Universidad de Jaén

Theory Program

1. Preparation of materials and reagents. General methods for processing biological samples. Safety in the laboratory.

2. Spectrophotometry. The spectrophotometer: General concepts. Absorption spectrum. Lambert-Beer law. Spectrofluorimetry. Applications.

3. Chromatography: General concepts. Chromatography types. Column chromatographies. Applications.

4. Electrophoresis: General concepts. Electrophoresis types: acrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) under native and denaturing conditions (SDS-PAGE), and agarose gel electrophoresis. Applications.

5. Cell culture. Necessary equipment. Culture media and optimization. pH control. Techniques for cell cultures. Contamination.

6. Plant culture under controlled conditions.In vitro culture of plants. Micropropagation. Organogenesis and embryogenesis. Hydroponics. Types. Substrates used.

7. Processing of samples for microscopic observation. Fixers. Microtomy and ultramicrotomy. Light and electron microscopy.

8. Tissue staining techniques and observation methods. Composition and types of dyes. Mechanisms of action. Types of staining. Stain for electron microscopy. Cytological methods. Special staining techniques.

Practice Program

1. Identification and handling of general material and equipment of laboratory. Preparation of reagents and buffers. pH determination.

2. Processing of biological samples. Homogenization and differential centrifugation.

3. Spectrophotometry. Absorption spectrum of a substance. relationship between concentration and absorbance.

4. Flat chromatography and gel filtration.

5. Agarose gel and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE).

6. Preparation of media for in vitro culture of plants I. Preparation of stock solutions. MS and DKW media.

7. Preparation of media for in vitro culture of plants II. Specific media for callus culture, embryo rescue and organogenesis in various plant tissues.

8. Growing in vitro cultured callus and vegetative micropropagation of mature embryos. Management of Neubauer chamber and cell counting technique.

9. Processing plant and animal tissue samples I. Live tissues: vital dyes and optical microscope observation.

10. Preparation of plant and animal tissue sections II. Fixation, embedding, microtomy, staining, assembly and microscope observation.

Seminar Program

Practical application of adquired knowledge to solving activities.

The course consists of 16 sessions of lectures in large group (1 our each). In the first 8 sessions will be explained topics from 1 to 4, and in the following 8 sessions will be taught topics from 5 to 8.

In addition, students must attend to 10 sessions of laboratory practices in small group (4 hours each). After each session, students must submit a questionnaire to the teacher where calculations and results obtained in the corresponding session will be collected.

And finally, 2 seminars (1 hour each) will be taught in the classroom in small group in order to solve activities related to the theoretical part of the course.

Students with special educational needs should contact the Student Attention Service (Servicio de Atención y Ayudas al Estudiante) in order to receive the appropriate academic support

Attendance to Laboratory classes is mandatory and indispensable to pass the course. The calification of the Practice Notebook will be a 10% of the overall rating of the subject and the practical exam will represent a 30%.

If the course is not approved in May, partial califications (activities and practices) will be saved only for the July and, when appropiate, until January exam. If students don´t pass the course in January, they may repeat all the aspects to be evaluated in the subject.

It´s forbidden handling of mobile phones during classes (theory, seminars and practices).

It´s forbidden video recordings or taking photos during classes (theory, seminars and practices).

Students must write accurately, legibly and without spelling mistakes.

Failure of any of the above conditions may lead to failing the course.

Attendance at least 90% of the lectures, will involve and additional 0,5 points to the overall course calification, this requires having passed the course.