Cell biology

- Be able to identify the structure and functions of the membrane, the mechanisms of cell transport and be able to explain the basic principles of cell communication.
- Know the structure and functions of the cell organelles.
- Be able to identify the cell cycle phases and know mechanisms of the cell division, determination, diferentation, senescence and cell death.
- Be able to use the optic microscope.
- Be able to identify animal and vegetal cells and their organelles.

THEORETICAL CLASS PROGRAM (28 h).
Introduction (1 h).
LECTURE 1.- Introduction. The Cell Theory. Cell Biology and its relationship with other disciplines.
LECTURE 2.- Cell evolution. Cells and tissues. Chemical components of cells.

The nucleus, genetic mechanisms and ribosomes (5 h).
LECTURE 3.- Nucleus. DNA. Chromatin and chromosomes. DNA replication, repair and recombination.
LECTURE 4.- From DNA to RNA: Transcription. Maturation and types of RNA.
LECTURE 5.- From RNA to protein: Translation. Genetic code. Transfer RNAs. Ribosomes.
LECUTRE 6. Control of gene expression. Regulation of translation. Folding, modification, regulation of the function and degradation of proteins.

Plasma membrane (2,5 h).
LECTURE 7.- Composition and structure of the plasma membrane. Transport across the plasma membrane.
LECTURE 8.- Vesicular transport.

Endomembranes (2,5 h).
LECTURE 9.- The endoplasmic reticulum.
LECTURE 10.- The Golgi apparatus.
LECTURE 11.- Lysosomes and vacuoles.

Energy conversion (4 h).
LECTURE 12.- Mitochondria.
LECTURE 13.- Plastids.
LECTURE 14.- Peroxisomes.

The cytosol (0.5 h)
LECTURE 15.- The cytosol.

The cytoskeleton and cell movement (3 h).
LECTURE 16.- The cytosol. The cytoskeleton. Microfilaments.
LECTURE 17.- Microtubules.
LECTURE 18.- Intermediate filaments.

The cell cycle and cell division (3.5 h).
LECTURE 19.- The eucaryotic cell cycle.
LECTURE 20.- Cell division.
LECTURE 21.- Meiosis.

Determination, differentiation and cell death (2 h).
LECTURE 22.- Cell determination and differentiation.
LECTURE 23.- Aging and cell death.

Cells in their social context (4 h).
LECTURE 24.- Cell signalling.
LECTURE 25.- Cell junctions. Extracellular matrix.
LECTURE 26.- Cell wall of plant.

PRACTICAL CLASS PROGRAM (8 h).
TASK 1.- Techniques applied to Cell Biology.
TASK 2.- Handling of the optical microscope. Cellular diversity.
TASK 3.- Observation of animal and plant cell organelles.
TASK 4.- Observation of cellular functions.

INTERACTIVE SEMINAR CLASSES (14 h).
The students must prepare the seminars proposed by the lecturers of the subject. In the seminars, students will delve into the subject and the relationship between cell biology and biotechnology.

MANDATORY TUTORSHIP (1 h).
In the tutorship, the course programming will be explained, recommendations will be given to organize and study the subject, and any doubts that the students may have in relation to it will be solved.

Basic bibliography
- Cooper, G. M. (2022). La célula. 8ª ed. Editorial Marbán, Madrid. ISBN: 9788418068584. Available online in English (not all content) at: https://learninglink.oup.com/access/cooper8e

Complementary bibliography
- Alberts, B; Hopkin, K.; Johnson, A.; Morgan, D.; Raff, M.; Roberts, K.; Walter, P. (2021). Introducción a la Biología Celular. 5ª ed. Editorial Médica Panamericana. ISBN: 9786078546442. Available online in the library's Iacobus search engine: https://www.usc.gal/gl/servizos/area/biblioteca-universitaria
- Alberts, B.; Johnson, A.; Lewis, J.; Morgan, D.; Raff, M.; Roberts, K.; Walter, P. (2016). Biología Molecular de la Célula. 6ª edición. Editorial Omega. ISBN: 9788428216388.
- Iwasa, J.; Marshall, W. (2019). Karp Biología celular y molecular: conceptos y experimentos. 8ª ed. MacGraw-Hill Interamericana. ISBN: 9781456269227. Available online in the library's Iacobus search engine: https://www.usc.gal/gl/servizos/area/biblioteca-universitaria

Tasks and techniques
- Montuenga, L.; Esteban, F.J.; Calvo, A. (2014). Técnicas en Histología y Biología Celular. 2ª ed. Editorial Elsevier Masson. ISBN: 9788445825204. Available online in the library's Iacobus search engine: https://www.usc.gal/gl/servizos/area/biblioteca-universitaria
- Ruíz, M. S., Rodicio, M.C., Corujo, A. (1985). Cuaderno de prácticas de citología e histología vegetal y animal. Santiago de Compostela. Servizo de Publicacións e Intercambio Científico da Universidade de Santiago de Compostela.
- Sepúlveda, J. (2014). Instructivo de laboratorio. Histología. Biología celular y tisular. 6º ed. McGraw-Hill. ISBN: 9786071511492. Accessible in the library's e-books: https://accessmedicina.mhmedical.com/book.aspx?bookID=1503
- Megías, M., Molist, P., Pombal, M.A. Técnicas histológicas. Atlas de histología vegetal y animal. Accessible in: https://mmegias.webs.uvigo.es/6-tecnicas/1-introduccion.php
- Megías, M., Molist, P., Pombal, M.A. Microscopio virtual. Atlas de histología vegetal y animal. Accessible in: https://mmegias.webs.uvigo.es/7-micro-virtual/virtual-todas.php

Knowledge/contents
- Con01: Know the most important concepts, methods and results of the different branches of Biotechnology.
- Con02: Have an integrated vision of the functioning of cells and organisms, including their biomolecules, metabolism, gene expression, relationship between cellular compartments, as well as perception, signaling and communication mechanisms.
- Con05: Know the molecular bases and techniques for manipulating genetic information in microorganisms, animals and plants and understand their applications in different biotechnological fields.

Skills
- H/D01: Think in an integrated way and approach problems from different perspectives with critical reasoning.
- H/D02: Search, process, analyze/interpret and synthesize relevant information and results from various sources and obtain conclusions on topics related to Biotechnology.
- H/D03: Organize and plan your work.
- H/D04: Interpret experimental results and identify consistent and inconsistent elements.
- H/D05: Work as a team.
- H/D06: Maintain an ethical commitment, as well as a commitment to equality and integration.
- H/D07: Initiative, entrepreneurial spirit and adaptation to new situations (resilience).
- H/D09: Know how to identify the different types of viruses, microorganisms and animal and plant tissues with application in the field of Biotechnology.
- H/D10: Know how to analyze data and interpret experimental results typical of the fields of Biotechnology.
- H/D12: Know how to apply instrumental techniques and work protocols in a laboratory, applying regulations and techniques related to safety and hygiene, waste management and quality.
- H/D13: Know how to obtain and interpret information from the main databases (biological, omics, bibliographic) and use bioinformatics tools.

Competences
- Comp01: That students have the ability to gather and interpret relevant data (normally within their area of study) to make judgments that include reflection on relevant topics of a social, scientific or ethical nature.
- Comp02: That students are able, both in writing and orally, to debate and transmit information, ideas, problems and solutions related to Biotechnology to both a specialized and non-specialized/general audience.
- Comp03: That students have developed those learning skills necessary to undertake further studies with a high degree of autonomy.
- Comp04: That students know how to apply the theoretical-practical knowledge acquired in the degree in a professional manner and are competent in posing/solving problems, as well as in the elaboration/defense of arguments in both academic and professional contexts related to innovation and the biotechnology industry.
- Comp05: Study and learn autonomously, with organization of time and resources, new knowledge and techniques in Biotechnology and acquire the ability to work as a team.
- Comp08: Clearly appreciate the ethical, social, economic and environmental implications of the professional activity to be carried out, as well as know and apply biotechnological risk assessment criteria.

- Mandatory master lectures.
- Mandatory interactive seminar classes (seminar, presentation in class).
- Mandatory laboratory tasks.
- Mandatory tutorship.

- Students must pass an exam that will represent 70% of the final grade. If the schedule permits it, there will be a midterm exam that if it is passed, eliminates contents of the official tests established in each academic year. The grade will be an average of the exams passed. Passing grade is 5 out of 10.
- Attendance at interactive seminar classes is mandatory, and it is necessary to attend at least 86% of them.
- Students must carry out the activities proposed in the seminars. Mandatory seminars will represent 20% of the final grade
- Attendance at laboratory tasks is mandatory.
- Students must take a laboratory task exam that will represent 10% of the final grade.
- Once the lecture exam is passed, the qualifications obtained in seminars and tasks will be added.
- Repeat students who have completed the seminars and/or laboratory tasks in previous courses will not have to attend and do them again. The grades obtained are kept.

The assessment tools mentioned above will be used to assess the following competencies:
- Exam of contents explained in lectures: Con01, Con02, Con05, H/D01, H/D03, H/D06, H/D07, H/D13, Comp01, Comp03, Comp04, Comp05, Comp08.
- Seminars: Con01, Con02, Con05, H/D01, H/D02, H/D03, H/D05, H/D06, H/D07, H/D10, H/D13, Comp01, Comp02, Comp03, Comp04, Comp05 , Comp08.
- Tutorship and practices: Con01, Con02, Con05, H/D01, H/D03, H/D04, H/D06, H/D07, H/D09, H/D10, H/D12, Comp01, Comp03, Comp05, Comp08.

- Theory: 28 hours of attendance at lectures and 56 hours of personal work.
- Seminars: 14 hours of attendance and 35 hours of personal work.
- Laboratory tasks: 8 hours of attendance and 5 hours of personal work.
- Mandatory tutorship: 1 hour classwork.
- Taking exams: 3 hours.
- Total hours of classwork: 54 hours.
- Total hours of personal work: 96 hours.
- Total time dedicated to the subject: 150 hours.

- Attendance and active participation in class.
- It is advisible to study and revise every day the information provided in lectures, seminars and practicals, using the bibliographic material suggested by the lecturers.
- Study and weekly revision of information received during all week.
- Review of the seminars to carry out the tests.
- Clarifying doubts consulting the lecturers.
- For the final exam revise all the information received during theoretical sessions.

This subject will have a virtual classroom on the Moodle platform available to students.

In cases of fraudulent completion of exercises or tests, the "Regulations for the evaluation of the academic performance of students and the review of grades" will be applied.