LFS252 Molecular Biology

What is this course about?

Description

You will study the basic principles of molecular biology by discovering the interplay of molecules that underpin life and enable genetic engineering, biotechnology and bioinformatics and synthetic biology fields. You will understand concepts relating to DNA structure, the genetic code, replication, and repair; and how RNA is transcribed, regulated, and functions within cells. You will also understand how proteins are translated, folded, and their myriad functions and perform key molecular techniques including PCR, cloning, sequencing, and protein production.

How will this course be delivered?

Course Topics

Am I eligible to enrol in this course?

Refer to the UniSC Glossary of terms for definitions of “pre-requisites, co-requisites and anti-requisites”.

Pre-requisites

(SCI100 or LFS100) or (LFS103 and enrolled in Program SE303, AE304, SC355, SC357 or SC354)

Co-requisites

Not applicable

Anti-requisites

Not applicable

Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills (where applicable)

Basic understanding of cell biology.

Microcredential Information

Not applicable

How am I going to be assessed?

Grading Scale

Standard Grading (GRD)

Details of early feedback on progress

Students perform formative laboratory quizzes based on the lab content, and automatically receive their results the following week in Grade Centre. In addition, tutorials are provided every two weeks (beginning week 3), where students work through written exam-like questions and are provided face-to-face feedback on their answers in a group discussion.

Assessment tasks

5 minutes

90 minutes

2 hours

Directed study hours

A 12-unit course will have total of 150 learning hours which will include directed study hours (including online if required), self-directed learning and completion of assessable tasks. Student workload is calculated at 12.5 learning hours per one unit.

Schedule

Week 1

Content: Molecular biology an overview, Central Dogma and DNA structure, Inspiring examples of the usefulness of Molecular biology
Tutorial: Questions related to Week 1

Week 2

Content: DNA: The Genetic code, DNA replication & PCR
Laboratory: Basic skills, genomic DNA extraction, PCR, amplicon purification

Week 3

Content: Eukaryotic DNA replication, DNA repair and recombination
Tutorial: Questions related to Weeks 2-3

Week 4

Content: Mobile genetic elements, recombinant DNA technology, Applications and ethics of genetic engineering and biotechnology
Laboratory: TA cloning/BW

Week 5

Content: Transcription and regulation prokaryotes
Tutorial: Questions related to Weeks 4-5

Week 6

Content: Transcription and regulation of gene expression – Eukaryotes
Laboratory: Cloning into TA expression vectors. Theory of Blue-white selection

Week 7

Content: Mid-trimester exam
Tutorial: Questions related to Weeks 6-7

Week 8

Content: Introduction to noncoding RNAs (RNAi, short RNAs), Functional RNAs
Laboratory: Sequencing

Week 9

Content: Proteins: mechanisms of translation and synthesis
Tutorial: Questions related to Weeks 8-9

Week 10

Content: Proteins: understanding structure and function
Laboratory: Proteins: PAGE

Week 11

Content: Omics I and II: Genomic, bioinformatics and proteomics
Tutorial: Questions related to Weeks 10-11

Week 12

Content: Revision and summary
Laboratory: Proteins: WB

What resources do I need to undertake this course?

Please note: Course information, including specific information of recommended readings, learning activities, resources, weekly readings, etc. are available on the course Canvas site– Please log in as soon as possible.

Prescribed text(s) or course reader

You need regular access to the resource(s) below. Many texts are available as ebooks through the Library at no additional cost.

Specific requirements

Laboratory coat, safety glasses, closed in footwear in laboratories.

Assessment: Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is the ethical standard of university participation. It ensures that students graduate as a result of proving they are competent in their discipline. This is integral in maintaining the value of academic qualifications. Each industry has expectations and standards of the skills and knowledge within that discipline and these are reflected in assessment.

Academic integrity means that you do not engage in any activity that is considered to be academic fraud; including plagiarism, collusion or outsourcing any part of any assessment item to any other person. You are expected to be honest and ethical by completing all work yourself and indicating in your work which ideas and information were developed by you and which were taken from others. You cannot provide your assessment work to others. You are also expected to provide evidence of wide and critical reading, usually by using appropriate academic references.

In order to minimise incidents of academic fraud, this course may require that some of its assessment tasks, when submitted to Canvas, are electronically checked through Turnitin. This software allows for text comparisons to be made between your submitted assessment item and all other work to which Turnitin has access.

Assessment: Additional Requirements

Eligibility for Supplementary Assessment

Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying:
(a) The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4%; and
(b) The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale

Assessment: Submission penalties

Late submissions may be penalised up to and including the following maximum percentage of the assessment task’s identified value, with weekdays and weekends included in the calculation of days late:
(a) One day: deduct 5%;
(b) Two days: deduct 10%;
(c) Three days: deduct 20%;
(d) Four days: deduct 40%;
(e) Five days: deduct 60%;
(f) Six days: deduct 80%;
(g) Seven days: A result of zero is awarded for the assessment task.

The following penalties will apply for a late submission for an online examination:
Less than 15 minutes: No penalty
From 15 minutes to 30 minutes: 20% penalty
More than 30 minutes: 100% penalty

Links to relevant University policy and procedures

For more information on Academic Learning & Teaching categories including:

• Assessment: Courses and Coursework Programs
• Review of Assessment and Final Grades
• Supplementary Assessment
• Central Examinations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Conduct
• Students with a Disability

For more information, visit https://www.usc.edu.au/explore/policies-and-procedures#academic-learning-and-teaching

Student Charter

UniSC is committed to excellence in teaching, research and engagement in an environment that is inclusive, inspiring, safe and respectful. The Student Charter sets out what students can expect from the University, and what in turn is expected of students, to achieve these outcomes.

General Enquiries

For course-specific questions, contact your teaching staff or Course Coordinator.  

For other enquiries or to access support, please contact Student Central: 

• UniSC Student Central
• UniSC Adelaide Student Central