2025
General Biochemistry
Name: General Biochemistry
Code: QUI12343L
6 ECTS
Duration: 15 weeks/156 hours
Scientific Area:
Chemistry
Teaching languages: Portuguese
Languages of tutoring support: Portuguese, English
Regime de Frequência: Presencial
Presentation
The general objective of this course is to provide the students with knowledge in the field of General Biochemistry. Specifically, it is intended that students acquire skills that allows them to describe the structure and function of biomolecules and understand their importance in living organims.
Sustainable Development Goals
Learning Goals
The overall objective of this course is to provide students with a body of knowledge in the field of Biochemistry. Specifically, it is intended that students have acquired the knowledge to describe the structure and function of biomolecules and understand its importance in living organisms.
Skills to be acquired:
Scientific: scientific knowledge in general Biochemistry and its application to new situations in their field training.
Technical: knowledge of laboratory methods and procedures for identification, separation and quantification of biomolecules, data analysis, rigor and critical thinking;
Personal organization: activities planning and proper management of study time;
Inter-personal: teamwork skills, sharing knowledge;
Speaking and writing skills: ability to use new information technologies, capacity to elaborate laboratory reports and to response to written questions.
Skills to be acquired:
Scientific: scientific knowledge in general Biochemistry and its application to new situations in their field training.
Technical: knowledge of laboratory methods and procedures for identification, separation and quantification of biomolecules, data analysis, rigor and critical thinking;
Personal organization: activities planning and proper management of study time;
Inter-personal: teamwork skills, sharing knowledge;
Speaking and writing skills: ability to use new information technologies, capacity to elaborate laboratory reports and to response to written questions.
Contents
Introduction to Biochemistry and its correlation with the other sciences. The importance of water and inorganic ions in biosystems. Biological buffer systems. Methods and techniques used in biochemistry.
Nomenclature, structure and properties of biomolecules: carbohydrates, lipids, amino acids, peptides, proteins and nucleic acids. Lipoproteins. Biomembranes. Enzymes and enzyme kinetics. Bioenergetics and bioelectrochemistry. The importance of ATP in metabolism. Anabolism and catabolism. The main metabolic pathways. Introduction to the metabolism of carbohydrate, fat and protein. Integration and metabolic regulation.
Nomenclature, structure and properties of biomolecules: carbohydrates, lipids, amino acids, peptides, proteins and nucleic acids. Lipoproteins. Biomembranes. Enzymes and enzyme kinetics. Bioenergetics and bioelectrochemistry. The importance of ATP in metabolism. Anabolism and catabolism. The main metabolic pathways. Introduction to the metabolism of carbohydrate, fat and protein. Integration and metabolic regulation.
Teaching Methods
The teaching and learning process of this Curricular Unit combines a structured theoretical component with a highly relevant laboratory component, ensuring a balanced acquisition of fundamental knowledge and practical skills in Biochemistry.
The theoretical classes, which are both expository and interactive, utilise audiovisual resources and guided bibliographic research, providing students with essential concepts on the structure, function, and metabolism of biomolecules, as well as the principles underlying their analysis and quantification. This component aims to consolidate the scientific foundation necessary to understand Biochemistry and its application in different contexts.
The practical component, central to this Curricular Unit, takes place in small groups and involves the execution of laboratory protocols for the identification, separation, and quantification of biomolecules. Practical work follows protocols provided by the instructor, while also challenging students to research, plan, and adapt methodologies, fostering autonomy, collaboration, and experimental rigour. These sessions are complemented by critical analysis and discussion of results, along with the preparation of reports that develop skills in synthesis, scientific reflection, and communication.
Additionally, tutorials and moments of individual or small-group guidance allow students to deepen concepts, clarify doubts, and receive support in preparing experimental work and reports, reinforcing the connection between theory, practice, and research.
The use of the Moodle platform provides essential digital support, allowing continuous access to teaching materials, communication with instructors and peers, and progress monitoring, effectively integrating both in-person and online aspects of the teaching and learning process.
The theoretical classes, which are both expository and interactive, utilise audiovisual resources and guided bibliographic research, providing students with essential concepts on the structure, function, and metabolism of biomolecules, as well as the principles underlying their analysis and quantification. This component aims to consolidate the scientific foundation necessary to understand Biochemistry and its application in different contexts.
The practical component, central to this Curricular Unit, takes place in small groups and involves the execution of laboratory protocols for the identification, separation, and quantification of biomolecules. Practical work follows protocols provided by the instructor, while also challenging students to research, plan, and adapt methodologies, fostering autonomy, collaboration, and experimental rigour. These sessions are complemented by critical analysis and discussion of results, along with the preparation of reports that develop skills in synthesis, scientific reflection, and communication.
Additionally, tutorials and moments of individual or small-group guidance allow students to deepen concepts, clarify doubts, and receive support in preparing experimental work and reports, reinforcing the connection between theory, practice, and research.
The use of the Moodle platform provides essential digital support, allowing continuous access to teaching materials, communication with instructors and peers, and progress monitoring, effectively integrating both in-person and online aspects of the teaching and learning process.
Assessment
The assessment of this Course Unit will be carried out through continuous and diversified evaluation, covering both theoretical and practical components. This approach allows for a comprehensive analysis of students? performance and the development of their scientific, laboratory, digital, and communication skills.
Theoretical and non-laboratory practical component (70%)
Assessment is individual and may be completed through two optional modalities: continuous assessment (two tests) or final exam assessment (regular or resit period).
This component evaluates the understanding, critical analysis, and application of the knowledge acquired throughout the course unit, integrating theoretical concepts with non-laboratory practical skills.
Each test must have a minimum grade of 8/20, and a final average or exam grade of at least 10/20 is required to pass this component.
Laboratory practical component (30%)
The practical component focuses on experimental performance and the consolidation of laboratory skills, distributed as follows:
Continuous assessment modality:
? Preparation of practical classes and laboratory execution (10%) ? assesses preparation tasks, laboratory execution, rigour, autonomy, and teamwork in laboratory methodologies, also considering attendance.
? Scientific report writing (30%) ? evaluates the structured written presentation of objectives, methodologies, results, and critical discussion, valuing clarity, scientific grounding, and reflective capacity.
? Completion of mini-quizzes (30%)
? Final written practical exam (30%)
Passing this component requires a minimum attendance of 75% of practical classes, in accordance with the Academic Regulations of the University of Évora (RAUE), and a final average grade of at least 10/20.
Final assessment modality:
Students who do not pass or who are exempt from attending practical classes may undertake the final assessment of the practical component (30%), which consists of:
? a written practical exam (30%), and
? the completion of a practical assignment including a report and an individual oral discussion of results during the resit period (70%).
To pass, the final grade must be at least 10/20, with a mandatory minimum grade of 10/20 in the written practical exam.
Final grade calculation
The final grade (FG) will be calculated according to the following weighting:
FG = 0.3 × PG + 0.7 × TG
where:
? PG = grade obtained in the practical component
? TG = grade obtained from the average of the tests or from the written exam
Any omitted or exceptional cases will be regulated by the Academic Regulations of the University of Évora (RAUE).
Formative assessment
Throughout the semester, formative assessment will be promoted, including continuous feedback from the lecturer, monitoring participation in preparatory tasks, guidance in report writing, support in workload management, and encouragement of critical reflection.
Theoretical and non-laboratory practical component (70%)
Assessment is individual and may be completed through two optional modalities: continuous assessment (two tests) or final exam assessment (regular or resit period).
This component evaluates the understanding, critical analysis, and application of the knowledge acquired throughout the course unit, integrating theoretical concepts with non-laboratory practical skills.
Each test must have a minimum grade of 8/20, and a final average or exam grade of at least 10/20 is required to pass this component.
Laboratory practical component (30%)
The practical component focuses on experimental performance and the consolidation of laboratory skills, distributed as follows:
Continuous assessment modality:
? Preparation of practical classes and laboratory execution (10%) ? assesses preparation tasks, laboratory execution, rigour, autonomy, and teamwork in laboratory methodologies, also considering attendance.
? Scientific report writing (30%) ? evaluates the structured written presentation of objectives, methodologies, results, and critical discussion, valuing clarity, scientific grounding, and reflective capacity.
? Completion of mini-quizzes (30%)
? Final written practical exam (30%)
Passing this component requires a minimum attendance of 75% of practical classes, in accordance with the Academic Regulations of the University of Évora (RAUE), and a final average grade of at least 10/20.
Final assessment modality:
Students who do not pass or who are exempt from attending practical classes may undertake the final assessment of the practical component (30%), which consists of:
? a written practical exam (30%), and
? the completion of a practical assignment including a report and an individual oral discussion of results during the resit period (70%).
To pass, the final grade must be at least 10/20, with a mandatory minimum grade of 10/20 in the written practical exam.
Final grade calculation
The final grade (FG) will be calculated according to the following weighting:
FG = 0.3 × PG + 0.7 × TG
where:
? PG = grade obtained in the practical component
? TG = grade obtained from the average of the tests or from the written exam
Any omitted or exceptional cases will be regulated by the Academic Regulations of the University of Évora (RAUE).
Formative assessment
Throughout the semester, formative assessment will be promoted, including continuous feedback from the lecturer, monitoring participation in preparatory tasks, guidance in report writing, support in workload management, and encouragement of critical reflection.
Teaching Staff
Accreditations and Certifications
