4000

This course focuses on two objectives: 1. Knowledge of the mechanisms that regulate the replication of high and low number of copy plasmids, by RNA-type implied molecules and regulating proteins in function of the gene dosage.  2. The regulation of gene expression and transcriptional regulation of plasmid catabolics of environmental interest in the degradation of highly toxic products, such as aromatic compounds and heavy metals.

The course explains the basic biology of bacteriophages and the relation with their hosts and other organisms. Developed through the combination of classes, article presentation and laboratory activities. During this course, lifecycles of the lytic cycle phages (T4), lysogenic (Lambda), ssDNA phages (M13 y phiX174) and RNA phages are studied, the distribution and importance of phages in ecosystems is also reviewed and discussed, as well as their utilization in phagotherapy, their impact in the bacterial pathogenicity (lysogenic conversion), bacteriophages genomic, among others. Lytic bacteriophages are isolated and purified in the lab practices, based on samples full of organic matter, and their genetic material is isolated and classified.

The methodology of this course is totally dynamic and is addressed to students with a particular interest in biochemistry and molecular biology. Through oral presentations, students discuss current issues in these areas, in order to build research and evaluation criteria applied to the their professional future.

This course covers molecular factors that define the development of a plant disease. It covers the subject from the perspective of the different pathogens (bacteria, fungus, nematodes and virus) and the strategies used to cause a disease and to disseminate it. Then, it addresses the subject from the plant perspective with the defense mechanisms it uses to limit diseases. During this course, classic scientific studies related to molecular phytopatholoty, as well as the use of genomic and bioinformatics to study the plant-micro-organism interaction. At the end of the course, the student must be trained to integrate the different processes individually studied during the semester, and must be able to explain why a plant suffers a biotic disease and why most of the plants are resistant to most pathogens.  

This course covers new topics related to protein bio-chemistry research.  It begins by clarifying basic enzymatic kinetics concepts to further concentrate in the latest theories on the origin of the catalytic power of enzymes. Then, students are introduced to the techniques used to purify proteins and the techniques used are discussed to determine protein structures.  The student will learn to use computer tools to represent bio-molecule structures. Lastly, topics like artificial protein design and structural protein characteristics isolated from organisms that live in extreme environments are addressed.

The course on Topics in Molecular Microbiology and Biomedical Sciences presents the lines of research related to microbiology developed in the department of Biological Sciences, it is organized in modules under the direction of professors who in each of the areas, which are developed in a conference and discussion (first class), and a reinforcement activity (laboratory, workshop, discussion of literature). The course, apart from teaching the active research areas, it develops in students reading and critical discussion skills of scientific papers and promotes discussion around concepts and research topics in adjacent areas of study.

Understand the logic underlying the different statistical approaches to the problem of recognizing patterns in characteristics and biological processes. Develop a logic procedure to suggest research design strategies to allow facing a scientific question. Familiarize with the use of software and other techniques particularly useful to analyze research results in biological sciences. Address use limitations and interpretation of graphic and statistic analyses.

This course further reviews paradigms and study techniques of evolution of plants, based on the review of recent literature and complemented with a practical research in Systematic Botany. It replaces MBIO 4301

The purpose is to gain conceptual knowledge about the topics dwelled on by frontier research around ecology and evolution of organisms, promoting discussions on the relation between methodological approaches, theories and scientific knowledge, developing skills and critical discussion of scientific papers, offering an overview of the research programs in evolution ecology of the Department Biological Sciences.  

It discusses one of the most controversial issues in animal phylogeny in the past and present days, namely the origin and evolution of arthropods, in the light of new proposals of molecular phylogeny and the evo-devo, therefore, this course dwells on this area of arthropods based on the vast literature and the fossil records, starting with trilobites, chelicerata and crustaceans, with an emphasis on the study of phylogeny of basal winged insects, such as "Paleoptera". Based on this, students will develop a research project on the groups of arthropods that they select as object of their study.

This course offers the opportunities to carry out guided reading aimed at concentration in the area of research selected by students. The process is carried out under the guidance of the thesis director, although the topics and rating means must be previously approved by the Graduate Coordination. Likewise, once a week, students meet with the course coordinator to present the thesis progress or to conduct a presentation related to their research team. This seminar is open for any member of the Science Faculty. The course is especially recommended for those graduate students who were not able to adequately schedule the two compulsory courses of their main area within their schedule.

Under the tutorship of a thesis committee, students prepare a written proposal which serves as the basis to develop their graduation work in a specific biology area. Such proposal must include justification and work objectives, bibliography revision, procedures needed to obtain data and activity schedule. Refer to the special regulation.

Under the tutorship of a thesis committee, students conduct a scientific work based on their project. The scope of such work must be descriptive, comparative, classifying or experimental. Work results must be written when presented (thesis), based on the norms established, and must lead to a public presentation. Refer to the special regulation.

Under the tutorship of a thesis committee, students conduct a scientific work based on their project. The scope of such work must be descriptive, comparative, classifying or experimental. Work results must be written when presented (thesis), based on the norms established, and must lead to a public presentation. Refer to the special regulation. This subject ends with the public justification of the work carried out.