Introduction to Biology

Code: BIO01600L

5 ECTS

Duration: 15 weeks/130 hours

Scientific Area: Biological Sciences

Teaching languages: Portuguese

Languages of tutoring support: Portuguese, English

Regime de Frequência: Presencial

Sustainable Development Goals

Saúde e bem-estar - Assegurar uma vida saudável e promover o bem-estar para todos, em todas as idades.

Educação de qualidade - Assegurar a educação inclusiva, e equitativa e de qualidade, e promover oportunidades de aprendizagem ao longo da vida para todos.

Igualdade de género - Alcançar a igualdade de gênero e empoderar todas as mulheres e meninas.

Ação contra a mudança global do clima - Tomar medidas urgentes para combater a mudança climática e seus impactos (*).

Vida terrestre - Proteger, recuperar e promover o uso sustentável dos ecossistemas terrestres, gerir de forma sustentável as florestas, combater a desertificação, deter e reverter a degradação da Terra e deter a perda da biodiversidade.

Learning Goals

Understand the origin and diversity of life. Enframe and perceive the multiple life forms. Understand, in a global vision, the human body functioning and main systems. Being able to plan and execute practical work based on the learned contents.

Origin of life
Plants: Form and function of plant organs, diversity and adaptive features.
Animals: Morphological diversity and adaptive features.
Microbes: Microbial diversity. The importance of microbial activity to the mankind.
The biology and society.
Human Body
Digestion: Digestive system. Operation and regulation, feeding as a factor in health.
Blood circulation: The circulatory system. Operation and regulation.
Respiration: The respiratory system. Operation and regulation.
Excretory systems and processes: urinary system, skin and sweat. Operation and regulation.
The skeleton and muscles: Its components, factors affecting its development.
Reproductive system, female reproductive apparatus. Operation and regulation.
Male reproductive system. Operation and regulation.
The nervous system: central and peripheral. Operation and regulation.
Determinants of health and disease.
Introduction to First Aid.

Teaching Methods

Teaching methods: Theoretical exposure and practical lessons with experimental work in laboratory and open spaces, appropriate to the level of education. Didactic materials and other contents will be available through the University computer system (Moodle).