Biotecnologia Marinha

The curricular unit (CU) is aimed at students who wish to acquire knowledge in ​​blue (marine) biotechnology through several approaches and concepts which are based on current knowledge and developments on the marine biodiversity and biotechnological applications from marine animals and plants.

The CU aims to provide students with knowledge on marine biodiversity and its biotechnological potential in several scientific areas (eg. pharmacology, biomedicine, environment). Students are expected to acquire knowledge about bioprospecting, animal culture methods and marine plants for extraction and identification of potential new products for biotechnological applications. It is intended that they acquire knowledge on some examples of several products developed from marine resources, and which are currently used in research and in industry. It is intended that they acquire knowledge of existing methodologies and techniques for the analysis and identification of compounds with biotechnological potential. It is intended that they gain practical experience in the identification of some marine species as well as in some techniques used in the analysis of compounds extracted from marine species. They are intended to gain knowledge on the EU strategy for blue biotechnology as well as the national and European strategy for the future development of this area.

It is expected that at the end of this CU students will have:

i) acquired competences on the theoretical principles inherent to blue biotechnology, including biodiversity and potential for the discovery and development of new compounds and products with biotechnological application.

ii) acquired competences on some methodologies and techniques currently used in the exploration, isolation and analysis of compounds extracted from marine resources

iii) acquired solid concepts regarding the processes of culture and some models currently existing and the issues of biosafety and ethics.

(iv) developing knowledge on the national and European strategy for blue biotechnology.

v) acquired the ability to analyze and integrate the results obtained in the practical sessions.