Course Coordinator:David McMillan (dmcmill1@usc.edu.au) School:School of Science, Technology and Engineering
UniSC Sunshine CoastUniSC Moreton Bay |
Blended learning | Most of your course is on campus but you may be able to do some components of this course online. |
Please go to usc.edu.au for up to date information on the
teaching sessions and campuses where this course is usually offered.
MBT352 been designed to provide students with knowledge of the scientific principles and techniques that underpin molecular biotechnology, and how these techniques are applied using real world examples. Topics covered include manipulation of DNA, cloning DNA into bacteria, plants and animals, expression of recombinant proteins, and modification of genomes. The ethics of molecular biotechnology are also covered.
Activity | Hours | Beginning Week | Frequency |
Blended learning | |||
Learning materials – Asynchronous learning material | 2hrs | Week 1 | 13 times |
Laboratory 1 – Laboratories will be used to demonstrate key concepts in Molecular biotechnology. Each laboratory will be two hours in length. The preferred format for these laboratories is face to face. However COVID-19 restrictions may result in an altered delivery format and schedule. | 3hrs | Week 2 | 6 times |
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – Computer based tutorials will be used for students to learn how to design and analyse and utilise bioinformatic data. | 2hrs | Week 1 | 7 times |
Tutorial/Workshop 2 – Online live lectorial sessions will be used to reinforce key concepts and applications described in other parts of the course. | 1hr | Week 1 | 2 times |
Major themes that will be covered include:
•genetic manipulation of bacteria, plants and animals, including humans
•protein biotechnology
•medical biotechnology
•plant and animal biotechnology
•ethical and social implications of molecular biotechnology
The laboratory component of the course will equip students will technical and analytical skills used in this discipline. These will include:
•PCR, nucleotide sequencing and analysis
•Protein expression and purification
•Forensic biology
•Molecular diagnostics
•Advanced Microscopy
•Aquacultural biotechnology
300 Level (Graduate)
12 units
Course Learning Outcomes On successful completion of this course, you should be able to... | Graduate Qualities Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming... | |
1 | Design, describe and critically review strategies for cloning DNA, the production of genetically modified organisms, and expression and purification of recombinant proteins. |
Knowledgeable Creative and critical thinker |
2 | Describe and analyse how molecular biotechnology is applied in different settings, using real world examples. |
Knowledgeable Creative and critical thinker |
3 | Synthesise, discuss and critically analyse ethical and societal issues surrounding biotechnology. |
Creative and critical thinker Empowered Ethical |
4 | Demonstrate practical and analytical skills in relation to laboratory and bioinformatical techniques. |
Knowledgeable Creative and critical thinker |
Refer to the UniSC Glossary of terms for definitions of “pre-requisites, co-requisites and anti-requisites”.
(LFS252 or BIM202) or enrolled in Biotechnology Minor
Not applicable
Not applicable
Understanding of basic concepts in molecular biology and biochemistry as taught in prerequisite units
Standard Grading (GRD)
High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL). |
You will sit a formative multiple choice exam in week 4. This exam will cover content covered in the course that point. Feedback on the correct answers, with relevance to the final exam, will be provided.
Delivery mode | Task No. | Assessment Product | Individual or Group | Weighting % | What is the duration / length? | When should I submit? | Where should I submit it? |
All | 1 | Oral | Individual or Group | 10% | 7-15 min |
Refer to Format | In Class |
All | 2 | Report | Individual | 50% | 3000 words |
Week 13 | Online Submission |
All | 3 | Examination - Centrally Scheduled | Individual | 40% | 2 hours |
Exam Period | Exam Venue |
All - Assessment Task 1:Oral Seminar presentation | |
Goal: | Describe how biotechnology is or can be used to address contemporary issue or challenge in science, medicine, agricultural or any other industry. |
Product: | Oral |
Format: | You will work as a group or individual to prepare and deliver an oral presentation with accompanying figures to describe how biotechnology is or can be applied to address a current issue or challenge. Detailed instruction for the presentation will be provided in course materials (eg CANVAS). Visual materials will be submitted prior to commencement of oral presentations. |
Criteria: |
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All - Assessment Task 2:Research proposal | |
Goal: | Prepare and submit a research proposal that describes a current issue or problem and the application of biotechnological technique to solve or provide insight or to this issue. |
Product: | Report |
Format: | The research proposal will be written as a cohesive 3000 word document, containing the following sections: Project Title, Project Summary, Background. Research Aims. Research Plan, Expected or actual Outcomes, Significance of the Research, Potential limitations and/or alternatives, References. Full details will be provided in course materials. |
Criteria: |
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All - Assessment Task 3:Final exam | |
Goal: | You will demonstrate and apply knowledge, analyse relationships and solve problems in molecular biotechnology |
Product: | Examination - Centrally Scheduled |
Format: | Multiple choice, short answer and medium answer format |
Criteria: |
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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.
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.
Please note that you need to have regular access to the resource(s) listed below. Resources may be required or recommended.
Required? | Author | Year | Title | Edition | Publisher |
Recommended | Bernard R. Glick,Cheryl L. Patten | 2017 | Molecular Biotechnology | Fifth edition | ASM Press |
Students are required to comply with laboratory safety rules.
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.
Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying: The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4% The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale You have not failed an assessment task in the course due to academic misconduct
Late submission of assessment tasks may be penalised at the following maximum rate (the rates are cumulative): - 5% (of the assessment task's identified value) per day for the first two days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. - 10% (of the assessment task's identified value) for the third day - 20% (of the assessment task's identified value) for the fourth day and subsequent days up to and including seven days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. - A result of zero is awarded for an assessment task submitted after seven days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. Weekdays and weekends are included in the calculation of days late. To request an extension you must contact your course coordinator to negotiate an outcome.
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