Students

BIOL1320 – Biological Basis of Behaviour

2022 – Session 2, In person-scheduled-weekday, North Ryde

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Martin Whiting
martin.whiting@mq.edu.au
Ken Cheng
ken.cheng@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

BIOL1320 is a suitable introductory science course of interest for all students, designed for the 'free' zone. Canvassing a range of topics relevant to today's society in a manner accessible to all students, this journey teaches students the skills to communicate to a general audience. In contents, it offers an integrative approach to the amazing world of behaviour. Basic mechanisms are covered, together with function and evolution. Lecture topics include explanations of behaviour, evolution, evolutionary origins of behaviour, basic neuroscience, perception, learning, brain and behaviour, and topics in animal behaviour. Lectures culminate with some reflections on the lives of humans in our modern world and the role of culture in human evolution.

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 the basic functioning of the nervous system in animals, including the senses
  • ULO2: Explain the principles of evolution by natural selection and sexual selection
  • ULO3: Demonstrate an understanding of basic concepts and principles in genetics, epigenetics, perception, learning, human evolution, explanations in animal behaviour, and the topics on the nature of science, ethics, study skills, animal behaviour and on evolution and human behaviour presented in the unit
  • ULO4: Apply knowledge and skills to collect, analyse, and interpret scientific data including those presented in graphic form
  • ULO5: Extract key points from scientific papers and other forms of presentation and accurately communicate these to a general audience
  • ULO6: Comment critically on scientific papers and other forms of presentation with regard to life on our planet today

General Assessment Information

Quizzes in textbook

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test Indicative Time on Task 2: 24 hours Due: 8 quizzes: 8,15,29 Aug, 5,26 Sept, 3,17 Oct, 6 Nov 2022 Weighting: 28% This is a hurdle assessment task (see assessment policy for more information on hurdle assessment tasks)

Quiz questions are on iLearn.

On successful completion you will be able to:

  • Describe the basic functioning of the nervous system in animals, including the senses
  • Explain the principles of evolution by natural selection and sexual selection
  • Demonstrate an understanding of basic concepts and principles in genetics, epigenetics, perception, learning, human evolution, explanations in animal behaviour, and the topics on the nature of science, ethics, study skills, animal behaviour and on evolution and human behaviour presented in the unit

Participation in pracs

Assessment Type 1: Participatory task Indicative Time on Task 2: 1 hours Due: No due date Weighting: 4%

Submitting certain tasks in pracs, tasks that are not graded for quality, that is, assessed as done (gaining all allotted marks) or not done (no allotted marks at all).

On successful completion you will be able to:

  • Describe the basic functioning of the nervous system in animals, including the senses
  • Explain the principles of evolution by natural selection and sexual selection
  • Demonstrate an understanding of basic concepts and principles in genetics, epigenetics, perception, learning, human evolution, explanations in animal behaviour, and the topics on the nature of science, ethics, study skills, animal behaviour and on evolution and human behaviour presented in the unit
  • Apply knowledge and skills to collect, analyse, and interpret scientific data including those presented in graphic form
  • Extract key points from scientific papers and other forms of presentation and accurately communicate these to a general audience
  • Comment critically on scientific papers and other forms of presentation with regard to life on our planet today

Major lab quiz

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test Indicative Time on Task 2: 5 hours Due: 02/09/2022 Weighting: 3%

Based on prac using graphs from scientific data. On successful completion you will be able to:

  • Apply knowledge and skills to collect, analyse, and interpret scientific data including those presented in graphic form

Essay

Assessment Type 1: Essay Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours Due: 16/10/2022 Weighting: 30%

Commentary summarising a scientific article and topic, including incorporating other sources of primary literature. On successful completion you will be able to:

  • Apply knowledge and skills to collect, analyse, and interpret scientific data including those presented in graphic form
  • Extract key points from scientific papers and other forms of presentation and accurately communicate these to a general audience
  • Comment critically on scientific papers and other forms of presentation with regard to life on our planet today

Final examination

Assessment Type 1: Examination Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours Due: Begins week 13 Weighting: 35%

Examination in the final exam period On successful completion you will be able to:

  • Describe the basic functioning of the nervous system in animals, including the senses
  • Explain the principles of evolution by natural selection and sexual selection
  • Demonstrate an understanding of basic concepts and principles in genetics, epigenetics, perception, learning, human evolution, explanations in animal behaviour, and the topics on the nature of science, ethics, study skills, animal behaviour and on evolution and human behaviour presented in the unit

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

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
quizzes in textbook 28% Yes 8 quizzes: 8,15,29 Aug, 5,26 Sept, 3,17 Oct, 6 Nov
Participation in pracs 4% No No due date
Major lab quiz 3% No 02/09/2022
Essay 30% No 16/10/2022
final examination 35% No Exam period

quizzes in textbook

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 24 hours
Due: 8 quizzes: 8,15,29 Aug, 5,26 Sept, 3,17 Oct, 6 Nov
Weighting: 28%
This is a hurdle assessment task (see assessment policy for more information on hurdle assessment tasks)

 

quiz questions in each chapter of the e-textbook

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Describe the basic functioning of the nervous system in animals, including the senses
  • Explain the principles of evolution by natural selection and sexual selection
  • Demonstrate an understanding of basic concepts and principles in genetics, epigenetics, perception, learning, human evolution, explanations in animal behaviour, and the topics on the nature of science, ethics, study skills, animal behaviour and on evolution and human behaviour presented in the unit

Participation in pracs

Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 1 hours
Due: No due date
Weighting: 4%

 

Submitting certain tasks in pracs, tasks that are not graded for quality, that is, assessed as done (gaining all allotted marks) or not done (no allotted marks at all).

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Describe the basic functioning of the nervous system in animals, including the senses
  • Explain the principles of evolution by natural selection and sexual selection
  • Demonstrate an understanding of basic concepts and principles in genetics, epigenetics, perception, learning, human evolution, explanations in animal behaviour, and the topics on the nature of science, ethics, study skills, animal behaviour and on evolution and human behaviour presented in the unit
  • Apply knowledge and skills to collect, analyse, and interpret scientific data including those presented in graphic form
  • Extract key points from scientific papers and other forms of presentation and accurately communicate these to a general audience
  • Comment critically on scientific papers and other forms of presentation with regard to life on our planet today

Major lab quiz

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 5 hours
Due: 02/09/2022
Weighting: 3%

 

quiz in iLearn on reading information from graphs in scientific articles

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Apply knowledge and skills to collect, analyse, and interpret scientific data including those presented in graphic form

Essay

Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: 16/10/2022
Weighting: 30%

 

Commentary summarising a scientific article and topic, including incorporating other sources of primary literature.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Apply knowledge and skills to collect, analyse, and interpret scientific data including those presented in graphic form
  • Extract key points from scientific papers and other forms of presentation and accurately communicate these to a general audience
  • Comment critically on scientific papers and other forms of presentation with regard to life on our planet today

final examination

Assessment Type 1: Examination
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: Exam period
Weighting: 35%

 

examination in the final exam period

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Describe the basic functioning of the nervous system in animals, including the senses
  • Explain the principles of evolution by natural selection and sexual selection
  • Demonstrate an understanding of basic concepts and principles in genetics, epigenetics, perception, learning, human evolution, explanations in animal behaviour, and the topics on the nature of science, ethics, study skills, animal behaviour and on evolution and human behaviour presented in the unit

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

Lectures online, pracs in person with an option for online. See iLearn for details and details on the course book (an eBook).

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

Academic Integrity

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.

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.  

Student Support

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

The Writing Centre

The Writing Centre provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

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

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via AskMQ, or contact Service Connect.

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 2022.04 of the Handbook