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.
Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Rachael Dudaniec
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Credit points |
Credit points
10
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Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
(BIOL1110 or BIOL115) and ((BIOL1310 or BIOL114) or (BIOL1210 or BIOL108) or (BIOL1610 or BIOL116) or (BIOL1620))
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Corequisites |
Corequisites
(STAT1170 or STAT170) or (STAT1371 or STAT171) or FOSE1015
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Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
BIOL6110
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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. |
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:
Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
---|---|---|---|
Final Exam | 45% | Yes | Exam Period |
Problem Sets | 5% | No | 3,4,6,8,9 |
Practical Report | 25% | No | April 12 |
Seminar Poster | 15% | No | April 19 |
Test | 10% | No | May 14 |
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.
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).
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.
Assessment Type 1: Presentation
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: April 19
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.
Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: May 14
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.
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
Unit Text Book
Online Lecture Schedule 2021
This unit has two lectures per week Lectures will be made available at the start of each week. 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
Internal Practical Schedule
On- campus practical sessions will run on Thursdays and Fridays during your allocated practical slot in either E8A 120 or E8A 160. Please attend your assigned slot. Online practical session materials will be made available at the commencement of the week it is held.
Week Date Practical/Tutorial
1 25 & 26 Feb NO PRACTICAL/TUTORIAL
2 4 & 5 March DNA Extraction and PCR
3 11 & 12 March DNA Sequence Alignment and Data Analysis
4 ONLINE 18-19 March Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium – single locus
5 25 & 26 March Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium – population level
6 ONLINE 1-2 April Data Quality in Genomics
Mid Semester Break
7 22 & 23 April Poster Presentations – session 1
8 29 & 30 April Poster Presentations – session 2
9 ONLINE 6-7 May Revision for Test
10 ONLINE 13-14 May Test
11 20 &21 May Test answers and exam revision
12 27 & 28 May NO PRACTICAL/TUTORIAL
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.
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 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
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 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.
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
If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au
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.
Assessment weightings have been modified
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
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 2021.02 of the Handbook