Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia
Departamento de Ciências da Vida
Teacher in charge
Álvaro Luís Afonso Moreira Rato de Fonseca, Isabel Maria Godinho de Sá Nogueira
- Lectures: To comprehend the extent and relevance of microbial diversity in the broader context of biodiversity. To discover and study the different levels of microbial diversity: molecular, structural, morpho-physiological, metabolic, phylogenetic and ecological. To be able to integrate the different microbiological concepts and features studied into an all-embracing view of microbial biology.
- Lab sessions: To learn the basic laboratory techniques of microbiology: optical microscopy; microbial culture and aseptic technique; isolation of microorganisms.
Lectures: Unity and diversity of life on Earth; major groups of microorganisms and their importance. Microbial cell structure; prokaryotes: eubacteria and archaebacteria; comparison with microbial eukaryotes. Microbial nutrition and metabolism: diversity of biosynthetic (C & N) and bioenergetic processes and their classification; consequences of microbial metabolism. Classification and evolution of cellular organisms: historical perspective; current classification systems; molecular phylogenies; origin of the eukaryotic cell. Introductory Mycology: fungal classification; overview of morphological, physiological and metabolic characteristics; ecological and biotechnological impact of fungi. Introductory Bacteriology: bacterial taxonomy and major phylogenetic lineages of eubacteria and archaebacteria; overview of morphological, physiological and metabolic characteristics; ecological, clinical and biotechnological impact of bacteria.
Lab sessions: Basic microbiological techniques: preparation of culture media; sterilization; aseptic technique. Introduction to laboratory culture of microorganisms. Light microscopy: eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells. Microscopical examination of environmental samples (soil/water). Basic methods for the isolation of microorganisms: isolation of endospore-forming bacteria (Bacillus) from soil; isolation of yeasts from fermenting fruit.
- Lecture handouts and other learning support items posted in the course Moodle webpage.
- A. Madeira-Lopes & Á. Fonseca, “Biologia Microbiana”, nº 94, Univ. Aberta, 1996.
- M.T. Madigan et al., “Brock Biology of Microorganisms”, 10th ed., Prentice Hall, 2003.
- J.J. Perry et al., “Microbial Life”, Sinauer Assoc. Publ., 2002.
Teaching strategy involves 1.5 hour lectures and 3 hour lab sessions.
Lectures (50% of final grade): Final exam.
Lab sessions (50% of final grade): Lab tests and evaluation of student performance by lab teaching assistants. Attending of at least 2/3 of the lab sessions is compulsory.