2024
Biochemistry of Nucleic Acids
Name: Biochemistry of Nucleic Acids
Code: QUI12398L
3 ECTS
Duration: 15 weeks/78 hours
Scientific Area:
Biochemistry
Teaching languages: Portuguese
Languages of tutoring support: Portuguese
Presentation
Structure and function of nucleic acids. Mechanisms of conservation and regulation of the flow of gene information. Functional genomics; environmental, biomedical and biotechnological applications.
Sustainable Development Goals
Learning Goals
1. To know and to understand theoretical and experimental information that include terms, concepts, factors, principles, laws, theories, methods and procedures which make possible to study nucleic acids and its interaction with surrounding medium.
2. To develop a critical aptitude to equate new problems in domain of Biochemistry of nucleic acids which allow a conception of experimental strategies to clarify conservation mechanisms, stages and regulation points of genetic expression flow.
3. Give capacity to understand the new tendencies of contemporary biochemistry which combine an overall analysis of genome to apply at new occurrences in domain of biochemistry of nucleic acids, in terms of concepts, laws and methods utilization respecting ethic and biochemical deontology. To develop capacity to organize team work laboratorial planes, using informatics bases, and execute, in accurate form, experimental procedures which improve the knowledge at genomic level, applied to biomedicine or biotechnology and useful for prepare scientific communications and laboratorial management.
2. To develop a critical aptitude to equate new problems in domain of Biochemistry of nucleic acids which allow a conception of experimental strategies to clarify conservation mechanisms, stages and regulation points of genetic expression flow.
3. Give capacity to understand the new tendencies of contemporary biochemistry which combine an overall analysis of genome to apply at new occurrences in domain of biochemistry of nucleic acids, in terms of concepts, laws and methods utilization respecting ethic and biochemical deontology. To develop capacity to organize team work laboratorial planes, using informatics bases, and execute, in accurate form, experimental procedures which improve the knowledge at genomic level, applied to biomedicine or biotechnology and useful for prepare scientific communications and laboratorial management.
Contents
1. Gene concept, housekeeping and inductive genes.
2. Genetic material in eukaryotes, bacteria and viruses. Structure of DNA and RNA.
3. Restriction and modification systems.
4. DNA sequencing.
5. DNA replication, mutation and repair mechanisms.
6. Localizing and specific identification of genes.
7. Detection and amplifying sequences of DNA by PCR.
8. Transcription. RNA processing and maturation. Reverse transcription.
9. Regulation of gene expression.
10. DNA clonning, vectors. DNA and cDNA libraries.
11. Analysis of gene expression by RT-PCR and microarrays.
12. Functional genomic.
13. Aplications of recombinant DNA technology in bacteria, yeasts, plants and animals.
14. Gene therapy.
15. Translation, genetic code. Chaperones and folding.
16. Oncogenes and tumor-supressor genes.
17. Bioinformatics, homologies, ORFs, metabolic pathways, protein sequence and protein localization.
2. Genetic material in eukaryotes, bacteria and viruses. Structure of DNA and RNA.
3. Restriction and modification systems.
4. DNA sequencing.
5. DNA replication, mutation and repair mechanisms.
6. Localizing and specific identification of genes.
7. Detection and amplifying sequences of DNA by PCR.
8. Transcription. RNA processing and maturation. Reverse transcription.
9. Regulation of gene expression.
10. DNA clonning, vectors. DNA and cDNA libraries.
11. Analysis of gene expression by RT-PCR and microarrays.
12. Functional genomic.
13. Aplications of recombinant DNA technology in bacteria, yeasts, plants and animals.
14. Gene therapy.
15. Translation, genetic code. Chaperones and folding.
16. Oncogenes and tumor-supressor genes.
17. Bioinformatics, homologies, ORFs, metabolic pathways, protein sequence and protein localization.
Teaching Methods
1. Lectures are plenary lessons structured in the scientific method which combine subject exposition relatives to the biochemistry of nucleic acids with the bibliographic search for generating capacities to understand strategies and to apply methodologies which allow clarifying structural, functional and techniques aspects of nucleic acids as well as eventual applications. When possible will organize conferences with invited experts.
2. Practical classes have two instants: one which takes place in informatics laboratories, which involve teamwork to analysis nucleic acids or protein sequences, resorting to informatics databases and the utilization of adequate software. 3. Tutorial classes involve instants of individual contacts or in little teams occurring search, read and assisted-interpretation of scientific papers which contribute to preparing experimental assays and the project.
Evaluation: Theoretical component- written test-40%, project-30%, thematic poster-15%; Practical-15%
2. Practical classes have two instants: one which takes place in informatics laboratories, which involve teamwork to analysis nucleic acids or protein sequences, resorting to informatics databases and the utilization of adequate software. 3. Tutorial classes involve instants of individual contacts or in little teams occurring search, read and assisted-interpretation of scientific papers which contribute to preparing experimental assays and the project.
Evaluation: Theoretical component- written test-40%, project-30%, thematic poster-15%; Practical-15%
Teaching Staff (2023/2024 )
