Students

BIOL1210 – Human Biology

2026 – Session 1, In person-scheduled-intensive, North Ryde

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Convenor and Lecturer
Kevin Danastas
Lecturer
Emily Don
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
BIOX1210
Unit description Unit description

This unit is for anyone interested in humans, and how humans interact with the rest of the living world. BIOL1210 will give you an introductory overview of several fundamental topics essential for understanding the structure, function, and processes within the human body. This unit is designed as an introduction to anatomy and physiology, covering the major systems of the human body. Solving the challenges you may encounter in your science careers - such as emerging health issues, advances in biotechnology or changes in modern medicine - requires a familiarity with modern human biology knowledge. We aim to equip you with this knowledge and help to unlock a journey of self-discovery about incredible mysteries within your own body. The unit content is dealt with in such a way that students without prior studies in biology will not be at a disadvantage, however biology students are also encouraged to take this unit.

Learning in this unit enhances student understanding of global challenges identified by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) Good Health and Well Being.

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 and working knowledge of key biological terms
  • ULO2: Explain physiological processes in the human body starting at the genetic level and working through the biochemistry, cell and tissue functions to a physical outcome
  • ULO3: Outline the complex interactions between organ systems that result in homeostasis
  • ULO4: Apply biological concepts to a range of contemporary issues
  • ULO5: Critically evaluate the design and conclusions of biological experiments
  • ULO6: Summarize key findings related to complex biological topics

General Assessment Information

Requirements to pass this unit

To pass this unit, you must achieve a total mark equal to, or greater than, 50%.

Attendance and Participation

We strongly encourage all students to actively participate in all learning activities. Regular engagement is crucial for your success in this unit, as these activities provide opportunities to deepen your understanding of the material, collaborate with peers, and receive valuable feedback from instructors, to assist in completing the unit assessments. Your active participation not only enhances your own learning experience but also contributes to a vibrant and dynamic learning environment for everyone.

Late Submission Policy

  • 5% penalty per day: If you submit your assessment late, 5% of the total possible marks will be deducted for each day (including weekends), up to 7 days.
    • Example 1 (out of 100): If you score 85/100 but submit 20 hours late, you will lose 5 marks and receive 80/100.
    • Example 2 (out of 30): If you score 27/30 but submit 1 day late, you will lose 1.5 marks and receive 25.5/30.
  • After 7 days: Submissions more than 7 days late will receive a mark of 0.
  • Extensions:
    • Automatic short extension: Some assessments are eligible for automatic short extension. You can only apply for an automatic short extension before the due date.
    • Special Consideration: If you need more time due to serious issues and for any assessments that are not eligible for Short Extension, you must apply for Special Consideration.

Need help? Review the Special Consideration page HERE

Assessments where Late Submissions will be accepted:

AT1: Reference List and AT2 Lab Book Portfolio - YES, Standard Late Penalty applies

 

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due Groupwork/Individual Short Extension AI Approach
Reference List 25% No 01/05/2026 Individual Yes Open
Lab book portfolio 30% No 29/05/2026 Individual Yes Open
Final Exam 45% No Exam Period Individual No Observed

Reference List

Assessment Type 1: Written Submission
Indicative Time on Task 2: 25 hours
Due: 01/05/2026
Weighting: 25%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: Yes
AI Approach: Open

You will create a summary of papers and correctly formatted reference list relevant to current issues in human biology with a comparison of human and AI outputs.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate an understanding and working knowledge of key biological terms
  • Apply biological concepts to a range of contemporary issues
  • Critically evaluate the design and conclusions of biological experiments
  • Summarize key findings related to complex biological topics

Lab book portfolio

Assessment Type 1: Professional task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: 29/05/2026
Weighting: 30%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: Yes
AI Approach: Open

You will create a lab book portfolio related to experiments conducted in class.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate an understanding and working knowledge of key biological terms
  • Explain physiological processes in the human body starting at the genetic level and working through the biochemistry, cell and tissue functions to a physical outcome
  • Outline the complex interactions between organ systems that result in homeostasis
  • Apply biological concepts to a range of contemporary issues
  • Critically evaluate the design and conclusions of biological experiments
  • Summarize key findings related to complex biological topics

Final Exam

Assessment Type 1: Examination
Indicative Time on Task 2: 45 hours
Due: Exam Period
Weighting: 45%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: No
AI Approach: Observed

A final invigilated exam will be held during the Formal Examination period at the end of semester. This may consist of multiple choice and short answer questions.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate an understanding and working knowledge of key biological terms
  • Explain physiological processes in the human body starting at the genetic level and working through the biochemistry, cell and tissue functions to a physical outcome
  • Outline the complex interactions between organ systems that result in homeostasis
  • Apply biological concepts to a range of contemporary issues
  • Summarize key findings related to complex biological topics

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
  • Academic Success 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.

3 An automatic short extension is available for some assessments. Apply through the Service Connect Portal.

Delivery and Resources

Recommended text

The textbook for this unit is “Principles of Human Physiology” by Cindy L Stanfield, sixth edition, global edition, published by Pearson. Available electronically through the 'Unit readings - Leganto' Block in iLearn.

Week 1

Lectures will commence in week 1.  No workshops or practical classes in week 1.

Lectures 

There will be two lectures each week. Lectures will be available as live in-person, or as pre-recorded lectures. Each week's lectures will be made available through iLearn. All lecture notes will be available in the week-by-week sections on iLearn. 

Workshops and Practicals

Workshops and practical classes for all students will be taught face-to-face and will be on campus. Workshops will be held during the mid-session break, and practical classes on the weekend of week 10. Please refer to your personal timetable to identify the day and time of the classes you enrolled in. All notes and materials for the workshops and practical classes can be found on iLearn. 

Communication

We will communicate with you via your university email or through announcements on iLearn. Private queries can be sent directly to the unit convenor via the unit contact email on iLearn.

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 connect.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/

Academic Success

Academic Success 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 the Service Connect Portal, 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.

Changes from Previous Offering

We value student feedback to be able to continually improve the way we offer our units. As such we encourage students to provide constructive feedback via student surveys, to the teaching staff directly, or via the FSE Student Experience & Feedback link in the iLearn page. 

Following student feedback, the number of workshops and practicals have been revised to include less workshops and more practicals. Lectures are now offered both live in-person and as pre-recorded modules.

Changes since First Published

Date Description
20/02/2026 Update to unit contact information

Unit information based on version 2026.03 of the Handbook