Introduction to Biology Studies

Code: BIO02671L

3 ECTS

Duration: 15 weeks/78 hours

Scientific Area: Biology

Teaching languages: Portuguese

Languages of tutoring support: Portuguese

Sustainable Development Goals

1. Erradicar a pobreza - Acabar com a pobreza em todas as suas formas, em todos os lugares

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

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

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

10. Reduzir as desigualdades - Reduzir as desigualdades dentro dos países e entre eles.

13. Ação climática - Tomar medidas urgentes para combater a mudança climática e seus impactos (*).

Learning Goals

This module aims at providing an introduction to integrative biological science, highlighting the mechanisms involved in cell to ecosystem functions, from the origins of life to evolution as a unifying integrative principle in Biology, as well as to sensitize students to the main scientific advances in biology and the impact of their applications in society. Students who have completed this course should: acquire an integrative perspective of Biology, understand its basic mechanisms, and also learn to contextualize its changes and recent advances.

1. What is Life?
2. Theories on the origin and diversity of life.
3. The cell as a unit of living beings.
4. Functional systems for Life: respiration and photosynthesis.
5. The hereditary mechanism: DNA and RNA as basic molecules of life.
6. The microbial world ("masters of the biosphere").
7. The plant world.
8. The animal world.
9. Evolution as a unifying theme in Biology.
10. Biotechnology and relevant social issues.

Teaching Methods

Presentation of some basic concepts/areas in Biology, one per session. Reading and analysis of scientific papers. Presentation, in class, of short video-documentaries, appropriate for each session. Use of Moodle and mailing list for communication, information and contacts. Evaluation (continuos) consists of 2 mid-term exams, the first in the middle of the semester (on the first half of the lectured material), and another in the last day of (on the second half of the lectured material), each worth 50% of the grade (0-20 points). Alternatively, students may opt for the final exam, in the respective period.