Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Unit Convenor/Lecturer
Rachael Dudaniec
Tutor
Jessica O'Hare
Administration
Caitlin Kordis
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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, BIOX2110
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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:
Submission Deadlines:
Online quizzes, in-class activities, or scheduled tests and exam must be undertaken at the time given. Should these activities be missed due to illness or misadventure, students may apply for Special Consideration.
Unless otherwise stated, 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.
Assessments not submitted by the due date will receive a mark of zero unless late submissions are specifically allowed as indicated in here or on iLearn. If late submissions are permitted as indicated in the unit guide or on iLearn a consistent penalty will be applied for late submissions as follows:
Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
---|---|---|---|
Practical Report | 25% | No | 13 April |
Problem Sets | 5% | No | Open in Weeks 3,4,6,8,9 |
Seminar Poster | 15% | No | 4 May |
Test | 10% | No | 12 May |
Final Exam | 45% | Yes | Exam Period |
Assessment Type 1: Report
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: 13 April
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: Problem set
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: Open in Weeks 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: Presentation
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: 4 May
Weighting: 15%
You are required to design and present a 3-minute scientific conference poster (design as a powerpoint slide with recorded presentation) on a topic in genetics that you find exciting, based on a peer-reviewed scientific paper. 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: 12 May
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.
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.
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
This unit has two online lectures per week. Lectures will all be available each week online under the Echo360 link.
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
Mid-Semester Recess (April 11-24)
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
Online practical sessions are scheduled for Wednesdays 2-5pm. This time-slot is allocated for self-directed learning. A zoom session will be held during each practical session - see iLearn for more details.
Week Date Practical/Tutorial
1 23 Feb NO PRACTICAL/TUTORIAL
2 9 March 1: DNA Extraction **
3 10 March 2: Gel electrophoresis and PCR**
4 16 March 3: DNA Sequence Alignment and Data Analysis
5 23 March 4: Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium – single locus
6 30 March 5: Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium – population level
7 6 April 6: Linkage Disequilibrium
Mid Semester Break
8 27 April 7: Data Quality in Genomics
9 4 May 8 Problem solving and test preparation
10 12 May 9: Online Test (Thursday)
11 18 May 10: Test answers and exam revision
12 25 May NO PRACTICAL/TUTORIAL
** Online practical materials combined
On-campus teaching continues to be scheduled for Session 1, 2022. Masks are compulsory for all classes in indoor spaces and social distancing will be implemented wherever possible. Students will also be required to sanitise surfaces before and after use.
Students are requested to minimise the risk of spreading COVID to themselves and others in accordance with the university and NSW Health guidelines:https://www.mq.edu.au/about/coronavirus-faqs and https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/stay-safe.
Any further requirements or changes to units in relation to COVID will be communicated to students via iLearn.
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
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/
The Writing Centre provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.
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Date | Description |
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01/03/2022 | Changed submission deadline information |
Unit information based on version 2022.02 of the Handbook