Overview
Molecular and cellular pathology involves the study of disease processes at the molecular level and allows diagnosis of disease through the detection of genetic mutations, dysregulated gene expression and non functional or cytotoxic proteins. In this unit, you will understand the role of cellular genetic material and associated genetic rearrangements and mutations. You will explore the application of molecular techniques, such polymerase chain reaction and next generation sequencing, and their revolutionary impact on diagnostic testing.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Prerequisite: BIOL12106 Molecular Biology
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 2 - 2021
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
Students expressed a preference for a consistent background for the PowerPoint lecture slides.
Teaching staff to implement only one background on slides to provide consistency.
Feedback from Unit Evaluations
Students found the group task challenging.
Unit Coordinator to consult with other UCs who have written group tasks and provide more guidance into completing group task to maximise students' learning experience.
Feedback from Unit Evaluations and self reflection
Students requested formative H5P image quizzes to help students recognise molecules and cells.
Unit Coordinator to write H5P quizzes for weekly topics.
Feedback from Unit Evaluations and self reflection
Students appreciated the content and the organisation of the unit.
Ensure students continue to receive weekly updates and assessment feedback is given promptly.
- Describe the molecular basis of disease, in terms of gene mutations or rearrangements, and their detection
- Describe the relationship of disease to epigenetic modification of the genome
- Explain the process of identifying genetic changes and their significance
- Explain the use of molecular pathology in disease diagnosis and / or prevention and treatment, including the development of personalised medicines.
The learning outcomes achieved are linked to the objectives of the accrediting body, Australian Institute of Medical Scientists (AIMS).
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| 1 - Group Work - 40% | ||||
| 2 - Online Test - 60% | ||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| 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 - Group Work - 40% | ||||||||||
| 2 - Online Test - 60% | ||||||||||
Textbooks
Molecular Pathology: The Molecular Basis of Human Disease
Second Edition (2017)
Authors: Coleman, W. & Tsongalis, G.
Academic Press
ISBN: 9780128027615
Binding: Hardcover
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
- MS Teams
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing styles below:
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
i.christiansen@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Revision of molecular pathology
Understanding of human molecular genetics
Chapter
1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
'Omics' technologies supporting molecular diagnosis
Pathology and pathogenesis
Chapter
6, 7, 8, 9
10, 11, 12, 13
Events and Submissions/Topic
Tutorial (Week 1 material)
Module/Topic
Epigenetics and human disease
Chapter
6, 7, 8
Events and Submissions/Topic
Tutorial (Week 2 material)
Module/Topic
Molecular basis of cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases
Chapter
14, 18
Events and Submissions/Topic
Tutorial (Week 3 material)
Module/Topic
Molecular basis of blood disorders
Chapter
15, 16, 17
Events and Submissions/Topic
Tutorial (Week 4 material)
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Molecular basis of colorectal, prostate and gynaecological cancers
Chapter
19, 23, 25, 26
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Molecular basis of liver and kidney disease
Chapter
20, 24
Events and Submissions/Topic
Tutorial (week 5 & 6 material)
Module/Topic
Molecular basis of skin disease
Chapter
27
Events and Submissions/Topic
Tutorial (week 7 material)
Portfolio Assignment Due: Week 8 Monday (6 Sept 2021) 11:45 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Molecular basis of diseases of the nervous system
Chapter
29
Events and Submissions/Topic
Tutorial (week 8 material)
Module/Topic
Molecular basis of musculoskeletal disease
Chapter
28
Events and Submissions/Topic
Tutorial (week 9 material)
Module/Topic
Molecular basis of diseases of the exocrine and endocrine systems
Chapter
21, 22
Events and Submissions/Topic
Tutorial (week 10 material)
Module/Topic
Molecular diagnosis of human disease in the clinical laboratory
Pharmacogenetics and personalised medicine
Chapter
30, 31, 32
Events and Submissions/Topic
Tutorial (week 11 & 12 material)
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Your unit coordinator for BMSC12012 Applied Molecular and Cellular Pathology is Ingrid Christiansen. You can contact me using the forum on the unit's Moodle site or alternatively through email (i.christiansen@cqu.edu.au) or on 07 4930 6518. The forum for this unit is continuously monitored and you can expect a response within 24 hours of posting your question.
As the name suggests, this unit will provide you with foundation knowledge of the research and diagnosis in pathology using cellular and molecular pathology techniques. BMSC12012 Applied Molecular and Cellular Pathology is a core unit in three courses:
- CG93 - Bachelor of Medical Sciences (Pathology)
- CG93 - Bachelor of Medical Sciences (Biotechnology)
- CL10 - Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science
Tutorials are delivered each week (from Week 2) via ZOOM. Students enrolled in distance delivery mode can also attend the live tutorials using ZOOM. These tutorials will also be recorded for the benefit of those students who are unable to attend the live tutorial. As the tutorials are designed as an engagement activity, they will not be recorded if nobody attends. During these tutorials, we will work through weekly study questions and any questions which you may have. These weekly study questions will help you apply knowledge learned during the weekly lecture and prepare you for the assessments. You will get the most benefit from the tutorials if you watch the weekly lectures beforehand. You are strongly encouraged to participate in tutorials.
As per Australian educational standards, you are expected to commit 150 hours of engagement to your study of this unit. This is broken down as:
- 2 - 3 hours per week watching recorded lectures and revising the content through study notes
- 3 - 4 hours per week completing weekly study questions/weekly revision quizzes on the unit's Moodle site.
- 1 - 2 hours per week attending the weekly tutorial and reflecting on your answers to weekly study questions
- 3 - 4 hours per week preparing your assessments or studying for your exams
This unit does not have a Residential School.
1 Group Work
Increased understanding of disease pathogenesis at the cellular and molecular level leads to the discovery of novel biomarkers to enhance diagnosis and new targets for therapeutics. In this assignment, you will be required to produce a comprehensive review of molecular advances associated with a particular disease in terms of (A) Pathogenesis, (B) Diagnosis and (C) Treatment.
This assessment is a group task, and groups of three (3) students will be randomly assigned by the unit co-coordinator following census date in week 4. Details of group members will be posted on the Moodle site or MS Teams. Each group will be assigned a specific disease / pathological disorder.
Examples of specific diseases available for this assignment will include but are not limited to:
- Diabetic Nephropathy
- Liver Cirrhosis
- Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Prostate Cancer
- Acute Myeloblastic Leukaemia
- Chronic wound healing
- Chronic heart failure
- Paget's disease of bone
For each of these 3 sections (Pathogenesis, Diagnosis and Treatment) the group will decide which section each student will focus on and each student will be required to:
- Write a 1600 word essay supported by relevant, quality references outlining advances in either understanding disease pathology, laboratory based diagnosis or therapeutic strategies
- Review and critique in detail one scientific paper which has contributed to advanced knowledge associated with each section (Pathogenesis, Diagnosis and Treatment).
- Reflect on the group activity
Part 1: Group based assignments can provide enhanced learning through collaborative generation of ideas, delegation of tasks and presentation.
The final group portfolio will be a combination of:
- The three essays
- An introduction, summary and conclusion section written as a group (linking the essays together).
Only one submission is required per group.
Each group will submit a portfolio containing:
Their group identification, names, student numbers and a statement of contribution (which section each member contributed to) and:
- Introduction (written as a group)
- Pathogenesis (individual A)
- Diagnosis (individual B)
- Treatment (individual C)
- Summary (written as a group)
- Conclusion (written as a group)
Part 2: Your individual critical appraisal of a major scientific paper should include:
- Summary of the outcomes of the described research,
- How these findings were a significant advance in either pathogenesis/diagnosis/treatment,
- What methodology was used and what further developments have occurred based on the original paper.
The written critique is expected to be concise, between 750 and 1000 words.
Part 3: Assessment of individual contributions to the team will be performed by evidence of activity based on:
- engagement in an online team forum; and
- Self and Peer Assessment (SPA) questionnaire.
This data is collated to give a score for team participation to each student. An individual Microsoft Teams/collaborative forum page will be set up for each group to facilitate group collaboration for part 1 of the assessment task, production of a draft form and final submission.
The overall 40% available for this assessment is broken down as follows:
- Part 1: Overall quality of the portfolio (24%) - Marked as a group
- Part 2: Critique (12%) - Marked individually
- Part 3: Self and Peer Assessment and contribution to team (4%) - Marked individually
For all parts, a detailed marking rubric will be available on the Moodle site.
Week 8 Monday (6 Sept 2021) 11:45 pm AEST
Week 10 Monday (20 Sept 2021)
The portfolio assessment is an opportunity to further research the contribution that molecular and cell biology has made to understanding a specific disease together with advances in diagnostic technology and treatment.
A detailed marking rubric will be available on the unit Moodle site. A brief overview of assessment criteria are as follows:
- Part 1: Review Section (The overall review is composed of three sections relating to Pathogenesis, Diagnosis and Treatment [plus introduction, summary and conclusions].) - 60% of overall grade for this assessment (marked as a group effort)*
- Part 2: Critique of three scientific papers - 30% of overall grade for this assessment (individually marked)
- Part 3: Individual contribution to group work (evaluated via Self and Peer Assessment) - 10% of overall grade for this assessment (individually marked)
If a student is allocated to a team but does not contribute to the group activity, they will not be awarded the group score for the assessment.
*When the cohort is not divisible by 3, groups of 2 will not be penalised - one section will be omitted under consultation with the unit coordinator.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Team Work
- Cross Cultural Competence
- Ethical practice
- Describe the molecular basis of disease, in terms of gene mutations or rearrangements, and their detection
- Describe the relationship of disease to epigenetic modification of the genome
- Explain the process of identifying genetic changes and their significance
- Explain the use of molecular pathology in disease diagnosis and / or prevention and treatment, including the development of personalised medicines.
2 Online Test
Complete an online test consisting of a variety of answer types including (but not limited to): diagram labelling, image identification, multiple choice, short answer questions and long answer questions.
This particular assessment requires you to demonstrate an application of knowledge as an extension on the content learnt in this unit. The intent of this assessment is to provide you with an opportunity to assess your understanding of how to apply and interpret the content.
- The test will be divided into four parts:
1. Part A: Short answer, technical based questions. 1 mark each. 20 questions. (20)
2. Part B: Long answer, interpretive questions. 5 marks each. 10 questions. (50)
3. Part C: Image interpretation 2 marks each. 10 questions. (20)
4. Part D: Case studies/Long Answer Questions. 3 Cases/Questions 10 marks each. (30)
- Your time limit for the test is 120 minutes.
- The quiz will automatically submit at the completion of the 120 minute duration.
- You will be allowed one attempt at the test.
Your score from the test will contribute 60% to your final grade.
Exam Week Monday (18 Oct 2021) 11:45 pm AEST
The online test will be available for a 24 hour period during the allocated examination period. The exact date and times are to be advised.
Certification of grades
The online test will be marked automatically (for short answer, drag and drop, and multiple choice questions), and manually (for longer answer questions and case studies). The test will be comprised of sections which are drawn from a question bank, so each student will have a randomised set of questions.
Marks will be accessible at the certification of grades.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Technology Competence
- Describe the molecular basis of disease, in terms of gene mutations or rearrangements, and their detection
- Describe the relationship of disease to epigenetic modification of the genome
- Explain the process of identifying genetic changes and their significance
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.
What can you do to act with integrity?
