ECTS credits ECTS credits: 6
ECTS Hours Rules/Memories Student's work ECTS: 99 Hours of tutorials: 3 Expository Class: 24 Interactive Classroom: 24 Total: 150
Use languages Spanish, Galician
Type: Ordinary Degree Subject RD 1393/2007 - 822/2021
Departments: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Areas: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Center Faculty of Optics and Optometry
Call: First Semester
Teaching: With teaching
Enrolment: Enrollable | 1st year (Yes)
GENERAL OBJECTIVES
The general objective of the subject is to study the chemical, molecular and genetic bases of biological processes, especially in relation to the eye. Throughout the program the student must acquire a general vision about the structure of the living matter, catalysis and cellular metabolism as well as the molecular basis of the storage and expression of biological information.
SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
To know the basic biochemical processes involved in the visual system.
Understand the biochemical bases of alterations of the visual system.
Provide basic knowledge to better understand other subjects.
Some units are treated transversally.
INTRODUCTION (AP)
1. INTRODUCTION to Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Ocular Biochemistry. Biomolecules: chemical and structural characteristics. Biochemical reactions.
2. WATER. Structure and properties of water. Water in living beings. Ionic activity of water. Acids and bases. Buffer solutions. Ocular fluids. Clinical biochemistry of ocular fluids.
BIOMOLECULES (AP)
3. CARBOHYDRATES. Carbohydrates: concept and classification. Monosaccharides and derivatives of monosaccharides. Disaccharides. Polysaccharides. Proteoglycans and glycoproteins.
4. LIPIDS. Fatty acids. Lipids: structural characteristics and classification. Lipoproteins. Main ocular lipids.
5. AMINO ACIDS AND DERIVATIVES. PEPTIDES AND PROTEINS. Amino acids and derivatives: properties. Structural characteristics and functions of nucleotides. Peptide bond and primary structure of proteins. Peptides of biological interest. Protein folding and structure-function relationship. Secondary, tertiary, and quaternary structures. Allosterism.
ENZYMOLOGY (AP)
6. ENZYMES. Classification. Mechanism of enzymatic catalysis. Enzymatic kinetics. Proteins and enzymes responsible for vision.
7. VITAMINS, MINERALS, AND TRACE ELEMENTS. Vitamins: classification and functions. Fat-soluble vitamins. Water-soluble vitamins. Effects of vitamin deficiencies in ocular tissues. Minerals and trace elements.
8. INHIBITION AND REGULATION of enzymatic activity. Allosteric regulation. Regulation by covalent modification.
INTERMEDIARY METABOLISM (AGD)
9. INTRODUCTION AND BIOENERGETICS. Introduction to metabolism. Metabolic pathways. Thermodynamic relationships and high-energy compounds.
10. METABOLISM REGULATION. Introduction. Membrane transport.
11. CELLULAR SIGNALING AND OCULAR NEUROCHEMISTRY. Components: Signals, receptors, transducers, and effectors. Signal transduction mechanisms. Main neurotransmitters of the retina.
12. AEROBIC METABOLISM. Tricarboxylic acid cycle. Electron transport chain and oxidative phosphorylation. Inhibitors of electron transport and uncoupling agents.
13. CARBOHYDRATE METABOLISM. Glycolysis and its regulation. Metabolic fates of pyruvate and lactic fermentation. Incorporation of other monosaccharides into the glycolytic pathway. Pentose phosphate pathway. Gluconeogenesis and its regulation. Glycogenolysis and glycogenesis. Control of glycogen metabolism. Ocular aerobic and anaerobic metabolism.
14. LIPID AND LIPOPROTEIN METABOLISM. Fatty acid metabolism and its regulation. Cholesterol metabolism and its regulation. Lipoprotein metabolism.
15. NITROGEN METABOLISM. Protein degradation and protein turnover. Common reactions in amino acid metabolism: transamination and oxidative deamination. Metabolism of specific amino acids. Nucleotide metabolism: purines and pyrimidines.
16. METABOLISM COORDINATION. Metabolism integration. Diabetes and retinopathies.
NUCLEIC ACIDS AND GENE EXPRESSION (AGD)
17. NUCLEIC ACIDS. Structure of nucleic acids and the genome. DNA replication, repair, and recombination.
18. GENE EXPRESSION. RNA synthesis: transcription. Protein synthesis: translation. Post-translational modifications. Regulation of gene expression.
EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAM
EXPERIMENTAL SESSION 1: HANDLING OF REAGENTS, BASIC EQUIPMENT, AND SOLUTION PREPARATION (DISSOLUTIONS).
PROTOCOL: PREPARATION OF PHOSPHATE BUFFER SOLUTION AT DIFFERENT pH.
Objectives:
Practical considerations and preparation of solutions used in experimentation.
Preparation of a buffer solution.
Practical considerations and handling of an externally calibrated precision balance.
Practical considerations and handling of pipettes. Automatic, fixed, and variable pipettes. Repetitive pipettes.
Practical considerations, calibration, and handling of a pH meter.
EXPERIMENTAL SESSION 2: ENZYMOLOGY
PROTOCOL: QUANTIFICATION OF ENZYMATIC ACTIVITY AND DETERMINATION OF KINETIC CONSTANTS USING PEROXIDASE, AND EFFECT OF pH.
Objectives:
Practical considerations and preparation of substrate, enzyme, and pH buffer solutions.
Determination of enzymatic activity by measuring absorbance in the appropriate spectrophotometer.
Practical considerations and handling of a calibration curve with known and increasing amounts of the product (previously performed).
Graphing of results and determination of kinetic constants.
Effect of pH and graphical representation.
+ SEMINARS
+ ENTREPRENEURAL SKILLS
• Berg, J.M., Tymoczko, J.L. & Stryer L., 2015. Bioquímica con aplicaciones clínicas. 7ª ed. Barcelona: Reverté.
• Rodwell, V.W., Bender, D.A., Botham, K.M., Kennelly, P.J. y Weil, P.A., 2018. Harper Bioquímica ilustrada. [en liña] 31ª ed. México: McGraw-Hill/Interamericana. Dispoñible en: https://accessmedicina-mhmedical-com.ezbusc.usc.gal/Book.aspx?bookid=27…
• Nelson, D.L. & Cox, M.M., 2018. Lehninger Principios de Bioquímica. 7ª ed. Barcelona: Omega.
• McKee, T., y McKee, J.R., 2014. Bioquímica. Las bases moleculares de la vida.[en liña] 5ª ed. México: McGraw-Hill/Interamericana. Dispoñible en: https://accessmedicina-mhmedicalcom.ezbusc.usc.gal/Book.aspx?bookid=1960
• Battaner Arias, E., 2013. Biomoléculas: una introducción estructural a la bioquímica. [en liña] Salamanca: Ediciones Universidad de Salamanca. Dispoñible en: https://prelo.usc.es/Record/Xebook1-134
• Battaner Arias, E., 2014. Compendio de enzimología. [en liña] Salamanca: Ediciones Universidad de Salamanca. Dispoñible en: https://prelo.usc.es/Record/Xebook1-1
• Blas Pastor, J. R. (2013). “BqTEST : 1000 preguntas tipo test de bioquímica para universitarios”. Lulu.com,
• Whikehart, D. R. (2011, 3ª ed). “Biochemistry of the eye”. Ed Elsevier Inc. Philadelphia.
WEB PAGE:
- http://www.sebbm.es/BioROM/indices/index.html
- http://biomodel.uah.es. Sitio web Universidad Alcalá de Henares
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/guide/ (The National Center for Biotechnology Information, (NCBI) fonte principal de bases de datos (nucleótidos,
xenes e xenomas, e ferramentas bioinformáticas.
BASIC AND GENERAL
CB1 - That students have demonstrated to possess and understand knowledge in an area of study that starts from the base of general secondary education, and is usually found at a level that, although supported by advanced textbooks, also includes some aspects which imply knowledge coming from the forefront of their field of study
CB2 - That students know how to apply their knowledge to their work or vocation in a professional manner and have the skills that are usually demonstrated through the elaboration and defense of arguments and the resolution of problems within their area of study
CB3 - That students have the ability to gather and interpret relevant data (usually within their area of study) to make judgments that include a reflection on relevant issues of a social, scientific or ethical nature-
CB4 - That students can transmit information, ideas, problems and solutions to a specialized and non-specialized public
CB5 - That students have developed those learning skills necessary to undertake further studies with a high degree of autonomy
CG1 - That the students have the capacity to approach their professional and formative activity from the respect to the deontological code of their profession, which includes, among other more specific the principles of respect and the promotion of the fundamental rights of the people, the equality between people, the principles of universal accessibility and design for all and democratic values and a culture of peace.
TRANSVERSALS
CT1 - That they acquire analysis and synthesis capacity.
CT2 - That they acquire capacity for organization and planning.
CT3 - That they acquire oral and written communication skills in the native language.
CT4 - That they acquire the knowledge of a foreign language.
CT5 - That they acquire computer skills related to the field of study.
CT6 - That they acquire information management capacity.
CT7 - That they acquire the ability to solve problems.
SPECIFIC
CE4 - That the student be able to critically reflect on clinical, scientific, ethical and social issues involved in the professional practice of Optometry, understanding the scientific foundations of Optics-Optometry and learning to critically evaluate terminology, clinical trials and research methodology related to Optics-Optometry.
CE5 - That the student be able to issue opinions, reports and expert opinions when necessary.
CE9 - That the student can expand and update their capacities for professional practice through continuous training.
CE11 - That the student knows how to situate the new information and the interpretation of it in its context.
CE12 - That the student can demonstrate the comprehension to the general structure of the Optometry discipline and its connection with specific disciplines and other complementary ones.
CE17 - That they incorporate the ethical and legal principles of the profession into professional practice, respecting the autonomy of the patient, their genetic, demographic, cultural and socioeconomic determinants, integrating social and community aspects in decision-making, applying the principles of justice social in professional practice, in a changing world context.
Additionally:
To know the composition and structure of the molecules that make up living beings.
To understand the transformations of biomolecules into others.
To apply biochemical knowledge to the eye and the vision process.
To recognize and handle basic laboratory material and techniques.
EXPOSITORY TEACHING:
Expository teaching is designed to enhance students' autonomous learning. In theoretical classes, the professor will present and explain the most relevant aspects of each topic, helping students to achieve the objectives of the subject. In this teaching, the blackboard, audiovisual media, and the virtual space of the subject will be used, as well as other means that the professor deems appropriate to facilitate teaching. The Case Method will also be used.
INTERACTIVE TEACHING:
Seminars will be held on topics related to the theoretical content of the subject. The professor will guide and orient the student in the learning process. In this teaching, the blackboard, audiovisual media, and the virtual space of the subject will be used, as well as other means that the professor deems appropriate to facilitate teaching.
In group tutorials, communication and presentation competencies of cases and works will be worked on. In laboratory practices, the students will follow the practice guide developed by the professor to carry out the experimental protocols. At the end of the practices, students must present the laboratory notebook correctly completed to the professor.
TUTORIALS:
This activity will be used mainly for clarifying doubts about theoretical and practical aspects related to the contents of the subject. In this activity, audiovisual media, computers, the virtual space of the subject, and other means that the professor deems appropriate will be used.
Expository classes, practices, and seminars will be face-to-face and will take place in the classroom following the official calendar and the subject calendar. In the seminars, students will need to bring to the classroom notes, books, calculator, and all necessary didactic material. The problem bulletins prepared by each work group in the seminars will be delivered at the end of each session for evaluation.
For activities that need to be done remotely or virtually, the Virtual Classroom will be used, and if possible, Teams plus the associated MS software.
It is expressly forbidden for students to distribute the teaching material (both written and audiovisual) available on the Virtual Campus to people outside the course.
Plagiarism and misuse of technologies in the performance of tasks or tests:
In case of fraudulent performance of exercises or tests, the provisions of the Regulation of evaluation of students' academic performance and grade review will apply.
General Criterion: Non-evaluable mandatory activities, Evaluable mandatory activities, Non-mandatory evaluable activities, Presentation criteria, and Exceptions for repeaters.
Attendance to all activities is MANDATORY and a REQUIREMENT to pass the subject, except for students with official dispensation. Attendance will be taken and absences can be justified.
Repeaters will have to repeat all the evaluation except CONTINUOUS EVALUATION 1 (Practice notebook/ Laboratory data and elaboration of answers). This grade will be kept for two courses.
Specific evaluation criteria.
Instrument: FINAL EXAM. Weight (65%): Test Part (15%) and Short Questions (50%).
Performance/Criteria: The exam will have a test part and another of short questions that will cover all aspects related to the content of the subject. To pass, all exam questions must be answered and a minimum score must be obtained in the test part (0.5/1.5 points) and in total (2.5/6.5 points).
Competencies Evaluated: CB 1-5 CG 1 CE 4,5,9,11,12,17 CT 1-3,6-7
Instrument: CONTINUOUS EVALUATION 1. Practice evaluation. Weight: 10%.
Performance/Criteria: Practice notebook/ Laboratory data and elaboration of answers in a logical and argued manner according to the practice context.
It will only be added to the final grade if the minimum specified for the exam has been obtained.
Competencies Evaluated: CB 1-5 CG 1 CE 4,5,9,11,12,17 CT 5-7
Instrument: CONTINUOUS EVALUATION 2. Weight: 25%.
Performance/Criteria: Seminars and autonomous and face-to-face works. Evaluated by the professor.
It will only be added to the final grade if the minimum specified for the exam has been obtained.
Competencies Evaluated: CB 1-5 CG 1 CE 4,5,9,11,12,17 CT 1-7
CLASSWORK Hours
Expository classes 34
Seminars 8
Laboratory 4
Tutorials 3
Exams 1
Total hours 50
STUDENT’S PERSONAL WORK Hours
Group or individual self-study 76
Programming, experimentation, exercises, conclusions or other computer/laboratory work 8
Recommended readings, library activities or similar. 11
Preparation and presentation of oral presentations, debates or similar. 5
Total hours 100
Personal acquisition of the basic knowledge required, in case of not having it.
Assistance to all face-to-face activities related to the teaching of the subject.
Monitoring and periodic reading of texts and other materials recommended by the teacher.
Use of tutorials to resolve the doubts that the student has in relation to the contents taught.
Finally, the student must focus his study on the understanding of the concepts taught and its possible application in the Health Sciences field, never limiting itself to the simple assimilation of information.
In cases of fraudulent performance of exercises or tests, the provisions of the Regulations for the evaluation of student academic performance and review of grades will apply.
Contributions to continuous assessment will be made electronically in all settings.
The direct non-contact communication channels with students in each scenario, in addition to the operational Virtual Classroom available to students and the institutional e-mail, may be virtual sessions through Teams.
Aurora Gomez Duran
- Department
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
- Area
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
- aurora.gomez [at] usc.es
- Category
- Researcher: Ramón y Cajal
André Pérez Potti
Coordinador/a- Department
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
- Area
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
- andre.perez [at] usc.es
- Category
- Researcher: Ramón y Cajal
Cristina De Jesus Sen
- Department
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
- Area
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
- cristina.dejesus [at] usc.es
- Category
- USC Pre-doctoral Contract
| Monday | |||
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| 10:00-11:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Spanish | Classroom 3 |
| Tuesday | |||
| 10:00-11:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Spanish | Classroom 3 |
| Wednesday | |||
| 10:00-11:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Spanish | Classroom 3 |
| Thursday | |||
| 11:00-12:00 | Grupo /CLIS_01 | Spanish | Classroom 3 |
| 12:00-13:00 | Grupo /CLIS_02 | Spanish | Classroom 3 |
| 01.08.2025 10:00-11:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Classroom 1 |
| 01.08.2025 10:00-11:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Classroom 2 |
| 06.26.2025 10:00-11:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Classroom 1 |
| 06.26.2025 10:00-11:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Classroom 2 |