Pre-lab assessments

Due: Ongoing Weighting: 10%

Continuous Pre-lab assessments will be conducted throughout the semester on iLearn. The assessment will cover the practical materials of the week. You will have a set amount of time (30 min) to complete this online task. This activity will be available from the start of the semester (so you will have plenty of time to work on it), and deadline for submission is 1 hour prior to your lab session. You are encouraged to work on the pre-lab questions in the lab manual first before attempting the online assessment to avoid going over the time limit (30 min) This is a single attempt activity (no multiple attempts). If you miss the practical session but submitted the assessment on time, no mark will be given to the assessment unless your special consideration is approved. This will contribute to 10% of your overall course mark.

Practical Skills

Due: Ongoing Weighting: 5%

You will be tested for two practical skills essential for Microbiology. You will have enough time to learn and practice these techniques during the laboratory sessions before being tested. This will contribute to 5% of your overall course mark.

Mid-Semester Examination

Due: 10/9/21 Weighting: 20%

A multiple choice mid-semester test will be held during class time on 10/9/2021( 1-2 pm). The test will cover material (lectures and practicals) from Week 1 to 6 only (lecture 1-12). You will need to take a calculator into the examination. Only non-programmable calculators may be taken into the examination. This will contribute to 20% of your overall course mark.

Scientific Report

Due: 1/11/21 Weighting: 20%

This exercise is an introduction to conducting and managing an independent research project. Students will work in pairs. This assignment is designed to allow you to develop and achieve the learning outcomes, graduate attributes and capabilities outlined in this unit guide. Thus groups/pairs are empowered to own their research work and therefore are responsible and accountable for the design, performance and achievements resulting from the research.

This research task will be an ongoing exercise over which the group is to work together on the investigation, discussion and reflection of results. Towards the end of the practical sessions period each lab group will make a prediction of the identity of the selected unknown organism and the rationale behind their decision, and present their prediction in front of the class. Each presentation (Power Point) should take no longer than 3 minutes. After each presentation, the audience will be given an opportunity to ask questions or make suggestions to the presenters.

An independently written 4-page scientific report, based on your research findings, is to be submitted by each student on 1 Nov no later than 11:59 pm. 

A rubric outlining what is expected regarding final report structure and a style guide is provided in the Laboratory manual, which will be available on iLearn.  The assignment should be uploaded onto iLearn as a pdf file – this is to avoid formatting discrepancies that may occur from using different word processors. This assignment will contribute to 20% of your overall course mark. Penalties will apply for work over the page limit and late submission.

Final Examination

Due: University Examination Period Weighting: 45%

The final exam will require students to apply terminology and concepts learnt in the lecture and practical components to answer a variety of questions of a critical thinking nature. You will need to take a calculator into the examination. Only non-programmable calculators may be taken into the examination.

Classes 

Lectures  

Lectures begin on the 26 July 2021. 

BMOL6401 Microbiology and Molecular Biology Web Site: http://ilearn.mq.edu.au/

Laboratory classes

Students will need to register for one of the classes only. 

Practicals start on the second week of the semester (first lab session on 4^th and 5^th August 2021). Bring a lab coat and A4 notebook (60+ pages) to your first lab session. Students won't be allowed to take part in the laboratory sessions without a lab coat. Students are encouraged to purchase and bring their own safety glasses to the laboratory sessions.

Please note that practical classes are a hurdle and a main component for this course with medical certificates being required should a student be absent due to illness.  These should be submitted online as Special Consideration application using the application form in AskMQ. More information and how to apply for Special Consideration can be found at:  https://students.mq.edu.au/study/my-study-program/special-consideration.

Required and Recommended Texts and/or Materials 

Recommended text book:

Brock Biology of Microorganisms, Global Edition 15th edition, 2018. Madigan, Bender, Buckley, Sattley and Stahl. Publisher: Pearson Australia. ISBN: 9781292235103

BMOL6401 Microbiology and Molecular Biology Practical Manual - The full laboratory manual will be available on iLearn for download, you must bring a copy with you to your laboratory class and are expected to have read through all of the planned activities.  Please note you must also bring a lab coat, closed shoes and A4 lab notebook (60+ pages) to each practical, beginning in Week 2. Important, you won't be allowed in the laboratory without a lab coat!

Technology Used and Required 

You are expected to access the unit web site on a frequent basis and download PDF files provided.  Please note information may also be sent by email to your student email account so please look at your email account on a frequent basis.

Unit Web Page

The URL of the BMOL6401 Microbiology and Molecular Biology iLearn site is:  http://ilearn.mq.edu.au/

You will be asked for a username and password.  Your username is your student MQ Id.  Your MQ Id and password have been mailed to you by the University.  If you have lost them go to the student portal:  http://my.mq.edu.au.

You are expected to access the unit web site very frequently.  This site contains important information including notes on ALL the topics to be covered.

Teaching and Learning Strategy

BMOL6401 is a 10-credit point, half year unit. The unit expectation is that you will:

• Read the recommended material and prepare for the laboratory classes.
• Actively engage in the practical component of the course.
• Complete the assignment, report, practical and assessments, mid-term exam and final exam.

If you prepare and attend all components of the unit and work consistently and continuously throughout the semester, you should be able to develop a strong understanding of the subject, develop key microbiology and molecular biology practical skills and perform satisfactorily in this unit.

Laboratory classes are designed to develop basic laboratory skills, general safety practices and critical and analytical thought – this will be very useful if you continue with molecular biology and microbiology, but are also fundamental to many other areas of science.  In-lab and post-lab work are designed to allow you to appropriately record your experimental observations in a detailed and accurate manner and assess your understanding of the theory behind the experiments conducted and to use this understanding to solve related problems.