Advanced Biochemistry
Duration
- One Semester or equivalent
Contact hours
- 60 hours face to face + Blended
On-campus unit delivery combines face-to-face and digital learning.
Aims and objectives
The unit aims to provide students with a depth of knowledge of a number of selected topics in biochemistry that will build upon the foundations established in earlier subjects. The main themes to be explored are, aspects of cell biology, and the techniques of biochemistry and molecular biology that underpin the developments of molecular sciences and biotechnology. The practical component will aim to make the students competent in several experimental and computer-based techniques of biochemistry and molecular biology.
Unit Learning Outcomes (ULO)
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
1. Develop and demonstrate an advanced level of understanding of gene and protein functionalities and their relevance to specific problems and research directions in field such as human health, agriculture environmental sciences
2. Explain some of the complexities of cellular control mechanisms in higher organisms, such as diverse signal transduction pathways, cell cycle control, and molecular basis of selected diseases
3. Develop and demonstrate an advanced level of understanding of the laboratory technologies and computer-based tools used for analyses of genes, proteins or other biochemical compounds
4. Demonstrate advanced level skills in theoretical and/or practical problem solving, critical analysis of data, communication.
Unit Learning Outcomes (ULO)
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
1. Develop and demonstrate an advanced level of understanding of gene and protein functionalities and their relevance to specific problems and research directions in field such as human health, agriculture environmental sciences
2. Explain some of the complexities of cellular control mechanisms in higher organisms, such as diverse signal transduction pathways, cell cycle control, and molecular basis of selected diseases
3. Develop and demonstrate an advanced level of understanding of the laboratory technologies and computer-based tools used for analyses of genes, proteins or other biochemical compounds
4. Demonstrate advanced level skills in theoretical and/or practical problem solving, critical analysis of data, communication.
Unit information in detail
- Teaching methods, assessment and content.
Teaching methods
Hawthorn
Type | Hours per week | Number of Weeks | Total |
Live Online Lecture | 3 | 12 | 36 |
| On Campus Science Laboratory | 2 | 12 | 24 |
| Online Directed Online Learning and Independent Learning | 1.5 | 12 | 18 |
Unspecified Learning | 6 | 12 | 72 |
TOTAL | 150 hours |
Assessment
| Types | Individual or Group task | Weighting | Assesses attainment of these ULOs |
| Lab Practicals | Individual | 25-40% | 3,4 |
| Online Quiz | Individual | 5-10% | 1,2,4 |
| Online Test(s) | Individual | 45-65% | 1,2,3,4 |
Hurdle
As the minimum requirements of assessment to pass a unit and meet all Unit Learning Outcomes to a minimum standard, a student must achieve:
(i) an aggregate mark of 50% or more, and
(ii) Completion of a minimum of 80% of laboratory (practical) work based on the criteria for successful completion as explained in the Unit outline.
Students who do not successfully achieve hurdle requirement (ii) will receive a maximum of 45% as the total mark for the unit.
Content
- Principles of selected technologies used for analysis of the structure, expression and roles of nucleic acids, and applications of nucleic acid technologies in different fields
- Principles of selected technologies used for analysis of protein biochemistry and functionality, and applications of protein technologies in different fields
- Signal transduction (biosignalling) mechanisms and their significance to metabolism and diseases
- Cell cycle control and its relevance to diseases
- Principles of select ‘omics’ technologies
- Selected laboratory and/or computer based exercises for purification and analyses of proteins and nucleic acids, such as DNA isolation, protein assays, spectrophotometry, chromatography, mass spectrometry, restriction mapping, cloning,
sequence analyses, bioinformatics tools, cell culture, microscopy.
Study resources
- Reading materials.
Reading materials
A list of reading materials and/or required texts will be made available in the Unit Outline.