AGRIC 2510WT - Agricultural Genetics II
Waite Campus - Semester 2 - 2024
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General Course Information
Course Details
Course Code AGRIC 2510WT Course Agricultural Genetics II Coordinating Unit Agricultural Science Term Semester 2 Level Undergraduate Location/s Waite Campus Units 3 Contact Up to 6 hours per week Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y Prerequisites (BIOLOGY 1101 or BIOLOGY 1101ND or BIOLOGY 1401 or BIOLOGY 1001) and BIOLOGY 1202 (or 2 semesters of first year Biology) Restrictions Available to Bachelor of Viticulture & Oenology & Bachelor of Agricultural Sciences students only Assessment Tests, practical reports & quizzes, group presentation, workshop assignments, exam Course Staff
Course Coordinator: Dr Karina Riggs
Course Timetable
The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.
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Learning Outcomes
Course Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
1 Explain the processes of meiosis and recombination and how Mendel’s Laws underpin the way that genes are inherited including different modes of inheritance. 2 Understand the structure of eukaryotic genes and how gene expression can be controlled or measured through the use of techniques such as PCR. 3 Explain the relationship between environment, genotypes and phenotypes and understand how to measure and predict changes in populations. 4 Demonstrate the ability to work effectively in a team for Team Based Learning exercises and group assessment tasks. 5 Demonstrate competence in practical skills and techniques commonly used in genetic research and analysis. This includes preparation of reagents and use of scientific equipment to collect data for interpretation, analysis and presentation. 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) Attribute 1: Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth
Graduates have comprehensive knowledge and understanding of their subject area, the ability to engage with different traditions of thought, and the ability to apply their knowledge in practice including in multi-disciplinary or multi-professional contexts.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5 Attribute 2: Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving
Graduates are effective problems-solvers, able to apply critical, creative and evidence-based thinking to conceive innovative responses to future challenges.
4,5 Attribute 3: Teamwork and communication skills
Graduates convey ideas and information effectively to a range of audiences for a variety of purposes and contribute in a positive and collaborative manner to achieving common goals.
4,5 Attribute 8: Self-awareness and emotional intelligence
Graduates are self-aware and reflective; they are flexible and resilient and have the capacity to accept and give constructive feedback; they act with integrity and take responsibility for their actions.
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Learning Resources
Required Resources
A lab coat and closed footwear must worn for each wet laboratory session. Lab coats will not be provided by teaching staff.Recommended Resources
The recommended course textbook is: GENETICS: A CONCEPTUAL APPROACH, 4th or 5th Edition by Benjamin Pierce, Freeman Publishers. This book is the most comprehensive in terms of the material covered in the course and is available on reserve at the Library.
Other good genetics texts include:
GENETICS: ANALYSIS & PRINICIPLES by Robert Brooker, McGraw-Hill Publishers
GENETIC ANALYSIS: FROM GENES TO GENOMES by Hartwell, et al., McGraw-Hill Publishers
GENETICS: ANALYSIS OF GENES AND GENOMES by Daniel Hartl, Jones & Bartlett Publishers
INTRODUCTION TO GENETIC ANALYSIS, by Griffiths, et al., Freeman Publishers
Most modern books on genetics will be suitable for this course and you are encouraged to read widely.Online Learning
Teaching and course materials will be posted on MyUni (http://myuni.adelaide.edu.au/). Lectures will be recorded and posted on
MyUni. Assessment tasks will need to be completed online (ie. Tests in Quiz format) or uploaded to MyUni. -
Learning & Teaching Activities
Learning & Teaching Modes
The course comprises Lectures, Tutorials and Practicals.Workload
The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.
A student enrolled in a 3 unit course, such as this, should expect to spend, on average 12 hours per week on the studies required. This includes both the formal contact time required to the course (e.g., lectures, tutorials & practicals), as well as non-contact time (e.g., pre-class preparation, post-class assessments, reading and revision).Learning Activities Summary
The course comprises 3 modules, Mendelian Genetics (weeks 1-4), Population and Quantitative Genetics (weeks 5-8) and Molecular Genetics (weeks 9-12)
Lectures cover a range of topics including; Genomes and gene structure, genetic crosses and modes of inheritance, recombination and linkage analysis, gene structure, gene expression and control, modern molecular techniques, population genetics, selection and inbreeding and quantitative genetics.
The tutorials/workshops include working in teams on case studies relevant to real life scenarios encountered in the agriculture and wine industries, exam revision and planning for the major group assessment task.
Practicals link to the theory covered in lectures and tutorials and provide hands-on experience using equipment commonly used in the field of genetics and molecular biology and computer simulations to model populations. Practical topics include; chromosome structure and meiosis, DNA technologies including Genetic Modification and computer-based simulations on population genetics.
Individual tests are conducted at the end of each module to test understanding of concepts.Specific Course Requirements
Attendance at practical laboratory classes and tutorials are compulsory and contribute 30% respectively towards the final course grade. -
Assessment
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 Hurdle? Learning Outcome Practical assignments Formative & Summative Weeks 4,8,12
30% No 5 Workshops Summative Weeks 4,8,12 30% No 1,2,3 Group Video Summative Semester Break 10% No 4 Exam Summative Exam period 30% Yes 1,2,3 Assessment Related Requirements
Hurdle Requirements
Students must achieve at least 40% in the Exam component to pass the course.Assessment Detail
The Assessment is broken down into Exam (30%) and Non-Exam (70%) components.
Practical Reports (Total weightings 30%):
Working in pairs, students will undertake 6 x 3 hr fortnightly practical sessions. Each practical module will be assessed (10% each) using a variety of methods including written practical reports, short answers, calculations, graphsand quizzes, submitted in pairs or individually
Tutorials (Total weighting 30%):
In the 6 x 3 hour tutorials, students will work in groups to solve scenarios and answer practice questions in preparation for the
tutorial assignment (3 x 10%) which is submitted individually.
Group Video (Total weighting 10%):
Students create a 5-7 minute Video in teams on the use of genetics and DNA biotechnologies in agriculture, viticulture and oenology or medical science and address questions on their topic.
Final exam (Total weighting 30%):
The 3 hour exam will aim to test students in all areas covered by the course. Students will need to achieve at least 40% in the final exam to pass the course.Submission
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 10% of the value of the assignment for each calendar day that 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 or more late without an approved extension can only receive a maximum of 50% of the mark.
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.
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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.
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Student Support
- Academic Integrity for Students
- Academic Support with Maths
- Academic Support with writing and study skills
- Careers Services
- International Student Support
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- LinkedIn Learning
- Student Life Counselling Support - Personal counselling for issues affecting study
- Students with a Disability - Alternative academic arrangements
- YouX Student Care - Advocacy, confidential counselling, welfare support and advice
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Policies & Guidelines
This section contains links to relevant assessment-related policies and guidelines - all university policies.
- Academic Credit Arrangements Policy
- Academic Integrity Policy
- Academic Progress by Coursework Students Policy
- Assessment for Coursework Programs Policy
- Copyright Compliance Policy
- Coursework Academic Programs Policy
- Elder Conservatorium of Music Noise Management Plan
- Intellectual Property Policy
- IT Acceptable Use and Security Policy
- Modified Arrangements for Coursework Assessment Policy
- Reasonable Adjustments to Learning, Teaching & Assessment for Students with a Disability Policy
- Student Experience of Learning and Teaching Policy
- Student Grievance Resolution Process
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