University of Sydney Handbooks - 2020 Archive

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Cell and Developmental Biology

Unit outlines will be available though Find a unit outline two weeks before the first day of teaching for 1000-level and 5000-level units, or one week before the first day of teaching for all other units.
 

Errata
Item Errata Date
1.

Sessions have changed for the following unit. S2CIAU Intensive August session has closed and a new S2CISE Intensive September session has opened:

SCIE4003 Ethics in Science

15/06/2020

CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY (HONOURS)

The Bachelor of Advanced Studies (Honours) (Cell and Developmental Biology) requires 48 credit points from this table including:
(i) 6 credit points of 4000-level Honours coursework selective units from List 1, and
(ii) 6 credit points of 4000-level Honours coursework selective units from List 2, and
(iii) 36 credit points of 4000-level Honours research project units

Honours Coursework Selective

List 1
SOMS4101 Research Skills for Medical Sciences

Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Daniel Johnstone, Michael Murray, Paul Austin Session: Semester 1 Classes: 2-hr introduction to research skills lecture/seminar, 2-hr experimental design workshop, 4-hr research techniques workshop, 12 x 1-hr/week research seminars, 12-hrs of research evaluation skills workshops, 2-hr research ethics and integrity workshop Assessment: research techniques and experimental design (20%), research seminars (20%), research evaluation skills 1 (oral; 20%), research evaluation skills 2 (literature evaluation; 20%), research ethics and integrity (20%) Campus: Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
Research in the medical sciences tackles the challenges to our bodies' health and wellbeing by investigating the causes of these challenges, how they manifest, and how they might be ameliorated. To successfully tackle these challenges medical science researchers need to be equipped with a toolkit of core transferable research skills. In this unit you will be challenged to identify, access, organise and critically appraise medical science literature in developing a rationale of your own individual research question. You will investigate how you will prosecute your research questions in group-based workshops that demonstrate a broad range of "types" of research questions, the nuances of your design and the appropriate biometrical approaches used to evaluate them. You will complete scenario-based workshops on research integrity and research data management that will instil professionalism in research enquiry. A number of theoretical and practical immersive workshops provided by core research facilities of the Bosch Institute will provide further understanding of current state of the art methodologies that will then be applied in the development of your research proposal. You will also be challenged with ethical dilemmas that form responsible practice in medical science research. On completing this unit you will have acquired a set of core skills that you can employ in a technical or research and development workplace.
LIFE4101 Advanced Life Science

Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Andrew Holmes Session: Semester 1 Classes: classes are small group discussion tutorials of 2 hrs per week for 6 weeks Prerequisites: A WAM of 65 or greater. 144 credit points of units of study, including a minimum of 12 credit points from the following (AMED3XXX or ANAT3XXX or ANSC3105 or BCHM3XXX or BCMB3XXX or BIOL3XXX or CPAT3XXX or ENVX3XXX or FOOD3XXX or GEGE3XXX or HSTO3XXX or IMMU3XXX or INFD3XXX or MEDS3XXX or MICR3XXX or NEUR3XXX or NUTM3XXX or PCOL3XXX or PHSI3XXX or QBIO3XXX or SCPU3001 or STAT3XXX or VIRO3XXX). Assumed knowledge: This unit is advanced coursework related to understanding cellular and molecular processes in biology. It assumes background knowledge of cellular and molecular biological aspects of the life sciences consistent with a degree major in Biochemistry, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Cell and Developmental Biology, Cell Pathology, Genetics and Genomics, Immunobiology, Infectious Diseases, Medical Science, Microbiology, Molecular Biology and Genetics, Nutrition and Metabolism, Nutrition Science, or Quantitative Life Sciences. Assessment: presentation (15%), discussion (25%), written exam (60%) Campus: Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
Note: Department permission required for enrolment
Note: This unit must be taken by all students in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology honours or Microbiology honours.
Living organisms are impacted by processes that occur across a very wide range of scales. These range from rapid processes at the molecular and cellular scale to multi-year processes at environmental and evolutionary scales. One of the great challenges for modern systems biology is integrating measurements across these scales to understand gene x environment interactions. This unit will develop your skills in this area through critical analysis of a series of recent research papers on a themed topic in small group discussions. For each paper we will explore principles behind the key methods and the methods' practicality. We will look at how those methods were incorporated into an experimental design to address a biological question. We will critically assess the support for conclusions in their paper and their scientific significance. By doing this unit you will develop skills in reading and interpreting primary scientific literature and an advanced understanding of modern topic in systems biology. You will gain a high level of understanding of the theory of key biochemical and statistical methods for analysis of genes, proteins, and cells in biological systems. You will gain the confidence to apply these insights to planning, conducting and reporting your own research findings.
The following unit will not run in 2020: SOMS4101.
List 2
SOMS4102 Communicating Ideas in Biomedical Science

Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Philip Poronnik Session: Semester 1 Classes: 1-hr lecture/wk and 1-2hr workshop/wk for 10 weeks Assessment: weekly tweet and statement of purpose (10%), video presentation and podcast (45%), reflective essay (15%), images and story (30%) Campus: Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney Mode of delivery: Block mode
In a world increasingly inundated with technology, data and pseudoscience, you, as a medical science graduate, have a very special responsibility to society. You are one of the few that can help to inform and explain difficult concepts to the broader community. The most important quality you need to develop is that of a confident communicator of and advocate for biomedical science. This cutting-edge contemporary unit will equip you with the critical thinking skills and tools to be an effective communicator of your biomedical knowledge and experience to non-experts. You will build on the many skills you have already developed in your university study and learn how to explain your 4th year project work in ways that are simple, engaging and effective. You will explore how responsible research and innovation and critical thinking underpins modern biomedical science and how modern social media techniques can facilitate information exchange. You will learn from other biomedical scientists who have successfully created media profiles. You will also learn from subject matter experts and use resources to guide your learning and practice. Your growth in this unit will be determined by the completion of assessments through which you will unpack complex ideas using contemporary communication tools. The skill to explain sophisticated concepts in simple and effective ways is key to success in every area of biomedicine. This unit will equip you with the tools to be effective communicators of biomedicine as you move into careers and post-graduate pathways.
SCIE4002 Experimental Design and Data Analysis

Credit points: 6 Session: Intensive March Classes: 4 x 1 hr lectures/week, for six weeks, either online or face-to-face and 1 x 2 hour workshop/week for six weeks Prerequisites: 144 credit points of units of study and including a minimum of 24 credit points at the 3000- or 4000-level and 18 credit points of 3000- or 4000-level units from Science Table A. Prohibitions: ENVX3002 or STAT3X22 or STAT4022 or STAT3X12 Assumed knowledge: Completion of units in quantitative research methods, mathematics or statistical analysis at least at 1000-level. Assessment: design critique (20%), research plan (30%), analysis critique (20%), 2 x analysis quizzes (15% each) Campus: Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney Mode of delivery: Block mode
An indispensable attribute of an effective scientific researcher is the ability to collect, analyse and interpret data. Central to this process is the ability to create hypotheses and test these by using rigorous experimental designs. This modular unit of study will introduce the key concepts of experimental design and data analysis. Specifically, you will learn to formulate experimental aims to test a specific hypothesis. You will develop the skills and understanding required to design a rigorous scientific experiment, including an understanding of concepts such as controls, replicates, sample size, dependent and independent variables and good research practice (e. g. blinding, randomisation). By completing this unit you will develop the knowledge and skills required to appropriately analyse and interpret data in order to draw conclusions in the context of an advanced research project. From this unit of study, you will emerge with a comprehensive understanding of how to optimise the design and analysis of an experiment to most effectively answer scientific questions.
SCIE4003 Ethics in Science

Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: A/Prof Hans Pols Session: Intensive August,Intensive March Classes: part a: lecture/seminars 4hr/week for 3 weeks, in which all students participate, followed by two modules, part b (human ethics) and part c (animal ethics), from which students select one; each module comprises 8 hours of workshops over 1-2 weeks Prerequisites: 144 credit points of units of study and including a minimum of 24 credit points at the 3000- or 4000-level and 18 credit points of 3000- or 4000-level units from Science Table A Prohibitions: HSBH3004 or HPSC3107 Assumed knowledge: Successful completion of a Science major. Assessment: essay (40%), presentation (20%), final exam (40%) Campus: Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney Mode of delivery: Block mode
In the contemporary world, a wide variety of ethical concerns impinge upon the practice of scientific research. In this unit you will learn how to identify potential ethical issues within science, acquire the tools necessary to analyse them, and develop the ability to articulate ethically sound insights about how to resolve them. In the first portion of the unit, you will be familiarised with how significant developments in post-World War II science motivated sustained ethical debate among scientists and in society. In the second portion of the unit, you will select from either a Human Ethics module or an Animal Ethics module and learn the requirements of how to ensure your research complies with appropriate national legislation and codes of conduct. By undertaking this unit you will develop the ability to conduct scientific research in an ethically justifiable way, place scientific developments and their application in a broader social context, and analyse the social implications and ethical issues that may potentially arise in the course of developing scientific knowledge.
The following unit will not run in 2020: SOMS4102.

Honours Core Research Project

CELL4103 Cell and Developmental Biology Honours A

Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Frank Lovicu Session: Semester 1,Semester 1,Semester 2,Semester 2 Classes: individual research supported by nominated supervisor Assessment: thesis (100%) Practical field work: Involves practical laboratory work. Arrangements will vary between students according to the specific requirements of individual research projects. Campus: Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney Mode of delivery: Supervision
Independent research can be a life changing experience. In this unit you will complete a research project in any one the disciplines in the natural and medical sciences related to cell and developmental biology. Together with your supervisor, you will identify a novel research question and develop a hypothesis. You will then design and carry out experiments to test your hypothesis. In terms of assessment, you will communicate the research plan and findings through written tasks and oral presentations culminating in a 20, 000 word honours thesis. Successful completion of your Honours will clearly demonstrate that you have mastered significant research and professional skills for either undertaking a PhD or any variety of future careers.
CELL4104 Cell and Developmental Biology Honours B

Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Frank Lovicu Session: Semester 1,Semester 1,Semester 2,Semester 2 Classes: individual research supported by nominated supervisor Corequisites: CELL4103 Assessment: thesis (100%) Practical field work: Involves practical laboratory work. Arrangements will vary between students according to the specific requirements of individual research projects. Campus: Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney Mode of delivery: Supervision
Independent research can be a life changing experience. In this unit you will complete a research project in any one the disciplines in the natural and medical sciences related to cell and developmental biology. Together with your supervisor, you will identify a novel research question and develop a hypothesis. You will then design and carry out experiments to test your hypothesis. In terms of assessment, you will communicate the research plan and findings through written tasks and oral presentations culminating in a 20, 000 word honours thesis. Successful completion of your Honours will clearly demonstrate that you have mastered significant research and professional skills for either undertaking a PhD or any variety of future careers.
CELL4105 Cell and Developmental Biology Honours C

Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Frank Lovicu Session: Semester 1,Semester 1,Semester 2,Semester 2 Classes: individual research supported by nominated supervisor Corequisites: CELL4104 Assessment: thesis (100%) Practical field work: Involves practical laboratory work. Arrangements will vary between students according to the specific requirements of individual research projects. Campus: Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney Mode of delivery: Supervision
Independent research can be a life changing experience. In this unit you will complete a research project in any one the disciplines in the natural and medical sciences related to cell and developmental biology. Together with your supervisor, you will identify a novel research question and develop a hypothesis. You will then design and carry out experiments to test your hypothesis. In terms of assessment, you will communicate the research plan and findings through written tasks and oral presentations culminating in a 20, 000 word honours thesis. Successful completion of your Honours will clearly demonstrate that you have mastered significant research and professional skills for either undertaking a PhD or any variety of future careers.
CELL4106 Cell and Developmental Biology Honours D

Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Frank Lovicu Session: Semester 1,Semester 1,Semester 2,Semester 2 Classes: individual research supported by nominated supervisor Corequisites: CELL4105 Assessment: thesis (100%) Practical field work: Involves practical laboratory work. Arrangements will vary between students according to the specific requirements of individual research projects. Campus: Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney Mode of delivery: Supervision
Independent research can be a life changing experience. In this unit you will complete a research project in any one the disciplines in the natural and medical sciences related to cell and developmental biology. Together with your supervisor, you will identify a novel research question and develop a hypothesis. You will then design and carry out experiments to test your hypothesis. In terms of assessment, you will communicate the research plan and findings through written tasks and oral presentations culminating in a 20, 000 word honours thesis. Successful completion of your Honours will clearly demonstrate that you have mastered significant research and professional skills for either undertaking a PhD or any variety of future careers.
CELL4107 Cell and Developmental Biology Honours E

Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Frank Lovicu Session: Semester 1,Semester 1,Semester 2,Semester 2 Classes: individual research supported by nominated supervisor Corequisites: CELL4106 Assessment: thesis (100%) Practical field work: Involves practical laboratory work. Arrangements will vary between students according to the specific requirements of individual research projects. Campus: Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney Mode of delivery: Supervision
Independent research can be a life changing experience. In this unit you will complete a research project in any one the disciplines in the natural and medical sciences related to cell and developmental biology. Together with your supervisor, you will identify a novel research question and develop a hypothesis. You will then design and carry out experiments to test your hypothesis. In terms of assessment, you will communicate the research plan and findings through written tasks and oral presentations culminating in a 20, 000 word honours thesis. Successful completion of your Honours will clearly demonstrate that you have mastered significant research and professional skills for either undertaking a PhD or any variety of future careers.
CELL4108 Cell and Developmental Biology Honours F

Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Frank Lovicu Session: Semester 1,Semester 1,Semester 2,Semester 2 Classes: individual research supported by nominated supervisor Corequisites: CELL4107 Assessment: thesis (100%) Practical field work: Involves practical laboratory work. Arrangements will vary between students according to the specific requirements of individual research projects. Campus: Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney Mode of delivery: Supervision
Independent research can be a life changing experience. In this unit you will complete a research project in any one the disciplines in the natural and medical sciences related to cell and developmental biology. Together with your supervisor, you will identify a novel research question and develop a hypothesis. You will then design and carry out experiments to test your hypothesis. In terms of assessment, you will communicate the research plan and findings through written tasks and oral presentations culminating in a 20, 000 word honours thesis. Successful completion of your Honours will clearly demonstrate that you have mastered significant research and professional skills for either undertaking a PhD or any variety of future careers.