Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Unit convener
Jaco Le Roux
Unit administrator
Jessica O'Hare
Jessica O'Hare
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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. |
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:
Late Assessment Submission Penalty
From 1 July 2022, Students enrolled in Session based units with written assessments will have the following university standard late penalty applied. Please see https://students.mq.edu.au/study/assessment-exams/assessments for more information.
Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (of the total possible mark) will be applied each day a written assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a grade of '0' will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all written assessments is set at 11:55 pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical concern.
For any late submission of time-sensitive tasks, such as scheduled tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, and/or scheduled practical assessments/labs, students need to submit an application for Special Consideration.
Assessments where Late Submissions will be accepted
In this unit, late submissions will accepted as follows:
Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
---|---|---|---|
Mid-semester test | 15% | No | Week 7 |
Practical quizes | 10% | No | Weekly (Mondays @12pm) |
Database project | 10% | No | Sep 5, Oct 17, Nov 7 2022 (@5pm on all due dates) |
Paper dissection | 25% | No | 03/10/2022 |
Final exam | 40% | No | Formal exam period (exact date TBA) |
Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 13 hours
Due: Week 7
Weighting: 15%
The mid-semester test will consist of multiple choice questions covering all lecture material up discussed to that point. The test will be conducted online under timed conditions.
Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: Weekly (Mondays @12pm)
Weighting: 10%
Pre-prac quizzes to test preparedness and comprehension.
Assessment Type 1: Report
Indicative Time on Task 2: 13 hours
Due: Sep 5, Oct 17, Nov 7 2022 (@5pm on all due dates)
Weighting: 10%
The PeerWise database will be available to students throughout the Session. Students must write and submit questions based upon lecture content, and answer questions of other students.
Assessment Type 1: Report
Indicative Time on Task 2: 25 hours
Due: 03/10/2022
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.
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. This exam will be invigilated and held during the Formal Examination Period.
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). Recordings will be guided online learning H5P modules. The class timetable for this unit can be found through the Timetable portal. The two tabled slots for weekly lectures will be used for Zoom Q&A and discussion sessions (optional attendance starting in week 2; you must listen to the lecture recordings from the previous week before attending the Zoom session).
Practicals
There are nine practicals in this unit (see table under 'Unit Schedule' heading). All practicals will be delivered in face-to-face mode . To check the availability of practicals for your unit, please go to timetable viewer, before enrolling in eStudent. To check detailed information on unit assessments, visit the unit iLearn site.
How to find the answers
Read the unit outline
iLearn
The primary means of communication for this unit is via iLearnTM and email (biol1110@mq.edu.au). iLearn is a web-based computer-mediated communication package and can be accessed by most web browsers from inside or outside the University.
We expect you to use iLearn for:
Logging in to iLearn
The URL for the iLearn login page is: https://ilearn.mq.edu.au/
You will need to log in to iLearn each time you use it. Your user name is your student number. If you are having trouble accessing your online unit due to a disability or health condition, please visit the Student Services Website https://students.mq.edu.au/support/personal or information on how to get assistance. If you are having problems logging on after ensuring you have entered your username and password correctly, you should contact Student IT Help, http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/.
TEXTBOOK - CAMPBELL BIOLOGY ELEVENTH EDITION (ANZ)
This textbook is available in hard copy from the Co-op Bookshop (ISBN 9781488626241), or electronically at http://www.pearson.com.au.
Lectures
Week of Session | Dates | Lectures (Online - H5P modules) |
1 | 25 - 31 Jul | Lecture 1: Introduction |
Lecture 2: The scientific method | ||
2 | 1 - 7 Aug | Lecture 3: DNA: The molecule of heredity |
Lecture 4: DNA replication | ||
3 | 8 - 14 Aug | Lecture 5: Genes & Genomes |
Lecture 6: Transcription | ||
4 | 15 - 21 Aug | Lecture 7: Translation |
Lecture 8: Proteins | ||
5 | 22 - 28 Aug | Lecture 9: Gene regulation |
Lecture 10: Chromosomes | ||
6 | 29 Aug - 4 Sep | Lecture 11: The cell |
Lecture 12: Mitosis | ||
7 | 5 - 11 Sep | Lecture 13: Meiosis |
12 - 18 Sep | Mid-semester break | |
19- 25 Sep | Mid-semester break | |
8 | 26 Sep - 2 Oct | Lecture 14: Mendelian genetics I |
Lecture 15: Mendelian genetics II | ||
9 | 3 - 9 Oct | Lecture 16: Molecular evolution |
Lecture 17: Population genetics | ||
10 | 10 - 16 Oct | Lecture 18: Genetic tools |
Lecture 19: Biological membranes | ||
11 | 17 - 23 Oct | Lecture 20: Cell signalling |
Lecture 21: Prokaryotes | ||
12 | 24 Oct - 30 Oct | Lecture 22: Revision |
13 | 31 - 6 Nov | Q&A zoom session (No lectures or practicals) |
14 | 7 - 13 Nov | No class - final exam |
Practicals
Week of Session | Dates | On Campus practical - attend in person |
1 | 25 - 31 Jul | No practical |
2 | 1 - 7 Aug | 1.The Cellular Basis of Life |
3 | 8 - 14 Aug | 2.DNA |
4 | 15 - 21 Aug | 3.Transcription & Translation |
5 | 22 - 28 Aug | 4.Flagella Regeneration |
6 | 29 Aug - 4 Sep | 5.Protein Quantification |
7 | 5 - 11 Sep | No practical due to ONLINE mid-semester test |
12 - 18 Sep | Mid-semester break | |
19- 25 Sep | Mid-semester break | |
8 | 26 Sep - 2 Oct | 6.Gene Expression - Lac operon |
9 | 3 - 9 Oct | No practical due to Labour day 3 October |
10 | 10 - 16 Oct | 7.Phylogeny & Bioinformatics |
11 | 17 - 23 Oct | 8.Mitosis |
12 | 24 Oct - 30 Oct | 9.Early development & Population Genetics |
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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.
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At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
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Unit information based on version 2022.03 of the Handbook