Students

BIOL3120 – Human Genetics and Evolutionary Medicine

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 Unit convenor
Oliver Griffith
Unit convenor
Emily Don
Emily Don
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
130cp at 1000 level or above including BIOL2110 or BIOL206(P)
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This unit deals with the molecular, cellular and population basis of the genetics of human beings in relation to disease and evolutionary medicine. Topics include: genetics, genomics, disease gene discovery, evolutionary medicine and the social and ethical implications of studies in human genetics. Emphasis is placed upon the enormous impact which recent molecular advances have had upon the subject, as well as techniques of genetic analysis. Comparisons with the genetics of other vertebrates are made wherever appropriate.

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:

  • ULO2: Interpret and demonstrate understanding of the primary scientific literature
  • ULO1: Solve problems in human genetics using appropriate analytical methods and a variety of up to date resources
  • ULO3: Explain the importance of new techniques in human genetics for understanding human disease
  • ULO4: Explain the principles of evolutionary biology and their role in human health and disease
  • ULO5: Utlise basic bioinformatic skills, including handling of genetic sequence data
  • ULO6: Understand genetics and its basis in human disease

General Assessment Information

Academic Honesty – please read, as this is very important

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/

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Problem sets 25% No Week 3-12
Literature review 25% No Week 13
Examination 50% No Formal exam period

Problem sets

Assessment Type 1: Problem set
Indicative Time on Task 2: 25 hours
Due: Week 3-12
Weighting: 25%

 

Ongoing problem sets for tutorials throughout the semester

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Solve problems in human genetics using appropriate analytical methods and a variety of up to date resources
  • Interpret and demonstrate understanding of the primary scientific literature
  • Explain the principles of evolutionary biology and their role in human health and disease
  • Utlise basic bioinformatic skills, including handling of genetic sequence data
  • Understand genetics and its basis in human disease

Literature review

Assessment Type 1: Literature review
Indicative Time on Task 2: 25 hours
Due: Week 13
Weighting: 25%

 

A written literature review of the methodology of a genomic technique

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Interpret and demonstrate understanding of the primary scientific literature
  • Explain the importance of new techniques in human genetics for understanding human disease
  • Understand genetics and its basis in human disease

Examination

Assessment Type 1: Examination
Indicative Time on Task 2: 32 hours
Due: Formal exam period
Weighting: 50%

 

Formal examination covering all content of unit

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Solve problems in human genetics using appropriate analytical methods and a variety of up to date resources
  • Explain the importance of new techniques in human genetics for understanding human disease
  • Explain the principles of evolutionary biology and their role in human health and disease
  • Utlise basic bioinformatic skills, including handling of genetic sequence data
  • Understand genetics and its basis in human disease

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

Mode of delivery: BIOL3120 will be delivered through lectures, Q&A sessions, and tutorials. Students will have the option to complete all these activities online. There will be two lectures and a lecture Q&A session each week. Infrequent attendance students will need to be available for a block tutorial session from the 13th-16th of April.

Note that support will be available from the unit convenor via Skype/Zoom, and in-person assistance may be possible depending on staff availability. 

 

 

 

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.


Unit information based on version 2021.04 of the Handbook