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.

Lessons 1-4 will be taught by the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Area, lessons 5-8 will be taught by the Plant Physiology Area.

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.

Practices 1-5 will be taught by the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Area, Practices 6-10 will be taught by the Plant Physiology Area.

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, topics from 1 to 4 lessons will be explained , and in the following 8 sessions, topics from 5 to 8 lessons will be taught.

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. Five Practices will be taught by the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Area and the other five sessions will be taught by the Plant Physiology Area.

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. Each area will be responsible of 1 seminar.

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 and the completion of the Practice Notebook are 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%.

It will be necessary to have a minimum calification of 5 points in the theorical exam in order to consider the califications obtained in the other activities carried out in the subject.

It will be necessary a minimum calification of 4 points in the different activities carried out in the subject, including the practical exam, in order to consider them to calculate the final calification of the subject.

If the course is not approved in the Ordinary I convocatory, partial califications (activities and/or practices) will be saved only for the Extraordinary II. If students don´t pass the exams, they may repeat all the aspects to be evaluated in the subject in the next year.

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.

Additionally, the attendance at least 90% of the lectures (theorical classes and seminars) will involve 0,5 additional points to the overall course calification, this requires having passed the subject.