Paper short abstract:

Mummification was developed in Ancient Egypt to preserve the body. Being introduced in the practical classes of Cellular Biology of the course of Biological Sciences at Federal University of Paraiba (UFPB), it aims aiming at promoting innovations in the Teaching-Learning Process of that field of knowledge

Paper long abstract:

Artificial mummification is a procedure that involves several stages, having, in its accomplishment, an important religious aspect. After washing the body, the intestines, stomach, liver, lungs and heart were, in this order, removed from the corpse by means of the perpendicular incision to the ribs on the left side of the abdomen. They were then treated with natron, a complex mixture of various sodium salts, such as sodium chloride, cooking salt (NaCl), sodium carbonate (Na2CO3), sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) and sodium sulfate (Na2SO4). As we know today, the sodium chloride dehydrates as well as prevents the occurrence of certain biochemical reactions that hinder the decomposition of the spoils, characterizing what we, now, call fixation, which is a stage for the preservation of cells and tissues. Depending on the historical period, the heart was placed in its place of origin and the other organs were kept in canopic jars, which represented the four sons of the god Horus: Imsety (liver), Hapi (lungs), Duamutef (stomach) and Qebehsenuef (intestines). In the undergraduate Licentiate course in Biology at the UFPB, we have used mummification as an innovative procedure to arise the debates related to Law 10.639 / 2003, with the purpose of discussing race relations in Brazil, from the Cell Biology classes. Therefore, the students are trained to perform mummification by successfully replacing the natron with a mixture of 3 cooking salt parts and a portion of sodium bicarbonate. The analyses allow an interdisciplinary discussion among Biology, Chemistry and Religious teaching.