Notice
As part of Phase 3 of our return to campus plan, most units will now run tutorials, seminars and other small group learning activities on campus for the second half-year, while keeping an online version available for those students unable to return or those who choose to continue their studies online.
To check the availability of face to face activities for your unit, please go to timetable viewer. To check detailed information on unit assessments visit your unit's iLearn space or consult your unit convenor.
Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Convenor
Oliver Griffith
Co-Convenor
Kerstin Bilgmann
First Year Coordinator
Kate Barry
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Credit points |
Credit points
10
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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:
UNIT COMPLETION REQUIREMENTS
To pass BIOL1110, the above requirements need to be fulfilled and an overall mark of 50/100 (50%) needs to be achieved. Failure to fulfil these requirements will lead to a Fail grade for this unit.
Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
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Practical quizes | 10% | No | Weekly (on Monday @ 12pm) |
Database project | 10% | No | Sep 6, Oct 18, Nov 8 2020 |
Mid-semester test | 15% | No | 15 September 2020 |
Paper dissection | 25% | No | 4 October 2020 |
Final exam | 40% | No | Formal exam period (exact date TBA) |
Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: Weekly (on Monday @ 12pm)
Weighting: 10%
Pre-prac quizzes to test preparedness and comprehension.
Assessment Type 1: Report
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: Sep 6, Oct 18, Nov 8 2020
Weighting: 10%
The PeerWise database will be available to students throughout the Session. Students must write and submit at least five questions based upon lecture content, and answer at least five.
Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 13 hours
Due: 15 September 2020
Weighting: 15%
The mid-semester test will consist of multiple choice questions covering all lecture material up to and including Lecture 10. The test will be conducted online under timed conditions.
Assessment Type 1: Report
Indicative Time on Task 2: 25 hours
Due: 4 October 2020
Weighting: 25%
A library of at least 10 public research papers will be made available to students. Students must select one paper (or choose a paper in which they are interested, with the approval of the convenors) and analyse the structure, underlying research, and implications of the paper, following the set of questions provided. The results must be written up in the form of a report of no more than three pages.
Assessment Type 1: Examination
Indicative Time on Task 2: 40 hours
Due: Formal exam period (exact date TBA)
Weighting: 40%
Assesses all material covered in practicals as well as the material in all lectures.
1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:
2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation
LECTURES
(1) Two 1-hour online lecture recordings per week (starting in week 1)
(2) Mondays 11am-12pm: live Zoom lecture Q&A session (optional attendance starting in week 2; you must listen to the lecture recordings from the previous week before attending the Zoom session)
EXTERNAL BLOCK SESSIONS (ON CAMPUS) |
(1) Saturday 22nd August 9am-5pm; Pracs 1,2,4 (06WW106) |
(2) Sunday 23rd August 9am-5pm; Prac 3 (online) |
(3) Tuesday 15th September 9am-5pm; Pracs 5,8 (06WW106) |
(4) Wednesday 16th September 9am-5pm; Pracs 6,7,9 (online) |
EXTERNAL BLOCK SESSIONS (ONLINE) | ||||
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*Please choose between attending block sessions on campus or online*
LECTURES
(1) Two 1-hour online lecture recordings per week (starting in week 1)
(2) Mondays 11am-12pm: live Zoom lecture Q&A session (optional attendance starting in week 2; you must listen to the lecture recordings from the previous week before attending the Zoom session)
Schedule:
Week of Session |
Lectures (Online - recording) |
Zoom Question Session |
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1 |
Lecture 1: Introduction |
None |
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Lecture 2: The scientific method |
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2 |
Lecture 3: DNA: The molecule of heredity |
Mon 11am-12pm |
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Lecture 4: DNA replication |
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3 |
Lecture 5: Genes & Genomes |
Mon 11am-12pm |
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Lecture 6: Transcription |
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4 |
Lecture 7: Translation |
Mon 11am-12pm |
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Lecture 8: Proteins |
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5 |
Lecture 9: Gene regulation |
Mon 11am-12pm |
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Lecture 10: Chromosomes |
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6 |
Lecture 11: The cell |
Mon 11am-12pm |
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Lecture 12: Mitosis |
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7 |
Lecture 13: Meiosis |
Mid-Semester Test |
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Mid-semester break |
Mid-semester break |
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Mid-semester break |
Mid-semester break |
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8 |
Lecture 14: Mendelian genetics I |
Mon 11am-12pm |
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Lecture 15: Mendelian genetics II |
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9 |
Lecture 16: Molecular evolution |
None (Public Holiday) |
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Lecture 17: Population genetics |
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10 |
Lecture 18: Genetic tools |
Mon 11am-12pm |
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Lecture 19: Biological membranes |
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11 |
Lecture 20: Cell signalling |
Mon 11am-12pm |
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Lecture 21: Prokaryotes |
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12 |
Lecture 22: Revision |
Mon 11am-12pm |
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13 |
No lectures |
Mon 11am-12pm |
PRACTICALS
Schedule:
Prac number/block session | Practical topic |
1 - BLOCK1 | The Cellular Basis of Life |
2 - BLOCK1 | DNA |
3 - BLOCK2 | Transcription & Translation |
4 - BLOCK1 | Flagella Regeneration |
5 - BLOCK3 | Protein Quantification |
6 - BLOCK4 | Gene Expression - Lac operon |
7 - BLOCK4 | Phylogeny & Bioinformatics |
8 - BLOCK3 | Mitosis |
9 - BLOCK4 | Meiosis & Population Genetics |
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Students seeking more policy resources can visit the Student Policy Gateway (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/student-policy-gateway). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.
If you would like to see all the policies relevant to Learning and Teaching visit Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central).
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