Overview
This unit will enable you to develop knowledge and understanding of biomolecules, cell function and cellular biochemistry. You will develop a basic understanding of how biomolecules are synthesised, catabolised and interconverted through key biochemical pathways to meet the needs of the cell and organism. Cellular biochemistry will explore aspects of cell-cell communication to provide the necessary knowledge to study disease and drug treatment at the cellular level. This unit will prepare you for advanced level study of cardiovascular pharmacology.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Pre-requisite: ECHO11003 Fundamentals of Cardiac Science AND Co-requisite BMSC11002 Human Body Systems 2 OR BMSC11011 Human Anatomy and Physiology 2
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 - 2023
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 coordinator reflection
Revision resources are underutilised and students may benefit from more frequent engagement with the unit material.
Investigate ways to encourage more student engagement and interaction with the unit resources.
Feedback from Student feedback via email
Students appreciate the personalised feedback provided to them for each online quiz.
Continue to provide students with contructive, personalised feedback for each online quiz.
Feedback from Unit coordinator reflection
Additional real-world examples could be provided in the unit material to cultivate more interest in the subject.
Invest in the provision of additional real-world examples to the lecture, unit reading materials and tutorials.
- Describe the structure, function and biological roles of the major types of biomolecules and macromolecules
- Describe the relationship between structure and function of the components of biological membranes, especially in terms of selective permeability
- Outline the basic processes involved in metabolic and catabolic pathways relevant to the cardiovascular system
- Describe basic cell signalling, communication and metabolism.
Linked to National and International Standards
1. ASAR Accreditation Standards for Cardiac Sonography - critical practice Unit 8 - Cardiac, Foundation units of competence - 1- 5.
2. European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging Core Syllabus
3. American Registry for Cardiac Sonography Core Syllabus
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| 1 - Online Quiz(zes) - 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 | ||||
Textbooks
There are no required textbooks.
Additional Textbook Information
Medical Biochemistry
Authors: Baynes and Dominiczak
6th Edition (2022)
ISBN: 9780323834506
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Vancouver
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
j.irwin@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Module 1 | Carbohydrates
'Cardiac-link' discussion: cardiovascular complications associated with hyperglycaemia
Chapter
'Carbohydrates' in the Biochemistry Handbook (available on Moodle)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Tutorial on Unit Overview
Module/Topic
Module 2 | Proteins
'Cardiac-link' discussion: the quaternary structure of haemoglobin
Chapter
'Proteins' in the Biochemistry Handbook (available on Moodle)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Tutorial on Carbohydrates
Module/Topic
Module 3 | Nucleic acids
'Cardiac-link' discussion: genetic mutations in Fabry's disease
Chapter
'Nucleic acids' in the Biochemistry Handbook (available on Moodle)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Tutorial on Proteins
Module/Topic
Module 4 | Lipids
'Cardiac-link' discussion: prostaglandins in cardiovascular disease
Chapter
'Lipids' in the Biochemistry Handbook (available on Moodle)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Tutorial on Nucleic acids
Module/Topic
Module 5 | Cell membranes
'Cardiac-link' discussion: spectrin dysfunction in cardiovascular disease
Chapter
'Cell membranes' in the Biochemistry Handbook (available on Moodle)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Tutorial on Lipids
Online Quiz 1 Opens: Week 5 Friday (11 Aug 2023) 12:01 am AEST
Module/Topic
Vacation Week | Catch-up, Assessment preparation, Revision
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Online Quiz 1 Due: Vacation Week Monday (14 Aug 2023) 9:00 am AEST
Module/Topic
Module 6 | Cell transport
'Cardiac-link' discussion: SGLT2 inhibitors and diabetes mellitus
Chapter
'Cell transport' in the Biochemistry Handbook (available on Moodle)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Tutorial on Cell membranes
Module/Topic
Module 7 | Metabolism I
'Cardiac-link' discussion: creatine kinase isozymes as biomarkers of myocardial infarction
Chapter
'Metabolism I' in the Biochemistry Handbook (available on Moodle)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Tutorial on Cell transport
Online Quiz 2 Opens: Week 7 Friday (01 Sept 2023) 12:01 am AEST
Module/Topic
Module 8 | Metabolism II
'Cardiac-link' discussion: the role of carbohydrates in obesity
Chapter
'Metabolism II' in the Biochemistry Handbook (available on Moodle)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Tutorial on Metabolism I
Online Quiz 2 Due: Week 8 Monday (4 Sept 2023) 9:00 am AEST
Module/Topic
Module 9 | Metabolic Regulation
'Cardiac-link' discussion: metabolic profile of the myocardium during left ventricular hypertrophy
Chapter
'Metabolic Regulation' in the Biochemistry Handbook (available on Moodle)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Tutorial on Metabolism II
Module/Topic
Module 10 | Cell communication
'Cardiac-link' discussion: paracrine factors in cardiovascular disease
Chapter
'Cell communication' in the Biochemistry Handbook (available on Moodle)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Tutorial on Metabolic Regulation
Online Quiz 3 Opens: Week 10 Friday (22 Sept 2023) 12:01 am
Module/Topic
Module 11 | Introduction to Pharmacology
'Cardiac-link' discussion: cardiovascular drugs
Chapter
'Introduction to Pharmacology' Extension Chapter (available on Moodle)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Tutorial on Cell communication
Online Quiz 3 Due: Week 11 Monday (25 Sept 2023) 9:00 am AEST
Module/Topic
Revision
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Tutorial on Introduction to Pharmacology + Revision
Online Quiz 4 Opens: Week 12 Friday (6 Oct 2023) 12:01 am AEST
Module/Topic
Revision
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Online Quiz 4 Due: Review/Exam Week Monday (9 Oct 2023) 9:00 am AEST
Online Test Opens: Review/Exam Week Wednesday (11 Oct 2023) 12:01 am AEST
Online Test Due: Review/Exam Week Friday (13 Oct 2023) 11:59 pm AEST
Contact details for Teaching Staff
The unit coordinator for ECHO11004, Jordon Irwin, can be reached via email (j.irwin@cqu.edu.au), phone (07 4923 2550) and the Q&A forum on Moodle.
Lectures and Tutorials
All lectures for this unit are pre-recorded and available on the unit’s Moodle site. Live tutorials are delivered weekly on Zoom, but they are also recorded and made available for later viewing on the Moodle site.
Readings in this Unit
All readings for this unit come from the unit-specific Biochemistry Handbook which is available on the Moodle site. If you would like additional readings, you are welcome to purchase the supplementary textbook: Medicinal Biochemistry by Baynes and Dominiczak. This textbook, however, is not directly used in the unit, so purchasing it is completely optional. All the resources that you will need to succeed in ECHO11004 are available for free on the Moodle site.
Unit Study Commitment
As per Australian education standards, this unit has a Study Commitment of 150 hours total engagement for the term. A suggestion for how you should allocate your weekly study commitment for ECHO11004 is as follows:
- 2-3 hours watching recorded lectures and attending/viewing the tutorial.
- 1-2 hours completing the recommended readings.
- 2-3 hours completing the weekly study questions and practice assessment activities.
- 3-4 hours revising for the Online Quizzes and Online Test.
1 Online Quiz(zes)
A sound knowledge of biochemistry is essential for understanding cardiac physiology and cardiac pharmacology. Throughout the term, you will complete four Online Quizzes which will evaluate your understanding of fundamental biochemistry concepts (as covered in this unit). The Online Quizzes will also prompt you to revise the content during the term and will thus aid your preparation for the end-of-term Online Test.
You will be permitted only one (1) attempt for each quiz, and your combined score for these quizzes will contribute 40% to your final grade. No collusion, AI chatbot or teamwork is permitted when completing these quizzes.
The dates and times for each quiz are outlined below (all times shown are AEST):
- Quiz 1 will open at 12:01 am on Friday 11th August 2023 (Week 5) and will remain open until 9:00 am on Monday 14th August 2023 (Vacation Week). This quiz will assess the topics covered during Weeks 1 to 4 i.e., macromolecules.
- Quiz 2 will open at 12:01 am on Friday 1st September 2023 (Week 7) and will remain open until 9:00 am on Monday 4th September 2023 (Week 8). This quiz will assess the topics covered during Weeks 5 to 6 i.e., cell transport.
- Quiz 3 will open at 12:01 am on Friday 22nd September 2023 (Week 10) and will remain open until 9:00 am on Monday 25th September 2023 (Week 11). This quiz will assess the topics covered during Weeks 7 to 9 i.e., metabolism.
- Quiz 4 will open at 12:01 am on Friday 6th October 2023 (Week 12) and will remain open until 9:00 am on Monday 9th October 2023 (Review/Exam Week). This quiz will assess the topics covered during Weeks 10 to 11 i.e., cell communication and introductory pharmacology.
4
Other
The due dates and times for each quiz are listed in the Task Description.
The quizzes will be graded automatically, but additional feedback will be returned via Moodle within one (1) week of submission.
Marks will be awarded for correct responses.
- Describe the structure, function and biological roles of the major types of biomolecules and macromolecules
- Describe the relationship between structure and function of the components of biological membranes, especially in terms of selective permeability
- Outline the basic processes involved in metabolic and catabolic pathways relevant to the cardiovascular system
- Describe basic cell signalling, communication and metabolism.
2 Online Test
At the end of the term, you will complete an Online Test which will evaluate your knowledge of the topics covered in this unit (Weeks 1-11 inclusive).
You will be permitted only one (1) attempt for this assessment task, and your score from the Online Test will contribute 60% to your final grade. No collusion, AI chatbot or teamwork is permitted when completing the Online Test.
The dates and times for the Online Test are outlined below (all times shown are AEST):
- The Online Test will open at 12:01 am on Wednesday 11th October 2023 (Review/Exam Week) and will remain open until 11:59 pm on Friday 13th October 2023 (Week 13). This test will assess the topics covered during Weeks 1 to 11 i.e., all weeks of content.
Review/Exam Week Friday (13 Oct 2023) 11:59 pm AEST
The Test will end once you click submit or when the time limit has been exhausted.
Exam Week Friday (20 Oct 2023)
This Test will be manually graded, and the results returned via Moodle within two (2) weeks of submission.
Marks will be awarded for correct responses.
- Describe the structure, function and biological roles of the major types of biomolecules and macromolecules
- Describe the relationship between structure and function of the components of biological membranes, especially in terms of selective permeability
- Outline the basic processes involved in metabolic and catabolic pathways relevant to the cardiovascular system
- Describe basic cell signalling, communication and metabolism.
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?
