BIOCHEM 3225 - Advanced Molecular Biology IIIB (Biochemistry)

North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2016

This course covers the regulation of cellular signalling, proliferation and differentiation in the context of embryonic development and diseases such as cancer. Lectures provide detailed information on the major conceptual and technical advances in this field, focussing on two principle themes: 1. The Molecular Basis of Cancer: topics include molecular mechanisms underlying normal cell-cell communication, signal transduction pathways, cell proliferation and apoptosis, differentiation, intracellular compartments, the cytoskeleton and cell shape, adhesion and migration. 2. Stem Cells and Development: topics include embryonic and adult stem cells, cellular reprogramming, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS), transgenic and knock-out mice, differentiation, neurogenesis, morphogenesis, segmentation and body plan, growth factors in development, sex determination and medical applications. This course combines these lectures and tutorials from Cancer, Stem Cells and Development III (BIOCHEM 3001) with practical exercises and/or laboratory placements in professional research laboratories. It includes a specialised set of Problem Based Learning (PBL) exercises, which are designed to provide students with a perspective of how cutting edge molecular biology principles and techniques are applied to major research questions. The PBL segment of the course may include aspects of biochemistry, genetics, microbiology, immunology and chemistry. This course will illustrate that cross-disciplinary approaches are essential in modern research.

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Course Details

Course Code	BIOCHEM 3225
Course	Advanced Molecular Biology IIIB (Biochemistry)
Coordinating Unit	School of Biological Sciences
Term	Semester 2
Level	Undergraduate
Location/s	North Terrace Campus
Units	6
Contact	Up to 23 hours per fortnight
Available for Study Abroad and Exchange	N
Prerequisites	BIOCHEM 2510, BIOCHEM 2520, BIOCHEM 2504 & BIOCHEM 2505
Incompatible	BIOCHEM 3001 & GENETICS 3210
Assumed Knowledge	BIOCHEM 3125
Restrictions	Available to BSc(MolBiol) students only
Assessment	Written exam on lecture material, written and oral reports on practicals and tutorials

Course Staff

Course Coordinator: Dr John Bruning

Course Timetable

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

Course Learning Outcomes

1	Understanding aspects of the molecular basis of cancer.
2	Understanding key aspects of stem cells, celldifferentiation and development in lower eukaryotes and vertebrates.
3	Understanding key experimental processes required to evaluate molecular aspects of stem cells, cancer and development, knowledge of how to apply them to solve specific biochemical problems, and an understanding of the ethical implications of this research.
4	Advanced skills and experience in planning, performing, interpreting, quantitatively analysing and communicating biochemical research using a variety of modern experimental techniques.
5	Ability to find, read, interpret, and critically analyse relevant scientific literature and apply it to specific problems in molecular biology.
6	Ability to work in teams and communicate scientific outcomes.

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	3, 4, 5
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	4, 5, 6
Career and leadership readiness technology savvy professional and, where relevant, fully accredited forward thinking and well informed tested and validated by work based experiences	5, 6
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	6
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, 6

Learning Resources

Required Resources

Laboratory coat, safety glasses and closed shoes.

Recommended Resources

Text book: Molecular Biology of the Cell (5th Edn) by Alberts et al., 2008, Published by Garland Science

Online Learning

Resource material such as lecture, tutorial, practical and past exams will be available on Myuni. Online assessment will be conducted via Myuni.

Learning & Teaching Modes

This course will be delivered by the following means:

3 Lectures of 1 hour each per week. The stacked / same time teaching components are thelectures timetabled with the existing course, Cancer, Stem Cells and Development III (BIOCHEM 3001).

1 Tutorial of 1 hour per week developing material covered in lectures. The lecturer takes the tutorial classes for their section.

1 Laboratory-based research project (45 hours) or CSCDIII Practical of (15 hours per fortnight, odd weeks = 5 hours & even weeks = 10 hour duration) in weeks 1-6. Includes oral presentation
in week 6 with immediate feedback provided.

1 x 2 hour problem-based learning (PBL) exercise weeks 7-12. Involves two different PBLs based on current research and bioethics, each assessed by 10-15 minute presentation in small groups.

3 online multiple choice tests of 1 hour duration (weeks 4, 8 and 12, with immediate feedback
provided).

Workload

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

A student enrolled in a 6 unit course, such as this, should expect to spend, on average 24 hours per week on the studies required. This includes both the formal contact time required to the course (e.g., lectures and practicals), as well as non-contact time (e.g., reading and revision).

Learning Activities Summary

Schedule
Week 1	Signalling Domains: Structure and Function	Lecture
Week 2	Signalling Domains: Structure and Function/Cell Signalling Pathways	Lecture
Week 3	Cell Signalling Pathways	Lecture
Week 4	Cancer: Cell Cycle/Apoptosis	Lecture
Week 5	Cancer: Cell Cycle/Apoptosis	Lecture
Week 6	Cancer: Adhesion/Migration	Lecture
Week 7	Cancer: Adhesion/Migration	Lecture
Week 8	Cancer and Metabolism	Lecture
Week 9	Axis Determination and Positional Information in Embryos	Lecture
Week 10	Stem Cells	Lecture
Week 11	Cell Differentiation/Neurogenesis	Lecture
Week 12	Sex Determination	Lecture

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

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

Assessment Summary

Assessment Task	Task Type	Due	Weighting	Learning Outcome
Written exam on lecture material	Summative	End of semester	65%	1, 2, 3
Laboratory Placement/Practical	Formative and Summative	End of week 7	15%	4, 5
PBL exercises	Formative and Summative	End of week 13	15%	5, 6
Online assessment	Formative and Summative	Weeks 4. 8 and 12	5%	1, 2, 3

Assessment Detail

End of term Exam (65% of total course grade) – A 3 hour examination covering the lecture material. It is made up of a mixture of short and long answer type questions.

Laboratory placement/Practical (15% of total course grade). The half semester research project (students can choose a laboratory placement or CSCDIII practical) will include experimental work,
keeping an up to date laboratory notebook, 1 oral presentation and the submission of a final practical report. The oral presentation is 10-15 minutes, cover the research performed in the practical, and performed individually (research placement) or small groups (CSCDIII practical) in week 7. Students
receive feedback throughout the semester on laboratory performance and keeping of laboratory notebooks, as well as immediately after the oral presentation, and on the final report.

PBL exercises (15% of total course grade), including assessment via oral presentations, weeks 7-12: Involves two different PBLs based on current research, each assessed by 10-15 minute presentation in small groups.

Online exercises (3 per semester): Three multiple choice tests in weeks 4, 8 and 12 (5% of total course grade). Encourages revision of the material soon after the relevant lectures, and immediate feedback provided to students.

Submission

If an extension is not applied for, or not granted,then a penalty for late submission
will apply. A penalty of 10% of the value of the assignment for each calendar day that the assignment is late (i.e. weekends count as 2 days), up to a maximum of 50% of the available marks will be applied. This means that an assignment that is 5 days late or more without an approved extension can only receive a maximum of 50% of the marks available for that assignment.

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.

Provision of Feedback to Students
The assessor usually provides appropriate feedback of assessment tasks to the student by means of written comments. The student has the opportunity to directly liaise with the assessor to obtain additional feedback and clarification if required.
Student Support
Policies & Guidelines
This section contains links to relevant assessment-related policies and guidelines - all university policies.
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.

Authorised by:	Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Academic)
Maintained by:	Course Outlines Administrator