecular process.
After attending this course students should be able to:
- Identify the different components that are found in different cell types.
- Describe how the DNA molecule was identified as a determinant for hereditary information.
- Identify the chemical composition of the DNA molecule, its structure and its organization within a cell.
- Describe the DNA replication process, the mechanisms that ensure the reliability of this process and how the different elements can be used in the laboratory.
- Describe the process by which the information encoded in the DNA molecule is converted into mRNA (transcription) and protein (translation).
- Identify mechanisms that ensure the regulation of gene expression.
General characterization
Code
1116
Credits
6.0
Responsible teacher
Sérgio Joaquim Raposo Filipe
Hours
Weekly - 4
Total - 53
Teaching language
Português
Prerequisites
None
Bibliography
Molecular Biology of the Cell; Alberts et al. ; 6th ed. (2015). Garland Science.
Biologia Celular e Molecular; C. Azevedo, C. E.; 5th ed. (2012). Lidel, Porto.
Molecular Cell Biology; Lodish et al.; 8th ed. (2016). W. H. Freeman
Molecular Biology of Assemblies and Machines; Steven et al.; 1st ed. (2016) Garland Science
Internet pages of scientific associations with contents taught
Teaching method
Available soon
Evaluation method
Two components of assessment :
- two written tests with questions about the content taught in theoretical and practical classes (80% of the final grade).
- a summative and laboratory assessment component that includes four assignments and respective reports (20% of the final grade).
Detailed in "Documentação de Apoio"
Subject matter
The course program includes the following topics:
- Molecular components of cells and their functions.
- Experiments that demonstrated how DNA is responsible for heredity.
- Structure and chemical composition of different nucleic acids found within a cell.
- Characterization of the DNA present in a cell (composition, organization and packaging).
- Mechanisms used for the high-fidelity propagation of DNA (replication).
- DNA modification and mutagenesis processes.
- Mechanisms of recombination and repair of the DNA molecule.
- Processes that allow cells to read information encoded their genome: (1) from DNA to RNA (transcription); (2) RNA for protein (translation).
- Control of gene expression.
The protocols performed in the laboratory include:
- Propagation of bacterial cells in liquid culture media.
- Isolation, purification and quantification of nucleic acids.
- Quantification and purity analysis of a DNA sample by UV spectrophotometry.
- Enzymatic hydrolysis of plasmid DNA and analysis of the resulting fragments by agarose gel electrophoresis.
- Amplification of DNA fragments by PCR.
- Regulation of genetic expression: evaluation of the activation of the Lac operon.