Overview
This unit focuses on developing an understanding of how genomes are organised, how they function within the cell, how molecular medical treatments can be developed, ways in which we can manipulate genomes and utilise their components for a range of purposes including medical, agricultural, and commercial.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Prerequisites ZOOL11005 Foundation Animal Biology or BIOL11100 Functional Biology or BMSC11003 Introduction to Medical Sciences or BMSC11004 Introduction to Biochemistry or BMSC11005 Foundations of Biochemistry or BMED19010 Macromolecules and Cell Function
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 1 - 2018
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of 'pass' in order to pass the unit. If any 'pass/fail' tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully ('pass' grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the 'assessment task' section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University's Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback - Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from Unit Evaluations
The main theme was that students enjoyed the Unit, particularly in having all the learning materials available from Week 1, and that the Residential School was enjoyable and well organised.
Continue the good work including regular updates to materials.
Feedback from Unit Evaluations
The only possible theme for consideration for improvement was from two students who commented they would like some non-graded revision quizzes included.
The inclusion of some non-graded quizzes in the Unit could be considered for next year.
- Demonstrate a clear understanding of the structure, organisation, utility and isolation of nucleic acids
- Demonstrate a clear understanding of the principles of gene cloning and sequencing
- Accurately review and evaluate the strategies associated with the transformation of micro-organisms, plants and animals
- Demonstrate safe and efficient laboratory skills in molecular biology
- Demonstrate knowledge on the applications of molecular biology skills to medical molecular biology
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
1 - Written Assessment - 20% | |||||
2 - Practical and Written Assessment - 20% | |||||
3 - Examination - 60% |
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
1 - Communication | |||||
2 - Problem Solving | |||||
3 - Critical Thinking | |||||
4 - Information Literacy | |||||
5 - Team Work | |||||
6 - Information Technology Competence | |||||
7 - Cross Cultural Competence | |||||
8 - Ethical practice | |||||
9 - Social Innovation | |||||
10 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures |
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
Assessment Tasks | Graduate Attributes | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | |
1 - Written Assessment - 20% | ||||||||||
2 - Practical and Written Assessment - 20% | ||||||||||
3 - Examination - 60% |
Textbooks
Fundamental Molecular Biology
Edition: 2nd (2012)
Authors: Allison LA
Wiley
Hoboken Hoboken , NJ , USA
ISBN: 9781118059814
Binding: Hardcover
Additional Textbook Information
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Harvard (author-date)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
p.strappe@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Introduction to molecular biology (Ch1, p1-15)
Chapter
Online slides & text as indicated
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
DNA structure (Ch2 p17-31); replication (Ch6 p121-123); PCR (Ch8 p205-206; Ch9 p245)
Chapter
Online slides & text as indicated
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
RNA (Ch3 p39-45) transcription/translation (Fig 11.2 p294)
Chapter
Online slides & text as indicated
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Genome organisation (Ch 5 p91-108)
Chapter
Online slides & text as indicated
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Nucleotide isolation & characterisation, electrophoresis (Ch 8 p215-216)
Chapter
Online slides & text as indicated
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Sequencing DNA (Chap 8 p220-223)
Chapter
Online slides & text as indicated
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Molecular cloning of DNA (Ch8 p190-199)
Chapter
Online slides and text as indicated
Events and Submissions/Topic
Residential School (26th-28th April),
If this residential school clashes with another subjects residential school, a second identical BIOL12106 Res School will be available in week 10 (17th-19th May)
Module/Topic
Genetically modified organisms (Ch15 p479-509)
Chapter
Online slides and text as indicated
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Gene therapies (Ch17 p566-579)
Chapter
Online slides and text as indicated
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
High throughput analyses (Ch 16 p529-533)
Chapter
Online slides and text as indicated
Events and Submissions/Topic
Residential School (17th-19th May)
Identical residential school to week 7 and available to students who cannot attend the Week 7 school
Module/Topic
Epigenetics (Ch 12 Summary, P398-400)
Chapter
Online slides and text as indicated
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Human Microbiome Project
Chapter
Online slides and web searches.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Attendance at only ONE Residential School is compulsory
A choice of 2 residential school dates are offered either in Week 7 (26th to 28th April) or Week 10 (17th-19th May) to facilitate students who may experience a clash in Residential schools for other subjects
1 Written Assessment
Gene Therapy seems to be an important area in modern medical research. Choose one clinical area of gene therapy research for your essay and undertake literature searches for information on the developments, status and challenges on your chosen topic. If you wish you may compare the gene therapy approaches with other treatment modalities.
You may either cover a broad area in a category (e.g. gene therapy research for cancers) or be more specific in your approach (e.g. gene therapy research for a specific type of cancer).
Using secondary (review articles, text books) and at least five recent (last 10 years) primary literature articles, investigate and report on this topic.
Length 1000-1500 words (not including reference list ) 12 point, 1 1/2 line spacing.
Week 8 Friday (4 May 2018) 12:00 am AEST
Week 10 Friday (18 May 2018)
Assessment criteria
Title: Write a descriptive, scientific title for the essay. Try and give your work a title that is appropriate to what your final work represents. (1 mark)
Introduction: A one paragraph lead-in to immediately capture attention and indicate the material you will cover. (2 marks)
Discussion: Thorough review of literature on your topic area written in your own words. Logically organised. (10 marks)
Conclusions: In one paragraph summarise the status of the research you have reviewed in this area and any future research directions. (2 marks)
References: Cite and list all references referred to in your essay. Marks will be awarded for reference quality, citing within the report and listing references correctly at the end of the report. (2 marks)
Spelling, Grammar, Style: Accuracy. (3 marks)
- Demonstrate knowledge on the applications of molecular biology skills to medical molecular biology
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
2 Practical and Written Assessment
Undertake and show Residential School experimental calculations, report experimental results and answer questions provided. Answers to be succinct. Students may submit one such report per pair (2) of students. Clearly label report with student names and student numbers.
Submit at the end of the Residential School.in either week 7 (28th April) or Week 10 (19th May)
Results will be posted on line following Residential School
Assessment will be based on the accuracy of calculations and correctness of answers to questions.
- Demonstrate a clear understanding of the structure, organisation, utility and isolation of nucleic acids
- Demonstrate safe and efficient laboratory skills in molecular biology
- Communication
- Critical Thinking
- Team Work
Examination
Calculator - non-programmable, no text retrieval, silent only
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.