Students

BIOL6110 – Genetics

2021 – Session 1, Infrequent attendance, North Ryde

Notice

As part of Phase 3 of our return to campus plan, most units will now run tutorials, seminars and other small group activities on campus, and most will keep an online version available to those students unable to return or those who choose to continue their studies online.

To check the availability of face-to-face and online 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.

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Rachael Dudaniec
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Admission to MBiotech or GradDipBiotech or MConsBiol or GradDipConsBiol or GradCertConsBiol or MSc
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
BIOL2110
Unit description Unit description
Genetics occupies a central role in modern sciences, with profound implications for basic and applied research in biology, medicine and agriculture, as well as for a number of philosophical issues in human affairs. This unit offers a balanced approach to teach introductory principles of genetics. It combines sections on classical, molecular and population genetics presented in an integrative way. The practical sessions offer students the possibility of learning essential techniques and skills in modern molecular genetics.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • ULO1: Describe how genetic processes apply to agriculture, human health, society, and the environment
  • ULO2: Apply numeracy and basic principles of genetics to solve problems and draw conclusions from genetic data
  • ULO3: Describe routine techniques used to assay genetic variation in populations
  • ULO4: Demonstrate proficiency in the use of genetic research tools (pipettes, gel electrophoresis, sequence analysis)
  • ULO5: Analyse genetic data using some common population genetic software and bioinformatic tools
  • ULO6: Source, synthesise and critically evaluate information from the literature in written and oral formats

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Problem Sets 5% No 3,4,6,8,9
Practical Report 25% No April 12
Test 10% No May 15
Seminar Poster 15% No May 20
Final Exam 45% Yes Exam Period

Problem Sets

Assessment Type 1: Problem set
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: 3,4,6,8,9
Weighting: 5%

 

The problem sets are designed to assist you to understand topics covered in the course and to provide you with feedback on your understanding of those topics. It is essential that you complete the problem sets as the test and the final examination will cover similar topics to the problems. Answers to the problem sets will be provided. A good and reasonable attempt at each of the problem sets is required to obtain the full marks for each problem set (problems will not be individually graded).

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Apply numeracy and basic principles of genetics to solve problems and draw conclusions from genetic data
  • Analyse genetic data using some common population genetic software and bioinformatic tools

Practical Report

Assessment Type 1: Report
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: April 12
Weighting: 25%

 

A major component of this unit is the preparation of a practical report. This practical report should be presented in the style of a scientific publication and describe the procedures and results from the first two practical sessions. It is recommended that you start drafting your report at the commencement of the first practical session. In these practical sessions you will learn essential skills, including: how to isolate DNA, visualize DNA using gel electrophoresis, perform PCR amplification, and sequence a mitochondrial gene. You will learn to identify unknown DNA samples by comparing their sequences with those available in DNA sequence databases. After this, you will align all the DNA sequences collected and build a phylogenetic tree as a complementary method for species identification. Your report will include the activities undertaken within Practicals 1 and 2 within a scientific paper format, with Introduction, Methods, Results and Discussion.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Describe how genetic processes apply to agriculture, human health, society, and the environment
  • Demonstrate proficiency in the use of genetic research tools (pipettes, gel electrophoresis, sequence analysis)
  • Analyse genetic data using some common population genetic software and bioinformatic tools
  • Source, synthesise and critically evaluate information from the literature in written and oral formats

Test

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: May 15
Weighting: 10%

 

Your progress during the unit will be assessed with a test that will focus on topics covered during the lectures and practical sessions. This test will require application of genetic principles to solve problems and an ability to describe genetic processes and techniques.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Describe how genetic processes apply to agriculture, human health, society, and the environment
  • Apply numeracy and basic principles of genetics to solve problems and draw conclusions from genetic data
  • Describe routine techniques used to assay genetic variation in populations

Seminar Poster

Assessment Type 1: Presentation
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: May 20
Weighting: 15%

 

You are required to design and present a 3-minute scientific conference poster (design as a powerpoint slide) to your tutorial group on a topic in genetics that you find exciting, based on a peer-reviewed scientific paper. Further instructions on designing your poster are provided on iLearn and in practical sessions. The grade of your poster assessment will be based on content and presentation and involves peer evaluation.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Describe how genetic processes apply to agriculture, human health, society, and the environment
  • Describe routine techniques used to assay genetic variation in populations
  • Source, synthesise and critically evaluate information from the literature in written and oral formats

Final Exam

Assessment Type 1: Examination
Indicative Time on Task 2: 25 hours
Due: Exam Period
Weighting: 45%
This is a hurdle assessment task (see assessment policy for more information on hurdle assessment tasks)

 

Students will be tested on their knowledge of course content. The exam will include information from lectures, practical classes and assessment tasks up to and including week 13. The date for your final exam will be available later in the semester.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Describe how genetic processes apply to agriculture, human health, society, and the environment
  • Apply numeracy and basic principles of genetics to solve problems and draw conclusions from genetic data
  • Describe routine techniques used to assay genetic variation in populations

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Delivery and Resources

Unit Text Book

  • Peirce (2017). Genetics: A conceptual Approach (6th Edition). W.H. Freeman and Company, New York.

Unit Schedule

Online Lecture Schedule 2021

This unit has two lectures per week Lectures will be made available at the start of each week via iLearn (Echo360). Week 1 commences February 22, 2021.

 

Lecture            Week               Topic

1                      1                      Unit Introduction and Basic Revision

2                      1                      Basic Revision 2: Sex and Reproduction

3                      2                      Mendelian Genetics

4                      2                      Sex Determination Patterns of Inheritance

5                      3                      Allelic variation and gene function

6                      3                      Linkage and Crossing Over

7                      4                      Chromosome Number and Structure

8                      4                      DNA Replication and Synthesis

9                      5                      Transcription and Translation

10                    5                      Gene Expression, Mutation and DNA Repair

11                    6                      Molecular Techniques I

12                    6                      Molecular Techniques II

13                    7                      Population Genetics

14                    7                      Inbreeding and Inbreeding Depression

15                    8                      Epigenetics

16                    8                      Evolutionary Genetics

17                    9                      Quantitative Genetics

18                    9                      Conservation Genetics

19                    10                    Genetic Response to Change

20                    10                    Human Genetics

21                    11                    Technological Advances and Applications

22                    11                    Revision 1

23                    12                    Revision 2

         

External Practical Schedule

First On-Campus Session

Saturday March 13, 9.00 am (E8A 120/160)

DNA Prac I – DNA Extraction, PCR, Electrophoresis

DNA Prac II – DNA Sequence alignment and data analysis

Practical report guidance

Finish ~ 6:00pm

ONLINE Practicals

Week              Dates                          Practical

4                      15-21 March               Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium – single locus

5                      22-28 March               Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium – population level

6                      29 March-4 April         Data Quality in Genomics

9                      6-7 May                       Revision for Test                    

10                    15 May                        Test

Second On-Campus Session

Saturday May 22, 9.00 am (E8A 120/160)

All poster presentations

Test Answers and Exam Revision

Finish ~6:00pm

 

 

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) 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 or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to help you improve your marks and take control of your study.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Changes from Previous Offering

Assessment weightings have been modified

Academic Honesty

Presenting the work of another person as one’s own is a serious breach of the University’s rules and carries significant penalties. The University’s Academic Honesty Policy can be found at http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html

In this unit, we will be checking written work for plagiarism using TURNITIN. Penalties for plagiarism may include a zero mark for the assignment or in more extreme cases, failure of the unit. Plagiarism WILL be noted on your academic record. Full details of penalties can be found at http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/schedule_penalties.html

Extensions, penalties and disruptions to studies

Late assignments will attract a penalty of 10% of the total marks allocated to the exercise per day. You may hand in your work after the due date and escape penalty only if you have an acceptable reason (usually a medical certificate). Discuss your problem with the Lecturer as early as possible before the due date, however note that all requests for extensions MUST be submitted using the online form: ask.mq.edu.au.

Information about the Disruptions to Studies policy and procedure is online at Policy Central: http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/procedure.html.

Information on managing your Disruptions to Studies: http://students.mq.edu.au/student_admin/manage_your_study_program/disruption_to_studies/


Unit information based on version 2021.03 of the Handbook