BIOL3918: Semester 1, 2021

Units BIOL3918 Semester 1 2021 [Normal day]

Unit outline_

BIOL3918: Gene Technology and Genomics (Adv)

Semester 1, 2021 [Normal day] - Remote

Overview

Qualified students will participate in alternative components of BIOL3018 Gene Technology and Genomics. The content and nature of these components may vary from year to year.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Life and Environmental Sciences Academic Operations
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	A mark of 75 or above in (GEGE2X01 or MBLG2X72 or GENE2002) and a mark of 75 or above in (MBLG2X71 or BIOL2XXX or BCMB2XXX or QBIO2001 or IMMU2XXX or MEDS2003)
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	BIOL3018?
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Mary Byrne, mary.byrne@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Final exam (Record+)	Theory exam Theory exam	60%	Formal exam period	2 hours
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Laboratory report Experiment 1 Written assessment.	10%	Week 07	1-2 pages each week for 4 weeks.
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Gene technology presentation Presentation	20%	Week 09	10 minutes
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Laboratory report Experiment 2 Written assignment	10%	Week 12	1-2 pages each week for 10 weeks.
Outcomes assessed:
= Type B final exam ?

Assessment summary

Theory exam: All students will sit a final theory exam held during the official examination period at the end of semester. The exam may comprise multiple-choice, short-answer and/or mini-essay questions from any area of the lecture and practical program.
Gene technology report: Students will employ library and Internet resources to investigate a topic on an application of gene technology.
Laboratory notebook assessment: Students will maintain a laboratory note book with weekly write up and final conclusions of experiments conducted throughout the semester. The laboratory note books will be submitted at the end of semester. Several items in the note book will be selected for assessment.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Multiple weeks	Lectures 1-10: Working with genomic information	Lecture (10 hr)
	Lectures 11-16: Examining and controlling gene expression	Lecture (6 hr)
	Lectures 17-24: Gene technology and health	Lecture (8 hr)
	Weeks 2, 5, 6, 7: Generating and analysis of transgenic plants	Practical (16 hr)
	Weeks 3, 4, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12: Gene cloning and gene expression in bacteria	Practical (28 hr)

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

There are a number of textbooks relevant to the lecture material as listed below. There are also references to original research papers and reviews noted in lectures or available via Canvas or the Library.

Clark D.P. and Pazdernik, N.J. Biotechnology. (2nd Ed.)Academic Cell. 2016.

Nicholl, D.S.T. An Introduction to Genetic Engineering. (3rd Ed.) Cambridge University Press. 2008.

Watson, J.D., Caudy, A.A., Myers, R.M. and Witkowski, J.A. Recombinant DNA, Genes and Genomes – A Short Course. (3rd Ed.) W.H. Freeman & Company, 2007.

Primrose, S.B., and Twyman, R.M. Principles of Gene Manipulation and Genomics. (7th Ed.). Blackwell Science, 2006.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. understand regulations governing the generation and use of gene technologies
LO2. know, understand and analyse genomic information
LO3. define and describe different gene technologies
LO4. compare and contrast gene technologies and their application
LO5. develop skills in the use and application of molecular biology tools
LO6. formulate ideas on the applications of genomic information to gene technology
LO7. relate the use of gene technologies to improving our world.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Delivery of the unit of study has taken into consideration student feedback since the unit was last offered.

Additional information

Work, health and safety

We are governed by the Work Health and Safety Act 2011, Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 and Codes of Practice. Penalties for non-compliance have increased. Everyone has a responsibility for health and safety at work. The University’s Work Health and Safety policy explains the responsibilities and expectations of workers and others, and the procedures for managing WHS risks associated with University activities.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Work, health and safety

Disclaimer

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