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Presentation
Presentation
The curricular unit Animal and Plant Cell Technology falls within the field of food and molecular biotechnology, addressing the manipulation of mammalian, plant, and algal cell cultures. Its scope ranges from the maintenance and characterization of eukaryotic cultures to their application in 3D models, toxicity assays, and the production of bioactive compounds. The course allows for the exploration of organoids, bioinks, and transwells in the modeling of biological barriers, with direct applications in the food industry. This training provides essential theoretical and practical skills for biotechnological innovation and employability in laboratory and industrial settings, being particularly relevant in preparing graduates to operate at the interface between cell culture and food technology.
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Class from course
Class from course
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Degree | Semesters | ECTS
Degree | Semesters | ECTS
Master Degree | Semestral | 5
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Year | Nature | Language
Year | Nature | Language
1 | Optional | Português
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Code
Code
ULHT7056-26714
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Prerequisites and corequisites
Prerequisites and corequisites
Not applicable
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Professional Internship
Professional Internship
Não
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Syllabus
Syllabus
1. Understanding the requirements for cell cultures: 1.1. Composition of culture media; 1.2. Required equipment; 2. Understanding 2D mammalian cell culture techniques: 2.1. Exploring different types of mammalian cell cultures; 2.2. In-depth understanding of the requirements for maintaining a mammalian cell culture; 3. Understanding plant cell culture techniques: 3.1. Exploring different types of plant cell and tissue cultures; 3.2. In-depth understanding of the requirements for maintaining a plant cell and tissue culture; 4. Understanding algae culture techniques: 4.1. Exploring different types of algae cultures; 4.2. In-depth understanding of the requirements for maintaining an algae culture; 5. Understanding 3D mammalian culture models, bioreactors, microchips, and organoids: 5.1. Development of 3D models and applications in food biotechnology; 5.2. Understanding the necessary steps for scaling up mammalian cell cultures and maintenance in an industrial environment.
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Objectives
Objectives
The curricular unit (CU) "Tecnologias de células animais e vegetais" (Animal and Plant Cell Technologies) aims to acquire knowledge in the manipulation of mammalian cells, plant cells, and algae. It covers the necessary precautions for their maintenance, propagation, and characterization, as well as their application in toxicology studies and the production of value-added products, exploring the methodologies in which these models are currently used in food biotechnology. By the end of this course, students should be able to: i) Understand the necessary steps for the establishment and maintenance of animal cell cultures. ii) Understand the necessary steps for the development of 3D models using animal cell cultures. iii) Understand the necessary steps for the establishment and maintenance of plant cell cultures. iv) Understand the necessary steps for the establishment and maintenance of algae cultures.
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Teaching methodologies
Teaching methodologies
This curricular unit provides essential knowledge and skills for handling eukaryotic cell cultures, including mammalian, plant, and algal cells. Students will learn methods for maintenance, propagation, and characterization of these cultures, along with good laboratory practices to ensure safety. Applications such as 3D models, toxicity assays, and production of bioactive compounds in food biotechnology are also covered. Emphasis is placed on the scale-up of cultures for industrial purposes, enabling students to plan and manage the transition from lab to production. These competencies support rapid integration into research or industrial settings and are aligned with current demands in food and molecular biotechnology.
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References
References
Amanda Capes-Davis, R. Ian Freshney .(2021).Culture of animal cells – a manual of basic technique and specialized applications, 8th edition. ; Wiley Blackwell. J.M. Davis.(2011). Animal cell culture - essential methods. Wiley-Blackwell. ISBN: 978-0-470-66658-6. G. Saha, A. Barua, S. Sinha. (2018). Bioreactors – animal cell culture control for bioprocess engineering.; CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group. M. Pavlovic, K. Radotic. (2017). Animal and plant stem cells – concepts, propagation and engineering. Springer. Loyola-Vargas VM, Ochoa-Alejo N. (2018). An Introduction to Plant Tissue Culture: Advances and Perspectives. Methods Mol Biol.1815:3-13. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4939-8594-4_1. PMID: 29981111.
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Assessment
Assessment
1. Avaliação contínua
A avaliação da UC será feita de uma forma continua, através da avaliação da componente teórica e da componente prática laboratorial.
A componente teórica representa 40% da classificação final. A sua avaliação é realizada através de duas frequências e de mini-quizzes em formato de jogo, realizados ao longo das aulas teóricas expositivas. A classificação desta componente resulta da ponderação de 40% para cada frequência e de 20% para a média dos mini-quizzes. Alterantivamente o aluno poderá optar pela realização de um teste global que terá uma ponderação de 100% da componente teórica. Para obter aprovação, o estudante deve obter uma nota mínima de 9,5 valores nesta componente.
A avaliação da componente prática, corresponde a 60% da avaliação final, que será baseada na elaboração de três relatórios e da apresentação de um protocolo tendo em vista a aplicação das culturas de células na tecnologia alimentar. Cada relatório terá uma cotação de 0 a 20 valores, sendo posteriormente realizada a média das notas obtidas e que terá uma ponderação de 25% (por relatório) na nota final da componente prática, onde 10% equivale à nota do relatório escrito e 15% equivale à discussão do relatório. Será também considerada para a avaliação da componente prática, a avaliação continua individual durante as aulas, com uma ponderação de 25% na nota final da componente prática, que terá em conta a motivação do aluno para o projeto, assim como a preparação, rigor, cuidado e capacidade de realizar o trabalho laboratorial proposto pelo docente. No caso de o aluno não obter a nota de aprovação mínima, equivalente a uma nota superior a 9,5 valores, poderá realizar um exame prático.
A nota final será calculada através da média ponderada: 40% (componente teórica) + 60% (componente prática). Esta média ponderada está assente no principal objetivo da UC, assente na aquisição do conhecimento na manipulação de culturas de células eucariotas.
2. Avaliação não contínua
O aluno poderá optar por um exame final.
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Mobility
Mobility
Yes
