Students

BMOL6231 – Advanced Biochemistry and Cell Biology

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

General Information

Download as PDF
Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Paul Jaschke
paul.jaschke@mq.edu.au
Lecturer
Robert Willows
robert.willows@mq.edu.au
Contact via robert.willows@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Admission to GradDipBiotech or GradCertLabAQMgt or GradDipLabAQMgt or MBiotech or MBioBus or MLabAQMgt or MRadiopharmSc or MSc or MScInnovationChemBiomolecularSc
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

Biochemistry and cell biology are central to our understanding of medicine and biotechnology. Advances in these fields are dependent on an advanced understanding of the molecular basis of diverse cellular processes. This unit links important biochemical processes to functions and properties of eukaryotic cells. We explore advanced concepts including: enzyme function, properties of membranes, signal transduction, protein trafficking and transport, and protein turnover. These are linked to whole cell behaviours such as cell division and differentiation, programmed cell death, and general responses to external stimuli. Practical work complements lecture material and provides experience with a broad range of current techniques used in research and industry. Laboratory techniques used include analysis of signalling cascades, enzyme kinetics, spectrophotometry, and fluorescence and light microscopy.

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: Demonstrate an understanding of how eukaryotic cells are studied and summarise current knowledge of internal cell organisation, membrane trafficking, intracellular compartments, biochemical pathways, and intra- and extra-cellular signalling.
  • ULO2: Summarise the major eukaryotic cell regulation control points and how disturbances in these processes are involved in human disease.
  • ULO3: Design and execute laboratory experiments to characterise, quantitate and measure a range of fundamental cell processes.
  • ULO4: Critically analyse and communicate advanced molecular, cellular, and biochemical concepts from the primary literature in both verbal and written form.

General Assessment Information

All assignments must be submitted as soft copy before the date & time specified on iLearn. Specific instructions for how to successfully complete assessments will be provided on iLearn. Criteria and standards required for the assessment tasks will be available on iLearn.

For any unapproved absences, students will receive a zero mark.

Online quizzes, in-class activities, or scheduled tests and exam must be undertaken at the time indicated in the unit guide. Should these activities be missed due to illness or misadventure, students may apply for Special Consideration.

All other assessments must be submitted by 5:00 pm on their due date. Should these assessments be missed due to illness or misadventure, students should apply for Special Consideration.

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: 

Lab Report Assessment – YES, Standard Late Penalty applies  

All Other Assessments (Lecture Participation, Practical Participation, Early Test, and Final Examination) - NO, unless Special Consideration is Granted

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Lecture participation 5% No Weeks 1-13
Practical participation 0% Yes Weeks 1-13
Early Test 10% No Week 3
Lab Report 50% No Weeks 6-11
Final Examination 35% No Exam Period

Lecture participation

Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 5 hours
Due: Weeks 1-13
Weighting: 5%

 

Small tasks across the semster to reward lecture participation

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate an understanding of how eukaryotic cells are studied and summarise current knowledge of internal cell organisation, membrane trafficking, intracellular compartments, biochemical pathways, and intra- and extra-cellular signalling.
  • Summarise the major eukaryotic cell regulation control points and how disturbances in these processes are involved in human disease.

Practical participation

Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 0 hours
Due: Weeks 1-13
Weighting: 0%
This is a hurdle assessment task (see assessment policy for more information on hurdle assessment tasks)

 

A task to assess practical participation

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Design and execute laboratory experiments to characterise, quantitate and measure a range of fundamental cell processes.

Early Test

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 12 hours
Due: Week 3
Weighting: 10%

 

An test on material covered in the first half of the unit

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate an understanding of how eukaryotic cells are studied and summarise current knowledge of internal cell organisation, membrane trafficking, intracellular compartments, biochemical pathways, and intra- and extra-cellular signalling.
  • Summarise the major eukaryotic cell regulation control points and how disturbances in these processes are involved in human disease.

Lab Report

Assessment Type 1: Lab report
Indicative Time on Task 2: 50 hours
Due: Weeks 6-11
Weighting: 50%

 

Four laboratory reports will be submitted as part of this assessment. Three of these will be partial laboratory reports that are formative types of assessment to gain experience in writing particular components of the analysis and reporting of biochemical and/or cell biological data. The fourth report will be a full laboratory report combining most aspects of a scientific report in the biochemical and cell biological fields.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate an understanding of how eukaryotic cells are studied and summarise current knowledge of internal cell organisation, membrane trafficking, intracellular compartments, biochemical pathways, and intra- and extra-cellular signalling.
  • Summarise the major eukaryotic cell regulation control points and how disturbances in these processes are involved in human disease.
  • Design and execute laboratory experiments to characterise, quantitate and measure a range of fundamental cell processes.
  • Critically analyse and communicate advanced molecular, cellular, and biochemical concepts from the primary literature in both verbal and written form.

Final Examination

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

 

A final examination on material covered during the unit

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate an understanding of how eukaryotic cells are studied and summarise current knowledge of internal cell organisation, membrane trafficking, intracellular compartments, biochemical pathways, and intra- and extra-cellular signalling.
  • Summarise the major eukaryotic cell regulation control points and how disturbances in these processes are involved in human disease.
  • Critically analyse and communicate advanced molecular, cellular, and biochemical concepts from the primary literature in both verbal and written form.

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

Required Text

B. Alberts, A. Johnson, J. Lewis, M. Raff, K. Roberts, P. Walter (2015) "Molecular Biology of the Cell" (6th Edition), ISBN 978-0815344322. Available at the Co-op and a few copies for reference in the library.

Your lectures will cover parts of many chapters from this text and your success in the unit will depend on having this textbook.

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.

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 2022.02 of the Handbook