Grade descriptors and other information concerning grading are contained in the Macquarie University Assessment Policy.

All final grades are determined by a grading committee, in accordance with the Macquarie University Assessment Policy, and are not the sole responsibility of the Unit Convenor.

Students will be awarded a final grade and a mark, which must correspond to the grade descriptors specified in the Assessment Procedure.

To pass this unit, you must demonstrate sufficient evidence of achievement of the learning outcomes, meet any ungraded requirements, and achieve a final mark of 50 or better.

Further details for each assessment task will be available on iLearn.

Short Extension

The Assessment Task table lists which assessments are eligible for a Short Extension. You can only apply for a Short Extension before the assessment due date. No reason or evidence is required. It will extend the due date by an additional 3 calendar days. You can only receive one Short Extension for each eligible assessment task. Short Extensions are not available if you have already received an IEAP Extension or Special Consideration for that assessment task.

Special Consideration

If you are unable to complete an assessment task on or by the specified date due to circumstances that are unexpected, unavoidable, significantly disruptive and beyond your control, you may apply for special consideration in accordance with the Special Consideration Policy. Applications for special consideration must be supported by appropriate evidence and submitted via connect.mq.edu.au.

Late Submissions

A 5% penalty (OF THE TOTAL POSSIBLE MARK) will be applied each day a written assessment is not submitted, up to 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. Submission of assessments after 7 days can be accepted at the discretion of the unit convenor and may be taken into account in determining whether you have met the learning outcomes of the unit to support passing the unit. Days late will be calculated from the date listed in the Assessment Tasks table, or from the extended due date if a Short Extension or Special Consideration application is accepted.

 For example:

As a student enrolled in this unit, you will engage in a range of online and face-to-face learning activities. Details can be found on the iLearn site for this unit.

Required Unit Materials

All students are required to wear closed shoes and a lab coat/gown to attend practical classes.

Recommended Readings

Unit readings for this unit are available via the iLearn and university library website. The prescribed textbook for this unit is

• Lodish, H (2021) Molecular Cell Biology (9th Edition) Macmillan Learning, OR
• Alberts, B (2022) Molecular Biology of the Cell (7th Edition). W W Norton & Company 

Please note that the resources are recommended to complement your understanding of the unit content. The readings are not compulsory and will not be assessed unless covered elsewhere in the unit material.

Technology Used

Active participation in the learning activities throughout the unit will require students to have access to a tablet, laptop or similar device. Students who do not own their own laptop computer may borrow one from the university library.

• Week 1: Overview, Cell Signaling Basics, Techniques in Biology
• Week 2: Genetics, Genomics and Genetic Therapies
• Week 3: Cell Cycle Dysregulation in Cancer
• Week 4: DNA Damage and Repair
• Week 5: Signaling Pathways in Health and Disease
• Week 6: Apoptosis and Necrosis — Cell Survival Pathways (UPS and Autophagy)
• Week 7: Transcription Regulation, RNA Processing and Transcriptomics in Human Disease
• Week 8: Protein Metabolism and Proteomics
• Week 9: Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Antioxidant Therapies
• Week 10: Transgenic Animals
• Week 11: Neuroprotection and Microglia — Stem Cells and Regeneration Therapies
• Week 12: Translating Basic Discoveries to Pharma and Clinic
• Week 13: Revision

Macquarie University recognises that artificial intelligence (AI), especially generative AI, is rapidly reshaping education and the modern workplace. As AI becomes increasingly accessible, the University and your teaching staff are committed to preparing you to use these tools effectively, ethically, and with strong professional judgment. Rather than restricting technology, the emphasis is on helping you understand when and how AI can be used to enhance productivity, support learning, and reflect real-world professional practice. Across your degree, we will support you to develop the critical thinking, adaptability, and values-based decision-making skills required to navigate evolving AI tools responsibly, including acknowledging their use appropriately.  You should always appropriately acknowledge when you have used AI tools within assessment tasks, including which AI tools you have used and how you have used them.

To provide clarity, Macquarie University uses a simple, two-tiered approach to AI in assessment:

• AI Open assessments allow you to fully incorporate AI, reflecting authentic tasks where AI would normally be used in professional settings.
• Observed with AI Optional assessments involve tasks where you either demonstrate essential knowledge without technology or show how you apply AI under supervision.

Across both categories, the goal is to ensure you build foundational knowledge, exercise sound judgment, and engage with AI in ways that uphold ethical, cultural, and university values.

Social inclusion at Macquarie University is about giving everyone who has the potential to benefit from higher education the opportunity to study at university, participate in campus life and flourish in their chosen field. The University has made significant moves to promote an equitable, diverse and exciting campus community for the benefit of staff and students. It is your responsibility to contribute towards the development of an inclusive culture and practice in the areas of learning and teaching, research, and service orientation and delivery. As a member of the Macquarie University community, you must not discriminate against or harass others based on their sex, gender, race, marital status, carers' responsibilities, disability, sexual orientation, age, political conviction or religious belief. All staff and students are expected to display appropriate behaviour that is conducive to a healthy learning environment for everyone.

In the Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, professionalism is a key capability embedded in all our courses.

As part of developing professionalism, students are expected to attend all small group interactive sessions, including clinical, practical, laboratory, work-integrated learning (e.g., PACE placements), and team-based learning activities. Some learning activities are recorded (e.g., face-to-face lectures), however you are encouraged to avoid relying upon such material as they do not recreate the whole learning experience and technical issues can and do occur. As an adult learner, we respect your decision to choose how you engage with your learning, but we would remind you that the learning opportunities we create for you have been done so to enable your success, and that by not engaging you may impact your ability to successfully complete this unit. We equally expect that you show respect for the academic staff who have worked hard to develop meaningful activities and prioritise your learning by communicating with them in advance if you are unable to attend a small group interactive session.

Another dimension of professionalism is having respect for your peers. It is the right of every student to learn in an environment that is free of disruption and distraction. Please arrive to all learning activities on time, and if you are unavoidably detained, please join activity as quietly as possible to minimise disruption. Phones and other electronic devices that produce noise and other distractions must be turned off prior to entering class. Where your own device (e.g., laptop) is being used for class-related activities, you are asked to close down all other applications to avoid distraction to you and others. Please treat your fellow students with the utmost respect. If you are uncomfortable participating in any specific activity, please let the relevant academic know.