Curricular Unit:			Code:
Introduction to Earth and Life Sciences			1096ICTV
Year:	Level:	Course:	Credits:
1	CTSP	Health Services Aid	4 ects
Learning Period:		Language of Instruction:	Total Hours:
Spring Semester		Portuguese/English	52
Learning Outcomes of the Curricular Unit:
This course unit explores the basic structures and fundamental processes of life at the molecular and cellular level. At the level of knowledge, it aims to provide a better understanding of the molecular, structural and functional complexity of the cell, articulated way of functioning in multicellular organisms, and the importance of endogenous protection mechanisms for the maintenance of cellular and organismal homeostasis. At the level of competences seeks to provide the ability to understand and recognize the relative importance of the cell in health and disease. At the level of skills aims at providing practical skills in the analysis and validation of technical and scientific information in the field of molecular and cellular biology, and continued development of knowledge. Overall, the learning process provides skills for the future professional to recognize and understand the role of the cell in health and disease in areas of clinical intervention or research.
Syllabus:
Structural model of biological systems: cell and water; Structure and function of biomolecules; Different types of cells; Biomembranes (composition, structural organization and function), Transmembrane and non-transmembrane transport; Cellular organelles (ultrastructure, biogenesis and pathophysiology); Transformation and use of energy by living beings (fermentation and respiration); Replication, transcription and protein synthesis; Cell cycle (mitosis and meiosis); Cell death; Asexual reproduction and sexual reproduction (meiosis, fertilization and variability); Nerve and hormonal regulation in animals (thermoregulation and osmoregulation).
Demonstration of the Syllabus Coherence with the Curricular Unit's Objectives:
The course unit is divided into several sections: the levels of biological organization are described, in order to allow the recognition that the living world is hierarchically structured; the cell is presented as a structural and functional unit of all living beings: characterization at the molecular, structural and functional level; an analysis is made of the energy yield of the two metabolic pathways (fermentation and respiration); the sequence of events that characterize protein synthesis and the cell cycle is studied; the processes of asexual and sexual reproduction and nervous and hormonal regulation in animals are addressed.
Teaching Methodologies (Including Evaluation):
Exposure, in a descriptive and integrated way, of the concepts, theories and mechanisms underlying the syllabus established in the theoretical program of the discipline, and in an articulated way with the adopted bibliography. The approval will be certified through three written tests (average grade of at least 10/20 values). Failure to pass continuous assessment sends the student to the exam at the end of the semester.
Demonstration of the Coherence between the Teaching Methodologies and the Learning Outcomes:
Theoretical-practical classes aim at acquiring the general and specific technical-scientific knowledge of this UC, a good level of written communication and a good ability to relate concepts.
Reading:
1.Quintas A., Freire A.P., Halpern M.J. – Bioquímica: Organização molecular da vida/Lidel, 2008. 2. Alberts B, Johnson A, Lewis J, Morgan D, Raff M, Roberts K, Walter P. Molecular Biology of the Cell. Garland Science, 5th Edition, 2014. ISBN: 9780815344322. (existe a 4ª edição, 2002) 3. Lodish H, Berk A, Kaiser CA, Krieger M, Bretscher A, Ploegh H, Martin KC, Yaffe M. Molecular Cell Biology. WH Freeman, 9th Edition, 2021. ISBN: 9781319208523. (existe a 3ª edição, 1995, e a 4ª edição, 2000) 4. Cooper GM. The Cell, a Molecular Approach. Sinauer Associates, 8th Edition, 2018. ISBN-10:1605357073; ISBN-13:978-1605357072
Lecturer (* Responsible):
Maria Coelho (mcoelho@ufp.edu.pt)