Animal Models

Code: BIO11485L

6 ECTS

Duration: 15 weeks/156 hours

Scientific Area: Biological Sciences

Teaching languages: Portuguese

Languages of tutoring support: Portuguese

Regime de Frequência: Presencial

Presentation

Research with model organisms, in 4 modules: Bioethics, genetic tools and animal models (complement to BIO11469L), norms and regulation, laboratory approach to murines.

Sustainable Development Goals

Fome zero e agricultura sustentável - Acabar com a fome, alcançar a segurança alimentar e melhoria da nutrição e promover a agricultura sustentável.

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.

Inovação infraestrutura - Construir infraestrutura resiliente, promover a industrialização inclusiva e sustentável, e fomentar a inovação.

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.

Paz e Justiça - Paz, justiça e instituições eficazes promover sociedades pacíficas e inclusivas par ao desenvolvimento sustentável, proporcionar o acesso à justiça para todos e construir instituições eficazes, responsáveis
e inclusivas em todos os níveis.

Learning Goals

Knowledge of the experimental approaches in scientific research with relevance for Human Biology that use animal models, i. e., organisms, cell lines or viruses in which experimentation is ethically admissible, in the frame of regulatory norms specific for each model.
Outline on the suitability of each animal model with respect to the expectations on its applicability to Human Biology themes, with emphasis on studies of Developmental Biology.
Knowledge on the bio-safety rules associated with each animal model.
Contextualization of the knowledge to be acquired in a historical, ethical and regulatory perspective, enabling an informed conscience of the limits imposed on the experimenter, as well as anticipating the needs for adaptation to the evolution of such contextualization.

1. Introduction (Paulo de Oliveira)
Phylogenetics of the human species and levels of comparison with the animal models
Progress of the genomics of animal models and associated bioinformatics resources.
A general perspective of the animal models and their utility
2. Bioethics applied to animal models (Paulo de Oliveira)
Biological foundations of Bioethics, ethical aspects of handling animals utilized in didactical activities and scientific experimentation, study of cases
Special topic: biological materials of human origin
3. Regulations (Joana Reis)
Norms for selection, maintenance, handling and sacrifice of model animals
Special topic: concept of experimental animal
4. Details of relevant models
Murines (Célia Antunes)
Other models (Paulo de Oliveira)

Teaching Methods

Theoretical sessions:
Presentation and discussion of the proposed themes, including analyses of texts. Didactic support with materials supplied by the professors
Practical sessions:
A protocol with manipulation of murines
Evaluation:
Written tests (frequências/exams/reports) on a modular basis. The final classification is given by the average between the classifications of each module, weighted by the duration of teaching of each.