Astrobiology and the Origins of Life
Duration
- One Semester or equivalent
Contact hours
- Nil hours
Corequisites
NilAims and objectives
This Unit will provide an overview of the multi-disciplinary nature of astrobiology - combining geology, chemistry, biology and astronomy. It will investigate the origins and evolution of life on Earth, the interaction between life and its environment, and the search for life elsewhere in the Solar System and beyond.
Unit Learning Outcomes
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
1. Identify and describe current theories of Solar System formation, the various theories of how life began on Earth and the parallel evolution of life and the environment;
2. Discuss and explain how our limited understanding of life influences current searches for life in the Solar System;
3. Recognise how astrobiology relates to other sciences;
4. Explain basic principles and concepts about the synthesis of complex molecules in a non-technical way understandable to the wider public;
5. Use problem solving skills to explain solutions to problems in astrobiology and the origins of life;
6. Design and create a research project using credible sources of astronomical information and research articles and/or observational means
Unit information in detail
- Teaching methods, assessment, general skills outcomes and content.
Teaching methods
* Scheduled face to face: N/A
* Scheduled synchronous online Learning events: N/A
Non-scheduled online learning events and activities including independent study: 150 hours approx.
Assessment
| Types | Individual or Group task | Weighting | Assesses attainment of these ULOs |
| Computer Managed Tests | Individual | 20% | 1,2,4,5 |
| Newsgroups | Individual | 30% | 1,2,3,4 |
| Project | Individual | 50% | 6 |
Minimum requirements to pass this Unit
As the minimum requirements of assessment to pass a unit and meet all Unit Learning Outcomes to a minimum standard, a student:
(i) Must achieve an aggregate mark of 50% or more
(ii) Must make at least three (3) relevant postings to the Instructor-led activities or questions every two week newsgroup period based on the criteria for successful completion as explained in the Unit Outline. Students who do not successfully achieve hurdle requirement (ii) in full, will receive a maximum of 14 marks out of 30 total (unless they have discussed their absence from the newsgroups with their instructor beforehand) as the total mark for the newsgroup assessment item.
(iii) Must submit the Project Aims document.
Students who do not successfully achieve hurdle requirement (iii) will receive a penalty of 10 pts from their final Project grade.
General skills outcomes
During this unit students will receive feedback on the following key generic skills:
· Analysis Skills
· Problem Solving Skills
· Communication Skills
· Ability to tackle unfamiliar problems
· Ability to work independently
Content
· An introduction to astrobiology and its multi-disciplinary nature
· The early Earth and the rise of life
· The co-evolution of life and its environments
· Origin of the Solar System
· Molecular biology, the tree of life, and the search for the last universal common ancestor
· The synthesis of complex organic molecules on Earth and in space
· The possibility of life elsewhere in the Solar System
· Extrasolar planets, habitability and the signatures of life
Study resources
- Text books.