The main objective of this course is to provide knowledge on the physicochemical fundamentals of life, which will help to understand how the human organism functions. In addition, students are expected to acquire an adequate basis that allows them to understand the different applications in diagnostic and therapeutic techniques. The course is focused on the application of the laws of physics to biological phenomena in order to understand physical mechanisms from the molecular, cellular and physiological point of view. Moreover, knowledge will be provided so that students understand, at a molecular level, the structure and function of main biomolecules, cell signalling mechanisms and main biophysical and biochemical analysis techniques.



This course is part of the Biomedicine Fundamentals module. The knowledge will be useful for subsequent courses such as:

-Human Physiology

-Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine

-Human Physiopathology

-Radiology and Radiological Protection

-Biomedical Image Processing

-Fundamentals of Biomedical Signal Processing

GENERAL COMPETENCIES

G003 Knowledge of basic and technological subjects, which enable students to learn new methods and theories, and provide versatility to adapt to new situations.

G004 Knowledge for the realization of measurements, calculations, assessments, appraisals, expert reports, studies, reports, task planning and other similar work.



TRANSVERSAL COMPETENCIES

T001 Ability to solve problems with initiative, decision making, creativity and critical reasoning, respecting the principles of universal accessibility and design for all people



SPECIFIC COMPETENCIES

M03FM03 Knowledge of the development of the general laws of Physics for their application to biomedical problems.

M03FM04 Knowledge of biochemistry and its methods of study, analysis of immediate principles and their metabolism.





LEARNING OUTCOMES

RAG3 The graduate will be able to describe the basic functioning of the human body at the cellular, histological, metabolic, physiological and anatomical levels, as well as the effect that the most relevant pathologies have on it.

RAG9 The graduate will be able to perform measurements, calculations, valuations, appraisals, surveys, studies, reports or similar work in the field of biomedical engineering.

RAG13 The graduate will be able to identify the problems and needs of the health sciences that can be solved with technological solutions.

RAT1 The graduate will be able to solve problems with initiative, decision making, creativity and critical reasoning.

BIOPHYSICS:

Topic 01. Membrane biophysics.

Topic 02. Cell excitability and muscle contraction.

Topic 03. Biomechanics of skeletal muscle.

Topic 04. Thermodynamics of biological processes.

Topic 05. Biophysics of cardiovascular system.

Topic 06. Biophysics of respiratory system.

Topic 07. Biophysics of acoustics.

Topic 08. Biophysics of vision.



BIOCHEMISTRY:

Topic 09. Structure and function of biomolecules: carbohydrates and lipids.

Topic 10. Structure and function of biomolecules: amino acids and proteins.

Topic 11. Enzyme kinetics and regulation.

Topic 12. Structure and function of biomolecules: nucleic acids.

Topic 13. Transmission and expression of genetic information.

Topic 14. Cell signalling.

Topic 15. Metabolism and metabolic pathways.

Topic 16. Biochemical techniques of biomolecule preparation, separation and analysis.

Several teaching methodologies will be used in this course that facilitate the learning process.



Lectures. Lecturers impart conceptual contents of the subject. Student participation is promoted.



Classroom practices. Students carry out activities related to the contents addressed in lectures in a participatory fashion, individually or in groups. The aim is to improve the understanding of theoretical-practical concepts.



Laboratory practices. Small student groups perform experimental work related to the contents addressed in lectures. The aim is to learn to use devices used in biomedicine and to interpret results from a biophysical and biochemical point of view.

• Continuous Assessment System
• Final Assessment System
• Tools and qualification percentages:
  • Written test to be taken (%): 60
  • Realization of Practical Work (exercises, cases or problems) (%): 40

A continuous assessment system is applied, in which part of the final mark is obtained by written assessment and part by reports handed in during the semester.



The final mark consists of four parts. In the Applied Biophysics block, written assessment of assimilated theoretical contents (30 %) and assessment of other learning activities (20 %). In the Applied Biochemistry block, written evaluation of assimilated theoretical contents (30 %) and assessment of other learning activities (20 %).



Written assessment of the assimilated theoretical contents is conducted with two tests. The first test is a mid-term exam and concerns the first block of the course (Applied Biophysics). The second test takes place within the official exam period and concerns the second block of the course (Applied Biochemistry).



Students must pass both exams in order to pass the course. In the event of passing one of them and failing the other, the official academic record will show the mark obtained in the exam that has been failed (in a scale of 10 points). The mark obtained in the exam that has been passed will be kept for the extraordinary assessment, in which the student will only have to sit the exam of the block they did not pass.



The design and weight of those tests will be in accordance with the objectives dealt with and the on-site and off-site hourly load of the different learning activities. The use of books, notes as well as telephonic, electronic, and computer or other devices by students is prohibited during the course of the assessment tests.

The other learning activities will be assessed by means of reports handed in practical activities.



Students promise to follow the behaviour guidelines regarding ethics and honesty in the academic activity set in the "Protocol on academic ethics and prevention of dishonest or fraudulent practice in assessment activities and academic papers of UPV/EHU". The protocol explains what behaviours are considered fraudulent and what kind of activities can lead to sanctions: https://www.ehu.eus/es/web/graduak/normativa/protocolo-etica-academica (in Spanish).



CONTINUOUS ASSESSMENT WAIVER. According to the current regulation (Section 8 of "Normativa reguladora de la evaluación del alumnado en las titulaciones oficiales de grado", BOPV, 13 March 2017: https://www.ehu.eus/es/web/estudiosdegrado-gradukoikasketak/ebaluaziorako-arautegia (in Spanish)), students have the right to be assessed by a final assessment system independently of whether or not they have participated in the continuous assessment system. To that end, students must present the continuous assessment waiver in writing to the teachers in charge of the course. The deadline to do so ends 9 weeks after the term begins, according to the academic calendar.



When assessed by a final assessment system, a written test will be used to evaluate both the theoretical part and the contents of laboratory and classroom practices.



REGULAR EXAMINATION WAIVER. Students must proceed according to the current regulation, section 12 of

"Normativa reguladora de la evaluación del alumnado en las titulaciones oficiales de grado", BOPV, 13 March 2017: https://www.ehu.eus/es/web/estudiosdegrado-gradukoikasketak/ebaluaziorako-arautegia (in Spanish).

According to the current regulation (Section 8 of "Normativa reguladora de la evaluación del alumnado en las titulaciones oficiales de grado", BOPV, 13 March 2017: https://www.ehu.eus/es/web/estudiosdegrado-gradukoikasketak/ebaluaziorako-arautegia (in Spanish)), the assessment of the course in the extraordinary examination period will be performed exclusively by a final assessment system.



If students have followed the continuous assessment system and they have passed the practical activities, marks obtained in the practical activities will be kept and exam they will only have, in the exam, to sit the block or blocks of the theoretical part they have not passed (Applied Biophysics, Applied Biochemistry or both). Just as in the ordinary evaluation period, in the event of passing one of them and failing the other, the official academic record will show the mark obtained in the exam that has been failed (in a scale of 10 points).



Students can waive the keeping of the marks of the parts they have passed. That would mean submitting the evaluation of the 100 % of the course to the final assessment system described below. For this, students must present a request in writing to the teachers in charge of the course with a minimum anticipation of 15 days before the exam.



If students have followed the final assessment system, in this evaluation a written test will be used to evaluate the theoretical part and the contents of laboratory and classroom practices. The design of the tests and the relative weighs will be similar to those of the ordinary examination period.



EXTRAORDINARY EXAMINATION WAIVER. According to the current regulation (Section 12 of "Normativa reguladora de la evaluación del alumnado en las titulaciones oficiales de grado", BOPV, 13 March 2017: https://www.ehu.eus/es/web/estudiosdegrado-gradukoikasketak/ebaluaziorako-arautegia (in Spanish)), being absent at the final exam, scheduled at the official exam calendar, will be considered an automatic waiver. Waiving extraordinary examination entails getting a "Not Presented" grade.

There are not any.

Basic bibliography

-Cussó F, López C y Villar R. Física de los procesos biológicos. 1ª ed. Editorial Ariel. 2004.

-Villar R, López C y Cussó F. Fundamentos físicos de los procesos biológicos. Volumen 2 y 3. 1ª ed. Editorial ECU. 2013

-Frumento AS. Biofísica. 3ª ed. Editorial Mosby/Doyma Libros. 1995

-Silverthorn DU. Fisiología Humana Integrada. 6. Ed. Panamericana, 2014.

-Feduchi E, Blasco I, Romero CS, Yáñez E. Bioquímica. Conceptos esenciales. 2. Ed Editorial médica Panamericana. 2015.

-Herrera E, Ramos MP, Roca P, Viana M. Bioquímica Básica, Elsevier, 2014.

-Wilson and Walker's Principles and Techniques of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 8th Edition, Cambridge Univ. Press, 2018.

In-depth bibliography

-Guyton A, Hall JE. Tratado de Fisiología Médica. 13. Ed. Elsevier, 2016.
-Devlin T.M. Bioquímica, 4ª ed., Ed. Reverté, 2004.
-Nelson D.L., Cox M.M. Principios de Bioquímica de Lehninger, 7ª ed., Omega, 2018.
-Salway J.G. Metabolism at a glance, 3. Ed., Wiley-Blackwell, 2004.