Outline

Overview

This unit of study aims to provide the background to the study of drugs and the important interactions of drugs and their targets. Learning about the molecular bases of such interactions requires consideration of the fundamental processes as replication, transcription and translation involving the macromolecules of life: proteins, DNA and RNA. The course also covers fundamental protein actions and mechanisms of the regulation of such targets, and proteomics, as well as fundamental molecular interactions important for understanding the action of, the detection of, and also diagnostic approaches applied to drugs and metabolites. Fuel metabolism and storage is considered, including metabolic adaptation and disorders of metabolism. Students get experience with a variety of practical techniques to assist learning in the course.

Unit details and rules

Unit code	PHAR2811
Academic unit	Pharmacy
Credit points	6
Prohibitions ?	None
Prerequisites ?	(CHEM1611 or CHEM11X2 or CHEM19X2 or CHEM1904) and (CHEM1612 or CHEM11X1 or CHEM19X1 or CHEM1903) and PHAR1812 and (BIOL1XX7 or MBLG1XX1).
Corequisites ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	William Church, bret.church@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Final exam	Final exam Short answer and MCQ	65%	Formal exam period	2.5 hours
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Visualisation workshop Lab skills assessment	0%	Multiple weeks	3 hrs
Outcomes assessed:
Skills-based evaluation	Laboratory classes Lab skills assessment	25%	Multiple weeks	each of 3 hrs
Outcomes assessed:
In-semester test	Mid semester quiz MCQ	10%	Week 09	45 minutes
Outcomes assessed:
= hurdle task ? = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

Quiz: All content of the course having occurred up to this point in the unit of study including in lectures, computer class and self-directed learning will be assessable.
Final exam: All aspects of the course including content in lectures, self-directed learning, tutorials and practical work will be examinable.
Visualisation workshop: Students will work through a tutorial on protein structure and therefore acquire skills on how to examine protein structures, important variations in protein structures and visualise bound substrates or inhibitors.

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.

Result name	Mark range	Description
High distinction	85 - 100	At HD level, a student demonstrates an aptitude for the subject and a well-developed understanding of the unit material. A ‘High Distinction’ reflects exceptional achievement and is awarded to students who demonstrate the ability to apply their subject knowledge and understanding to produce original solutions for novel or highly complex problems and/or comprehensive critical discussions of theoretical concepts.
Distinction	75 - 84	At DI level, a student demonstrates an aptitude for the subject and a well-developed understanding of the units material. A ‘Distinction’ reflects excellent achievement and is awarded to a student who demonstrates an ability to apply their subject knowledge and understanding of the subject to produce good solutions for challenging problems and/or a reasonably well-developed critical analysis of theoretical concepts.
Credit	65 - 74	At CR level, a student demonstrates a good command and knowledge of the unit material. A ‘Credit’ reflects solid achievement and is awarded to a student who has a broad general understanding of the units material and can solve routine problems and/ or identify and superficially discuss theoretical concepts.
Pass	50 - 64	At PS level, a student demonstrates proficiency in the material. A ‘Pass’ reflects satisfactory adequately referencing the original source of the work.
Fail	0 - 49	When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades

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.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

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	Learning outcomes
Multiple weeks	The topics covered are Proteins: Fundamentals and Structure, The Genome and Gene Regulation, Enzymology, General Metabolism and Proteomics	Block teaching (57 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

Nelson, DL. and Cox, MM. Lehninger: Principles of Biochemistry (7e ed)(electronic Sapling Plus version), Macmillan, 2016

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. explain the difference between qualitative and quantitative measurements, and obtain quantitative measurements of metabolite concentrations and enzyme activities in an accurate and reproducible manner
LO2. assess the quality of, interpret, and draw conclusions from data obtained in the laboratory
LO3. use relevant scientific laboratory and instrumental techniques in the context of structured experiments with expected outcomes
LO4. describe enzyme action, including the important enzyme inhibition mechanisms, and calculate the associated quantifying descriptors
LO5. describe major components of amino acids and protein structure, and give diagrammatic representations
LO6. give important examples of how protein structure provides biological function, including describing major categories of roles for proteins
LO7. describe the complexity of the eukaryotic genome and its structure in detail and identify the key constituent elements
LO8. outline the specific processes by which genetic information is transmitted from one generation to the next and analyse the flow of this information within the cell
LO9. describe and evaluate the steps involved in gene transcription and translation and evaluate the different ways by which gene expression can be regulated
LO10. describe in detail the main anabolic and catabolic processes in the cell, and discuss how variations in energy demand and supply affect these processes
LO11. compare and contrast the integration of anabolic and catabolic processes in the cells, and predict how perturbations to these processes, including fuel selection and genetic mutation, affect the cell and whole organism
LO12. summarise the catabolic and anabolic fates of dietary nitrogen, and predict how the synthesis and degradation of nitrogenous biopolymers are affected in contexts such as starvation, diabetes and cancer
LO13. describe proteome and proteomics, and approaches to identifying proteins in a proteome, and begin to understand how proteomics could be utilised in both diagnosis and understanding.

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.

The unit is revised according to student feedback. A recent provision is the inclusion of an online textbook.

Additional information

Work, health and safety

Any fulfilment of work health and safety requirements specific to this UoS will occur during the course.

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

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect

Current students

PHAR2811: Drug Discovery and Design A

Semester 1, 2020 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

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

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect