Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Unit Convenor
Renee Catullo
Contact via biol115@mq.edu.au
E8C245
Thursdays 2-4 pm (no appointment needed)
Co-convenor
Jennifer Hallinan
Contact via biol115@mq.edu.au
E8B 219
Thursdays 2-4 pm (no appointment needed)
Super Tutor
Julian May
Contact via biol115@mq.edu.au
Technical Staff
Winnie Man
Contact via biol115@mq.edu.au
E8A103
Caitlin Kordis
Erin Cheng
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Credit points |
Credit points
3
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Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
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Corequisites |
Corequisites
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Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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Unit description |
Unit description
This unit deals with the nuts and bolts of life on earth. Throughout the unit there is a single unifying theme – that all of the processes that give rise to life are derived from DNA. We show students that DNA controls life by acting as a blueprint for the construction of proteins, and that those proteins build cells which act as the basic structural and functional units of all life. To demonstrate these processes to students, we start by talking about the structure and function of DNA to show how it can act as a simple code for the construction of proteins. Students are then shown how proteins are constructed from the DNA code, and how those proteins can be used to build and maintain cells. Having established these basic principles, the unit then goes on to explain how cells construct multicellular organisms during development, and how the proper functioning of those organisms is maintained by regulating cellular activity. We also demonstrate that the DNA code is essentially immortal because it can be copied from generation to generation, from cell to cell.
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Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
Assignment submission, Turnitin and Plagiarism
This is a paperless unit so no assignments or quizzes will be physically handed in. You will be required to submit all assignments through iLearn via a Turnitin link. Turnitin is an online program that detects plagiarised pieces of work. It compares not only work between students in the current year but also across previous years, across institutions, with all published materials, and the internet. It is an incredibly effective tool. So do yourself a favour and write your work in your own words – in fact it is a requirement for all assignments in the course that they be written in your own words. Do not under any circumstances lend your work to another student. If that student plagiarises your work you too will be liable. Do not copy and paste text into your document with the thought you will modify it later – you will forget! Lastly do not leave things to the last moment, as that is when the urge to plagiarise hits you most.
The penalties imposed by the University for plagiarism are serious and may include expulsion from the University. ANY evidence of plagiarism WILL be dealt with according to University policy.
Plagiarism involves using the work of another person and presenting it as one's own. A full outline of the Universities policy on plagiarism is found at http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html. The website includes a general discussion of plagiarism, definitions, examples drawn from concrete cases, procedures that will be followed by the University in cases of plagiarism, and recommended penalties. Students are expected to familiarise themselves with the website.
Extensions and penalties
10% will be deducted for each day an assignment is late, including each day of a weekend. If you are unable to submit the assignment by the due date then an extension must be sought before the due date unless this is absolutely impossible. To support your extension you will be asked to submit a Disruption to studies request via ask.me.edu.au (see “What to do if you miss…” below). All applications for extensions of deadlines must be submitted to the course convener biol115@mq.edu.au.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU MISS AN ASSIGNMENT TASK OR PRACTICAL SESSION
Through:
Illness, misfortune, or special events
Neglect (i.e. forgot or just slack)
Email Protocol
Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
---|---|---|---|
Practical Quizzes | 10% | No | Weekly |
Abstract Writing | 5% | No | 13 August |
Annotated Bibliography | 10% | No | 10 September |
Mid-semester Test | 15% | No | 4 September |
Synthetic Biology Report | 10% | No | 15 October |
Final exam | 50% | No | TBA |
Due: Weekly
Weighting: 10%
In-prac quizzes to test preparedness and comprehension
Due: 13 August
Weighting: 5%
You will be required to produce a 250-word abstract on a scientific publication that will be provided to you. Here, you will have to summarise the content of the paper into a meaningful abstract. In addition, you will have to identify two other peer-reviewed primary-literature publications that are on a similar topic to the paper that you have summarised. This assignment will introduce you to a key element of scientific writing – abstracting. This assignment will assess your ability to state scientific knowledge in your own words, and to use knowledge gained from a scientific paper to seek out further research. The library provides information to assist in researching scientific papers, which will help with both this assignment and the annotated bibliography assessment (http://www.mq.edu.au/on_campus/library/research/researching_your_assignment/).
Due: 10 September
Weighting: 10%
Collect 8 published peer-reviewed scientific articles (i.e. primary literature) on a topic of interest (in the field of cell and molecular biology). All articles must have been published between 2011 and 2015. Then, provide brief description of the main ideas described in those articles. You need to synthesise those ideas into a flow that illustrates the key ideas and developments in the field. A list of topics that you could address in your assignment will be provided later. The library provides information to assist in researching scientific papers, which will help with this assignment and the abstract writing assignment (http://www.mq.edu.au/on_campus/library/research/researching_your_assignment/).
Due: 4 September
Weighting: 15%
The mid-semester test will consist of multiple choice and short answer questions covering all lecture material up to and including Lecture 11. The test will be conducted under exam conditions, that is, silently and with no communication between students. All written material, programmable calculators, mobile phones or electronic tablets will be required to be set to the side of the exam room.
This test will occur in the normal lecture theatre, during lecture hours.
Due: 15 October
Weighting: 10%
Due: TBA
Weighting: 50%
Assesses all material covered in practicals as well as the material in all lectures
How to find the answers
iLearn
The primary means of communication for this unit is via iLearn™ and email (biol115@mq.edu.au). iLearn is a web-based computer-mediated communication package and can be accessed by most web browsers from inside or outside the University.
We expect you to use iLearn for:
Logging in to iLearn
The URL for the iLearn login page is: https://ilearn.mq.edu.au/
You will need to log in to iLearn each time you use it. Your user name is your student number. If you are having trouble accessing your online unit due to a disability or health condition, please visit the Student Services Website http://students.mq.edu.au/support/health_and_wellbeing/ for information on how to get assistance. If you are having problems logging on after ensuring you have entered your username and password correctly, you should contact Student IT Help, http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/.
TEXTBOOK – PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY, NATURE EDUCATION
This textbook is compulsory and is used for both Biol114 and Biol115. It is accessed at http://www.nature.com/principles. There are a number of advantages over alternative textbooks: it is paper-free, much cheaper to buy, has interactive quizzes, and has real scientific literature associated with each chapter. We anticipate this will provide a significant contribution to your learning. Please feel free to provide feedback on this textbook as we progress through the course.
Please note: this is an e-textbook there is no hard copy of the text available.
Registration for Principles of Biology:
What you will need:
Registration Steps:
Once you have registered, here is how you can access your course/text:
Enjoy!
Timetable
LECTURES
Lecture 1 Monday 11-12 am Mason Theatre (E7B)
Tuesday (repeat) 12 noon – 1 pm Mason Theatre (E7B)
Lecture 2 Friday 2-3 pm Mason Theatre (E7B)
Friday (repeat) 3-4 pm Mason Theatre (E7B)
All internal students are expected to attend one repeat of Lecture 1 and one repeat of Lecture 2 each week. All externals must listen to both Lectures each week and attend if and when they can.
INTERNAL PRAC SESSIONS
Monday 1 – 4 pm E8C Labs 1-3
Tuesday 9 – 12 am E8C Labs 1-3
Tuesday 2 – 5 pm E8C Labs 1-3 (note this prac starts later than other afternoon sessions)
Wednesday 9 - 12 am E8C Labs 1-3
Wednesday 1 – 4 pm E8C Labs 1-3
Thursday 9 – 12 am E8C Labs 1-3
Thursday 1 – 4 pm E8C Labs 1-3
Friday 9 – 12 am E8C Labs 1-3
Internal students must attend ONLY ONE of the above Practical sessions per week. You must attend the practical group you were allocated at enrolment, and stay in that group! Attendance of practicals is compulsory. Because the beginning of each practical session will cover essential health and safety procedures, late students will not be able to attend their practical for that week. Please note: all students must attend a minimum of 80% of practical sessions in order to pass the class.
The practical sessions are held in a teaching laboratory, and as such all students must wear closed-in shoes (e.g. sneakers, boots) to each class. You will not be allowed to enter the room with open shoes (e.g. sandals, thongs). These cannot be supplied to you on the practical day. Students who are late to practical sessions will not be allowed to attend.
On-campus session 1 22 - 23 August (Sat & Sun) 9am - 5pm E8C Labs 1-3
On-campus session 2 14 - 15 September (Tues & Wed) 9am - 5pm E8C Labs 1-3
External students must attend ALL on-campus sessions!
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central. Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
Academic Honesty Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html
Assessment Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy.html
Grading Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grading/policy.html
Grade Appeal Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html
Grievance Management Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grievance_management/policy.html
Disruption to Studies Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html The Disruption to Studies Policy is effective from March 3 2014 and replaces the Special Consideration Policy.
In addition, a number of other policies can be found in the Learning and Teaching Category of Policy Central.
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/student_conduct/
Results shown in iLearn, or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au.
UNIT COMPLETION REQUIREMENTS
Minimum requirements include:
1. The completion and submission of all three assessment tasks (taking into account officially approved Disruptions to Study).
2. Must achieve a final mark of >50% for your total assessment.
3. Must achieve a final mark of >50% for your final exam.
4. Practicals are compulsory.
If a practical is missed through illness or mishap you must submit a Disruption to Studies via ask.mq.edu.au. You will need to provide a Professional Authority Form for illness, or for other situations you must provide a supporting letter explaining the circumstances that has led to you missing the practicals.
Students that miss more than 20% of the practicals (i.e. more than 2) without submission of Disruption to Studies through ask.mq.edu.au will be unable to pass the unit.
Overall grades
The current university grading is: fail (F <50%), pass (P 50%-64%), credit (CR 65%-74%), distinction (D 75%-84%) and high distinction (HD 85%-100%).
WHAT TO DO IF YOU MISS AN ASSIGNMENT TASK OR PRACTICAL SESSION
Through:
Illness, misfortune, or special events
Neglect (i.e. forgot or just slack)
Email Protocol
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.
Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.
For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au
For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://informatics.mq.edu.au/help/.
When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.
We want our graduates to have emotional intelligence and sound interpersonal skills and to demonstrate discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgement. They will exercise initiative as needed. They will be capable of risk assessment, and be able to handle ambiguity and complexity, enabling them to be adaptable in diverse and changing environments.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Our graduates will take with them the intellectual development, depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content in their chosen fields to make them competent and confident in their subject or profession. They will be able to demonstrate, where relevant, professional technical competence and meet professional standards. They will be able to articulate the structure of knowledge of their discipline, be able to adapt discipline-specific knowledge to novel situations, and be able to contribute from their discipline to inter-disciplinary solutions to problems.
This graduate capability is supported by:
We want our graduates to be capable of reasoning, questioning and analysing, and to integrate and synthesise learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments; to be able to critique constraints, assumptions and limitations; to be able to think independently and systemically in relation to scholarly activity, in the workplace, and in the world. We want them to have a level of scientific and information technology literacy.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Our graduates should be capable of researching; of analysing, and interpreting and assessing data and information in various forms; of drawing connections across fields of knowledge; and they should be able to relate their knowledge to complex situations at work or in the world, in order to diagnose and solve problems. We want them to have the confidence to take the initiative in doing so, within an awareness of their own limitations.
This graduate capability is supported by:
We want to develop in our students the ability to communicate and convey their views in forms effective with different audiences. We want our graduates to take with them the capability to read, listen, question, gather and evaluate information resources in a variety of formats, assess, write clearly, speak effectively, and to use visual communication and communication technologies as appropriate.
This graduate capability is supported by:
We want our graduates to be aware of and have respect for self and others; to be able to work with others as a leader and a team player; to have a sense of connectedness with others and country; and to have a sense of mutual obligation. Our graduates should be informed and active participants in moving society towards sustainability.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Unit convenor has changed.
Learning outcomes have changed.
Assignments have changed.
Lecture content has been revised.