ANIML SC 3043RW - Animal Biotechnology III

Roseworthy Campus - Summer - 2018

The application of biotechnology to animals will be examined. Challenges facing the intensive and extensive livestock industries, as well as wildlife management and conservation, will be discussed and debated in the context of biotechnologies that may be applied. Problems specific to horses and companion animals will be also considered. The contribution of biotechnology to laboratory animal models for human and animal disease will be addressed. In addition, the use of biotechnology for animal related issues such as food safety, disease control and biosecurity will be considered. A range of genetic, immunological and reproductive technologies will be introduced with some practical exposure. The integration of these technologies to improve animal production, health and welfare will be explored.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code ANIML SC 3043RW
    Course Animal Biotechnology III
    Coordinating Unit School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences
    Term Summer
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s Roseworthy Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 7 hours per day over a 2 week intensive
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y
    Assumed Knowledge BIOLOGY 1101 & BIOLOGY 1202 & ANIML SC 2503RW
    Course Description The application of biotechnology to animals will be examined. Challenges facing the intensive and extensive livestock industries, as well as wildlife management and conservation, will be discussed and debated in the context of biotechnologies that may be applied. Problems specific to horses and companion animals will be also considered. The contribution of biotechnology to laboratory animal models for human and animal disease will be addressed. In addition, the use of biotechnology for animal related issues such as food safety, disease control and biosecurity will be considered. A range of genetic, immunological and reproductive technologies will be introduced with some practical exposure. The integration of these technologies to improve animal production, health and welfare will be explored.
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Dr Karen Kind

    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    1 Describe the limitations and challenges facing the animal industries and disciplines
    2 Describe the various biotechnologies available to the animal related fields
    3 Explain how developments in biotechnology may have applications in those fields
    4 Evaluate and discuss public and ethical concerns over the use of animal biotechnology
    5 Locate and critically evaluate scientific literature and experimental studies relating to animal biotechnology and be able to effectively communicate the findings in oral and written form.



    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)
    Deep discipline knowledge
    • informed and infused by cutting edge research, scaffolded throughout their program of studies
    • acquired from personal interaction with research active educators, from year 1
    • accredited or validated against national or international standards (for relevant programs)
    1,2,3
    Critical thinking and problem solving
    • steeped in research methods and rigor
    • based on empirical evidence and the scientific approach to knowledge development
    • demonstrated through appropriate and relevant assessment
    1,3,
    Teamwork and communication skills
    • developed from, with, and via the SGDE
    • honed through assessment and practice throughout the program of studies
    • encouraged and valued in all aspects of learning
    5
    Career and leadership readiness
    • technology savvy
    • professional and, where relevant, fully accredited
    • forward thinking and well informed
    • tested and validated by work based experiences
    2,3
    Intercultural and ethical competency
    • adept at operating in other cultures
    • comfortable with different nationalities and social contexts
    • able to determine and contribute to desirable social outcomes
    • demonstrated by study abroad or with an understanding of indigenous knowledges
    4
    Self-awareness and emotional intelligence
    • a capacity for self-reflection and a willingness to engage in self-appraisal
    • open to objective and constructive feedback from supervisors and peers
    • able to negotiate difficult social situations, defuse conflict and engage positively in purposeful debate
    4,5
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    There is no required text book for this course but a list of recommended resources is provided at the beginning of semester. Students will require access to the University systems (MyUni, etc) and the Roseworthy Library. Access to practical and animal holding facilities on the Roseworthy Campus and other facilities.
    Online Learning
    MyUni: Teaching materials and course documentation will be posted on the MyUni website (http://myuni.adelaide.edu.au/).
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    Ten days of lecture, tutorials and practicals, with an average of 6-7 hours contact per day.

    The course is scheduled for 3 weeks, to allow time in the third week to complete the assessment tasks and prepare for, and sit, the 3 hour exam.
    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    This course consists of 2 weeks of intensive lecture / tutorial / practical sessions. In addition, a student enrolled in the course should expect an equivalent non-contact time for reading, revision and preparation of assessment items.
    Learning Activities Summary
    The course content will consider a range of biotechnologies relevant to the animal industries, including gene editing, stem cell therapies, vaccine technology, reproductive technologies, reproductive cloning, DNA technologies and bioinformatics. Challenges facing the various animal industries and the potential biotechnology solutions to these problems will be considered in lectures and tutorials.



    Specific Course Requirements
    Practical classes within laboratories require a minimum of sneakers and the wearing of a laboratory gown (that will be supplied). You will also need to display your student ID in the holder provided. Students must wear any required safety or protective clothing as directed.

    Field trips require a minimum of sneakers and appropriate clothes.
    Attendance at practicals and tutorials is compulsory.

    Ethical objection to animal dissection and experimentation will be taken seriously. Such concerns will be solicited during the first week of class. Students who do not wish to be involved in animal dissection or experimentation will not be disadvantaged or discriminated against in any way. Alternative modes of learning will be supplied to these students.
  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary
    Assessment task Type of assessment
    Percentage of total
    assessment
    for grading purposes


    Hurdle Outcomes
    being
    assessed / achieved
    Tutorial contribution / Participation Formative and summative 5% No 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
    Debate Formative and summative 10% No 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
    Practical reports Formative and summative 25% No 1, 2, 3, 5
    Written assignment Summative 20% No 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
    Final Exam Summative 40% No 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
    Assessment Detail
    Tutorial contribution / participation / (5% of total grade)
    Students will receive a mark based upon their contribution during discussions in tutorials and lectures. In addition, students will be required to submit suggested exam questions each day of the course (9 days); based on the content covered in lectures, tutorials and practicals on the previous day.

    Debate (10% of total grade)
    Pairs of students will be assigned a debating topic based on the use of biotechnology in the animal industries. Each pair will debate their case for 10 min, with a further 10 min for the rebuttal argument and then general discussion of the topic. Students will be assessed based on their debate and rebuttal, contribution to general discussion and their written comment/assessment of the other debate topics.

    Practical reports (25% of the total grade)
    Students will submit three practical reports. Practical assignments involve either answering written questions, analysing and interpreting practical results and presenting them in a summary table, or a formal write-up of the results of a practical activity. Each report is due at the end of the appropriate week of the course.

    Written assignment (20% of the total grade)
    Students select a topic related to application of animal biotechnology, and submit a minimum of a 2000 word written assignment on the topic.

    Final Exam (40% of the total grade)
    Students will sit a 3 hr final exam that will cover theoretical and practical topics from the course. Questions will be a mix of short and long answer. Students can take 2 A4 pages of handwritten notes into the exam.
    Submission
    Assignments must be submitted by 5 pm on the due date. Late assignments will not be accepted (without an approved application for extension). All submissions should have a signed cover sheet attached.

    Marked reports will be returned as soon as possible after the due date. Feedback on assignments will be via annotations on reports. Should students wish to have verbal feedback on assignments an appointment should be made with the course coordinator.

    Late submission of assessments
    If an extension is not applied for, or not granted then a penalty for late submission will apply. A penalty of zero will be allocated to late submitted assessment.
    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
  • Fraud Awareness

    Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

The University of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The University of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.