Integrated Project IV

Objectives

This subject belongs to a series of subjects, Integrated Projects I-VI, of the undergraduate program in Biomedicine which culminate each semester from the first to third year. The common objective of this set of subjects is to work at a practical level on the knowledge that students have acquired in other subjects during the semester, while facilitating the acquisition of skills related to biomedical research. The teaching methodology is problem- or project-based learning.

Specifically, Integrated Project IV is a research workshop related to the subjects of Omics Data and Bioinformatics I and Cell Signaling and Gene Regulation.

Learning outcomes

• RA1. Use specialised information sources in science and technology in English.
• RA2. Manages databases and applies advanced statistical methods to analyse these data.
• RA3. Demonstrate comprehension of spoken and written scientific English.
• RA4. Recognise and apply the main guidelines for structuring presentations, projects and publications in scientific communication.
• RA5. Resolve problems and situations relevant to professional practice in an innovative and entrepreneurial manner.
• RA6. Design interventions to meet the needs of the area in a multidisciplinary way.
• RA7. Critically reflect on processes related to professional practice.
• RA8. Use appropriate spoken language (verbal and non-verbal) to communicate in personal and professional situations in Catalan, Spanish and English.
• RA9. Apply strategies to promote gender equality and justice in the workplace.
• RA10. Prepare reports and written documents (mainly of a technical nature) with correct spelling and grammar in Catalan, Spanish and English.

Competencies

General skills

• Show a positive attitude to innovating, creating value and integrating scientific knowledge and improving one's own training.

Specific skills

• Analyse biomedical data and biological sequences through the use of statistics and computation.
• Be able to critically interpret the results and conclusions of scientific studies.
• Formulate hypotheses and design experiments in the field of biomedical research.
• Have technical skill in a research laboratory for working on cell and tissue samples, and with experimental animals.
• Recognise the applicability of genetic engineering methods and omics technology in preclinical and clinical research.

Basic skills

• Students can apply their knowledge to their work or vocation in a professional manner and have competencies typically demonstrated through drafting and defending arguments and solving problems in their field of study.
• Students can communicate information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialists and non-specialists.
• Students have developed the learning skills necessary to undertake further studies with a high degree of independent learning.

Core skills

• Develop strategies for promoting gender equality and equity for all.
• Exercise active citizenship and individual responsibility with a commitment to democratic values and sustainable development.
• Interact in international contexts to transfer knowledge to current and emerging fields of professional development and research.
• Reflect critically on knowledge of all kinds, with a commitment to professional rigour and quality.

Content

• Compare and analyze a DNA sequence
• Identification and characterization of a gene within the DNA sequence and its main important parts
• Identification and function of the encoded protein
• Metabolic routes or cell signaling pathways in which this protein participates
• Relationship with disease
  • Gene expression
  • Protein expression
  • Epidemiological analysis
  • Therapeutic implications

Evaluation

You will be assessed in the following way:

• Online tests: 30%
• In class exercise: 10%
• Scientific presentation: 25%
• Scientific article: 25%
• Active participation: 10% (participation, attitude, attendance)

Attendance is compulsory. Absences are not allowed, but it is possible to miss 1 or 2 sessions for justified reasons. More than 2 unexcused absences mean failing the whole course.

Excused absences do not exclude students from doing the work derived from the session they did not attend.

Excused absences allowed are:

• Hospital admission
• Court summons
• Death of a family member of 1st or 2nd degree of consanguinity or affinity
• Medically diagnosed illness that makes it impossible to attend the session
• Attendance at a scheduled visit to the hospital, which cannot be postponed and which involves diagnosis, follow-up and/or medical treatment

In case of a justified absence

• If it is not possible to make up the class, the student must do a work (proposed by the teacher) that allows him/her to recover, totally or partially, the content of the session he/she has missed. The elaboration of this work is compulsory and the non-presentation of the work implies a penalty equivalent to the reduction of 5% of the final grade of the course.

In the case of unexcused absence

• It is not possible to recover the class and a penalty equivalent to the reduction of 10% of the final grade of the course for each session to which it is missed (therefore, one absence supposes a reduction of 10% of the final grade and two, one of 20%).
• Absence from 3 or more sessions means failing the course.
• The student can do a recommended work to recover, totally or partially, the content of the session to which he/she has missed, but it is not obligatory. If the student makes up the work satisfactorily, he/she can recover 5% of the penalty imposed for the absence.

Methodology

The course is based on problem-based learning (PBL) methodology, which involves both individual and group work in response to a challenge, analysing the data related to it and being able to propose a feasible solution.

Bibliography

Reading

Teachers will provide complementary bibliography and compulsory reading throughout the course via the Virtual Campus.