ECTS credits ECTS credits: 6
ECTS Hours Rules/Memories Student's work ECTS: 99 Hours of tutorials: 3 Expository Class: 24 Interactive Classroom: 24 Total: 150
Use languages Spanish, Galician
Type: Ordinary Degree Subject RD 1393/2007 - 822/2021
Departments: Botany
Areas: Botany
Center Higher Polytechnic Engineering School
Call: Second Semester
Teaching: With teaching
Enrolment: Enrollable | 1st year (Yes)
The main objective of the course is to provide students with an in-depth knowledge of key issues of animal and plant biology to be applied within the study of the forestry science.
Furthermore the course’s aim is to provide the ability to understand the function of cell, the basic unit of other courses.
Students shall develop the capacity to know, understand and use the principles of biodiversity.
The degree report includes the following contents for this subject:
Brief description of the main biomolecules. Structure and function of the cell and its organelles. Cell bioenergetics. Cell reproduction.
Evolution and classification of living beings. Main groups of organisms: general characteristics and biological cycles. Internal structure and external morphology of plants. Reproductive biology of plants.
These contents will be developed according to the following syllabus:
-Programme of lectures ( HP:24 h, HNP: 72 h)*.
(3h).THE BASIS OF LIFE.
Topic 1: The origin of life. Evolution.
Topic 2: Main biomolecules (Water, lucids and lipids. Proteins and nucleic acids).
(5h). THE CELL
Topic 3: Types of cells: bacterial cell, animal cell and plant cell.
Topic 4: The cell and its limits.
Topic 5: The intracellular medium and cytoplasmic organelles.
Topic 6: Cell reproduction.
Topic 7: Cellular energetics: metabolism, respiration and fermentation; photosynthesis (SEMINAR).
Topic 8: The genetic basis of life (SEMINAR).
(3h). LIVING BEINGS
Topic 9: The classification of living beings.
Topic 10: Main groups of organisms: general characteristics and biological cycles.
Topic 11: Algae and Fungi.
(7h). PLANTS: THEIR STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION (SEMINAR)
Topic 12: Plant histology.
Topic 13: Plant organography I. The root.
Topic 14: Plant organography II. The stem.
Topic 15: Plant organography III. The leaf.
(6h). PLANTS AND THEIR REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Topic 16: Seedless plants: Bryophytes and Pterydophytes.
Topic 17: The seed and germination.
Topic 18: Seed plants (I): Gymnosperms. Reproduction.
Topic 19: Seed plants (II): Angiosperms. Reproduction.
Interactive Class Programme (HP:24h, HNP:18h)
Programme Seminars (HP:4h, HNP:10h)
Seminars I (2h)
Seminars II (2h)
Laboratory practicals (HP:20h, HNP:8h)
Practice 1. - Use of the microscope. Unicellular organisms (2h).
Practice 2. - Cell division. Mitosis (2h)
Practice 3. - Cellular specialization / Membrane permeability (2h)
Practice 4. - Diversity I: Thallophytes (2h)
Practice 5. - Plant Histology I: Parenchyma. Collenchyma and Sclerenchyma (2h)
Practice 6. - Plant Histology II: Protective tissues. Conductive tissues (2h)
Practice 7. - Plant Organography I: Meristem and Root (2h)
Practice 8. - Plant organography II: Stem and Leaf (2h)
Practice 9. - Diversity II: Bryophytes and Pterydophytes (2h)
Practice 10. - Diversity III: Gymnosperms and Angiosperms (2h)
Classroom Tutorials (3h)
Tutorial 1: presentation of the subject (1h)
Tutorial 2: tutorials for the first mid-term exam (1h)
Tutorial 3: second mid-term exam tutorials (1h)
*HP= Classroom Hours, HNP= Non Classroom Hours
Basic bibliography
-Alberts, B.; Bray, D.; Hopkin, K.; A. Johnson. 2011. Introducción a la biología celular. 3ª edic. Ed. Panamericana.
-Curtis, H.; N. Sue Barnes. 2008. Biología. 7ª ed. Ed. Panamericana.
-Esau, K. 1987. Anatomía de las plantas con semilla. Ed. Hemisferio Sur.
-Raven, P. H.; R. F. Evert; S. E. Eichhorn. 1992. Biología de las plantas. 2 tomos. Reverté
-Sadava D.; D. M. Hillis; H. C. Heller; M. Berenbaum. 2014. Life: The science of Biology. 10ª edic. Ed. Panamericana.
Complementary bibliography
-Aira, Mª J., Vázquez, R.A. e Izco, J. Eds. 2014. Manual de prácticas de botánica: laboratorio y campo. Servizo de Publicacións e intercambio Científico. Santiago de Compostela.
-Campbell N.A.; L. A. Urry, M. L. Cain, S. A. Wasserman, P. V. Minorsky, e J. B. Reece. 2018. Biology : a global approach. 11ª ed. Global ed., New York: Pearson, cop.
-Freeman, S.; Quillin, K. Allison, L. 2013. Fundamentos de Biología. 5ª ed. Pearson Educación
-Nabors, M. W. 2006. Introducción a la Botánica. Pearson Educación. Madrid.
-Rodríguez, Mª C., P. De Sáa; R.A. Vázquez. 2004. Citología, Histología y Organografía Vegetal. In: Rodríguez, F. (Ed.). Galicia Naturaleza. Tomo XLI, Botánica I: 17-134. Hércules Ediciones, A Coruña.
-Taiz, L.; E. Zeiger 2010. Plant Physiology. 4ª ed. Sinauer.
Web-grafía (Botany: May 2025)
Curtis, H. & N. Sue Barnes. 2001. Biología. 6ª edic. Ed. Panamericana.
http://www.sbs.utexas.edu/mauseth/weblab/table_of_contents.htm
http://www.biologia.edu.ar/biodiversidad/index.htm
http://botit.botany.wisc.edu/Anatomy/Glossary/Anatomy-glossary.html#anc…
http://www.cas.muohio.edu/~meicenrd/mudescd/Dendrology/SCDRYGTH/1&2gwrt…
https://botweb.uwsp.edu/Anatomy/
(Other links can be found in the Blocks and in the topics posted in the Virtual Classroom and new links can be added throughout the teaching progress).
Further to the study of the subject the students shall have acquired and developed a set of compentences. Within the subjects prepared for this degree, the folowing competences shall be performed:
Basic competences:
CB2. Students shall be able to apply their knowledge to their work and vocation in a professional manner. Furthermore, students shall gain the competences usually shown in the field study through the preparation and defense of reasoning to solve any problems.
CB3. Students shall acquire the capacity to collect and interpret relevant data (usually within there are of study) in order to issue reflections and opinions that include relevant social, scientific and etic matters.
CB4. Students shall be able to communicate and express information, ideas and solutions to both a specialized and non- specialize public.
CB5 – Students are expected to develop those learning abilities to pursue further studies with a high degree of autonomy.
General competences:
CG1: Ability to understand the biological, chemical, physical basis, chemists, mathematicians basics and the representation systems which are needed for the professional performance, as well as to identify the different biotic and physical elements of the forest environment and to identify the renewable natural resources that might be subject to protection, conservation and exploitation in forestry.
CG3 –Understanding of the degradation processes that affect the systems and forest resources (pollution, pests and diseases, fires, etc.) and the ability to use the techniques of protecting the forest environment, forest hydrological restoration and conservation of the biodiversity.
CG5 - Understanding the basis of forestry improvement and the ability to put into practice such basis to the plant production and biotechnology.
CG11 - Ability to classify the anatomical and technological characteristics of the raw materials timber and non-timber, as well as the ability to understand the technologies and industries related to these raw materials.
CG14 - Ability to understand, interpret and make use of the scientific developments in forestry, to develop and transfer technology and to work in a multilingual and multidisciplinary.
Cross curricular competences:
Students shall develop and acquire the following abilities:
CT1. The ability to analysis and synthesis.
CT2. The ability to develop reasoning.
CT3. The ability to work individually with a self-critical attitude.
CT4. The ability to work as a team and face problematic situations within the team.
CT5. The ability to collect the adequate, diverse and up to date information and data.
CT6. The ability to prepare and present an organized and comprehensible writing.
CT7. The ability to speak in public in a clear, brief and consistent way.
CT8. The commitment to provide verified information.
CT9. The ability to handle information Technology and communication skills (TIC).
CT10. Use of bibliography data and internet.
CT11 - Use of foreign language information
CT12. The ability to solve problems through the acquired knowledge.
Specific competences:
CEFB8 - Understanding of the biological basics and grounds of the plant and animal in engineering.
Lectures: Participative master classes. The expository method will be used, supported by multimedia presentations, videos and links to web resources of interest. The teacher introduces the subject and the objectives to be achieved in the class, doubts are resolved, and the most important points are dealt with according to the teaching materials, available in the virtual classroom prior to the development of the class. At the end of each topic, a synthesis is made pointing out the most relevant points. Images and videos in English will be used.
Interactive classes:
1. Seminars (Classroom): Elaboration and presentation of the course work, in group (Forums): The professor will order the elaboration of course work to groups of 3 or 4 students and will monitor its elaboration through the forum established for this purpose in the virtual classroom. Each group will deliver to the teacher the written work (maximum 10 pages) and will make an oral presentation (Powerpoint or similar) in the classroom. The presentation will be a maximum of 10 minutes per group. At the end of the presentation, a debate will be opened in which both the teacher and the rest of the classmates will have to participate actively: they will be able to ask clarifying questions or comments to the speakers and will be able to participate in the evaluation of the presentation. This presentation and debate will take place during the 4 hours indicated in the timetable as "seminars". Like the rest of the programmed activities, the seminars are mandatory.
2. Practical laboratory classes: These will be carried out in eleven sessions in which students will experiment with common techniques in biology (electrophoresis, spectrophotometry, microscopy...), solve questions and elaborate the results obtained. Before each session, students will have to know the protocol of the practice previously provided by the teacher through the virtual classroom.
3. Tutorial classes, in small groups: During these classes, the teacher will reinforce content and ask questions aimed at determining the degree of understanding of the students up to that point. Students will also be able to ask questions, both to the teacher and to their classmates, to resolve any doubts that arise during the study of the programme.
Competences worked :
- Lectures: CT1, CT9, CT10, CT11, CT12, CX1, CX3, CX5, CX11, CX14, CB5, CEFB8.
- Seminars: CB2, CB3, CB4, CT1, CT2, CT3, CT4, CT5, CT6, CT7, CT8, CT9, CT10, CT11, CEFB8
- Practicals: CX, CX11, CT1, CT2, CT3, CT12, CEFB8
- Group tutorials: CT1, CT2, CT3, CT4, CT5, CT6, CT8, CT11, CEFB8
- Individual tutorials: CT1, CT2, CT3, CEFB8
"For cases of fraudulent performance of exercises or tests, the "Regulations on the assessment of students' academic performance and review of qualifications" shall apply.
Continuous assessment of the subject is proposed in accordance with the following criteria:
The criteria to be used and the weighting of each assessed part are set out as follows:
- Written tests: 50%. Up to 2 written tests will be carried out on the contents covered. The marks of the parts passed will be kept for the final exams of the 1st and 2nd opportunity. These tests will assess the following competences: CB2, CB3, CB4, CB5, CX1, CX3, CX5, CX11, CX14, CT1, CT2, CT3, CT5, CT10, CT11, CT12, EFB8.
THE STUDENT MUST PASS THE PARTS INDEPENDENTLY, AND OBTAIN AN AVERAGE GRADE OF 5 POINTS TO PASS THE THEORETICAL PART OF THE COURSE.
- Practical work achievement: 25%. Active participation in the laboratory and results presented. The final qualifications may be kept for two consecutive years after they have been taken. These tests will assess the following competences: CB2, CB3, CB5, CX1, CX3, CX5, CX11, CX14, CT1, CT2, CT3, CT10, CT12, CEFB8.
THE STUDENT MUST PASS A MINIMUM OF 70% OF THE PRACTICALS IN ORDER TO PASS THE PRACTICAL PART OF THE COURSE.
- Seminar papers defended and handed in: 15%. Group and individual assessment, oral presentation and written work. The following competences will be assessed with these seminar papers: CB2, CB3, CB4, CB5, CX1, CX3, CX5, CX11, CX14, CT1, CT2, CT3, CT4, CT5, CT6, CT7, CT8, CT9, CT10, CT11, CT12, CEFB8.
- Student participation in activities: 10%. Attendance and subjective qualification of participation (web/laboratory/classroom), attitude,.... throughout all teaching processes, especially in tutorials and seminars. The following competences will be assessed: CT1, CT2, CT3, CEFB8.
Both in the first and in the second opportunity, a final theoretical-practical exam may be held for students who do not pass the continuous assessment There will be no possibility of a practical exam for those students who have not attended the majority of the practicals (60%). There will be no possibility of making up seminar work.
Repeating students will have a 50% exemption in the expository part of the subject and will be evaluated with the same criteria as first-time students.
ATTENDANCE DISPENSION: Students who have been granted an attendance dispensation by the Degree Committee according to the provisions of the Regulations for class attendance, will have partial attendance dispensation. This dispensation covers only the theoretical part, being indispensable the attendance to the interactive activities. These students will not be entitled to the partial exams of the subject and will be evaluated taking into account: 60% of the grade of the theoretical exam (of the first or second opportunity), 30% of the laboratory practice activity and 10% of the seminar work. There will not be the possibility of a practical exam for those students who do not attend most of the laboratory practicals (60%). There will be no possibility to recuperate the seminar work.
Note: On the Virtual Campus, students have the evaluation rubrics for internships, written assignments and oral presentations..
Study time
Classroom hours (HP)
Lectures: 24 hours
Interactive classes: 24 hours distributed in 20 hours of laboratory practices and 4 hours of seminars.
Tutorials: 3 hours
Assessment activities: 4 hours
Total face-to-face hours (THP): 55 hours
Personal work of the student (HNP: Non Presential Hours)
Hours of study of lectures: 72 hours
Hours of work in interactive laboratory classes: 8 hours for study prior to the practical classes.
Hours of interactive classroom work: 10 hours for the preparation of the course work.
Exam preparation hours: 5 hours
Total non-attendance hours (THNP): 95 hours
Total student work hours (HP +HNP)= 150 hours
- Attendance and participation in all scheduled activities.
- The students should consult every unit, previously to the theoretical or practical sessions, in the recommended manuals or protocols. Self-study everyday will facilitate to pass the assessment tests and exams.
- An active participation and implication in discussions raised in the lessons and lectures.
- Before evaluation you must consult the questions and/or questionnaires files at virtual classroom course.
The subject Biology contributes to but does not complete the acquisition of the basic and general competences indicated, a process in which several subjects of the degree intervene.
The approval of the program by the Botany department is limited to the contents of the area.
- It is mandatory to use the e-mail account, as well as the institutional technological tools.
- In relation to the group work to be carried out for the subject, the following indications of environmental responsibility will be taken into account:
- Preferably submit the work in pdf format through the corresponding Forum in the Virtual Campus.
In the case of having to present the work in written format:
- Avoid plastic covers or other unnecessary external packaging.
- Use staples whenever possible.
- Print on both sides in "ink saving" quality.
- Do not use blank sheets of paper as chapter or part dividers.
- Avoid annexes that have no direct reference to the topics developed.
Teresa Cornide Paz
- Department
- Botany
- Area
- Botany
- teresa.cornide [at] usc.es
- Category
- Professor: University School Lecturer
Joaquin Gimenez De Azcarate Cornide
- Department
- Botany
- Area
- Botany
- joaquin.gimenezdeazcarate [at] usc.es
- Category
- Professor: Temporary PhD professor
Ignacio Garcia Gonzalez
- Department
- Botany
- Area
- Botany
- ignacio.garcia [at] usc.es
- Category
- Professor: University Lecturer
Rosa Ana Vázquez Ruiz De Ocenda
Coordinador/a- Department
- Botany
- Area
- Botany
- Phone
- 982822466
- rosana.vazquez [at] usc.es
- Category
- Professor: University Lecturer