Unit Guide

General Information

Unit convenor and teaching staff	Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit Convener Jaco Le Roux jaco.leroux@mq.edu.au Administration Mariel Fulham mariel.fulham@mq.edu.au
Credit points	Credit points 10
Prerequisites	Prerequisites
Corequisites	Corequisites
Co-badged status	Co-badged status
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. This unit requires attendance at an on-campus session.

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: Define how biological information is encoded in the structure of the genetic molecule, DNA
ULO2: Describe how large macromolecules, such as nucleic acids and proteins are constructed from simpler building blocks
ULO3: Explain how eukaryotic cells are constructed, in terms of the structure and functions of organelles
ULO4: Describe how genetic information is transmitted through the generations, and the evolutionary process
ULO5: Discuss modern applications of genetics and genomics
ULO6: Analyse scientific data and use the basic elements of scientific writing to write reports

General Assessment Information

Requirements to Pass this Unit

To pass this unit you must:

Achieve a total mark equal to or greater than 50%, and
Achieve at least 50% in the final examination

This unit has no hurdle assessments.

Late Assessment Submission Penalty

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (of the total possible mark of the task) will be applied for each day a written report or presentation assessment is not submitted, up until the 7^th day (including weekends). After the 7^th day, a grade of ‘0’ will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. The submission time for all uploaded assessments is 11:55 pm. A 1-hour grace period will be 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, please apply for Special Consideration.

Assessments where Late Submissions will be accepted

Weekly practical quizzes – YES, Standard Late Penalty applies
Paper dissection; Mid-semester test; Final exam – NO, unless Special Consideration is Granted

Special Consideration

The Special Consideration Policy aims to support students who have been impacted by short-term circumstances or events that are serious, unavoidable and significantly disruptive, and which may affect their performance in assessment. If you experience circumstances or events that affect your ability to complete the assessments in this unit on time, please inform the convenor and submit a Special Consideration request through ask.mq.edu.au.

Assessment Tasks

Name	Weighting	Hurdle	Due
Practical quizzes	10%	No	Weekly (opens Mondays @9am, closes Sundays @ 11:55pm)
Database project	10%	No	Aug 25, Oct 13 (@11:55pm on all due dates)
Mid-semester test	15%	No	20/09/2023
Paper dissection	25%	No	06/10/2023
Final Exam	40%	No	Formal exam period (exact date TBA)

Practical quizzes

Assessment Type ¹: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task ²: 10 hours
Due: Weekly (opens Mondays @9am, closes Sundays @ 11:55pm)
Weighting: 10%

Pre-prac quizzes to test preparedness and comprehension.