Outline

Overview

Understanding the molecular processes taking place inside our cells, allows us to appreciate the functions of living cells, to explain the molecular basis of diseases and inspires the development of new treatments. In this Unit of Study, you will have the opportunity to: Build on your existing understanding of the cellular and molecular basis of how our bodies work, explore what goes wrong if key cell types do not work as expected, how key latest therapies work and learn about the exciting new techniques and paradigms that allow us to link events at the level of the body to the activity of single cells. This unit will help you develop a strong framework for future study and employment in medicine and health.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Department of Medical Sciences
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	(PHSI2X07 or MEDS2001) or (PHSI2X05 and PHSI2X06)
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	PHSI3909
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Melkam Kebede, melkam.kebede@sydney.edu.au

Assessment

The census date for this unit availability is 31 March 2026

Details
Criteria

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length	Use of AI
Written exam	Written assessment Written assessment	40%	Formal exam period	2 hours	AI prohibited
Outcomes assessed:
Presentation	Literature Review Oral presentation	15%	Multiple weeks	-	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Practical skill	CBL Task 1 Written assessment	0%	Week 03 Due date: 15 Mar 2026 at 23:59	-	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Practical skill	CBL Task - 2 Written assessment	10%	Week 06 Due date: 05 Apr 2026 at 23:59	-	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Written test	Midsemester SAQ	20%	Week 07 Due date: 14 Apr 2026 at 12:00 Closing date: 14 Apr 2026	50 minutes	AI prohibited
Outcomes assessed:
Written work	Practical Report Written practical report, see instructions on Canvas	15%	Week 11 Due date: 15 May 2026 at 23:00 Closing date: 25 May 2026	-	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:

Assessment summary

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	Mastery of topics showing extensive integration and ability to transfer knowledge to novel contexts; treatment of tasks shows an advanced synthesis of ideas; demonstration of initiative, complex understanding and analysis; work is very well presented; all criteria addressed and learning outcomes achieved to an outstanding level.
Distinction	75 - 84	Excellent achievement, consistent evidence of deep understanding and application of knowledge in medical science; treatment of tasks shows advanced understanding of topics; demonstration of initiative, complex understanding and analysis; work is well-presented; all criteria addressed and learning outcomes achieved to a superior level.
Credit	65 - 74	Confident in explaining medical science processes, with evidence of solid understanding and achievement; occasional lapses indicative of unresolved issues; treatment of tasks shows a good understanding of topic; work is well-presented with a minimum of errors; all criteria addressed and learning outcomes achieved to a high level.
Pass	50 - 64	Satisfactory level of engagement with and understanding of topic; some inconsistencies in understanding and knowledge of medical science; work is adequately presented, with some errors or omissions, most criteria addressed and learning outcomes achieved to an adequate level.
Fail	0 - 49	Unsatisfactory achievement and engagement with the medical science discipline; inadequate understanding or fundamental misunderstanding of topics; most criteria and learning outcomes not clearly or adequately addressed or achieved; lack of effort/involvement in the unit.

For more information see guide to grades.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

You can use generative AI tools for open assessments. Restrictions on AI use apply to secure, supervised assessments used to confirm if students have met specific learning outcomes.

Refer to the assessment table above to see if AI is allowed, for assessments in this unit and check Canvas for full instructions on assessment tasks and AI use.

If you use AI, you must always acknowledge it. Misusing AI may lead to a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy.

Visit the Current Students website for more information on AI in assessments, including details on how to acknowledge its use.

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.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

All assignments must be submitted by the due date and quizzes and exams attended when they are scheduled. Students are expected to manage their time and to prioritise tasks to meet deadlines. Assessment items submitted after the due date without an approved extension using a special consideration or special arrangement form or request will incur penalties. All due dates for assessments refer to Sydney time. Failure to meet assessment deadlines will incur mark deductions of 5% of the maximum awardable mark available for every day past the due date (for electronic submissions, days late includes Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays). These deductions will continue for 10 calendar days, until the solutions for the assignment are released, or marked assignments are returned to other students. At that point the mark awarded will be zero. For example, on an assignment given a mark of 70/100, the penalty would be 5 marks if submitted up to 24 hours late, resulting in a final mark of 65/100. If the assignment is submitted 6 days late, the penalty would be 30 marks and the final mark would be 40/100. If the assignment is more than 10 days late, submitted after the solutions for the assignment are released, or marked assignments are returned to other students, the final mark will be 0/100.

Academic integrity

The University expects students to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

Our website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. This includes advice on how to avoid common breaches of academic integrity. Ensure that you have completed the Academic Honesty Education Module (AHEM) which is mandatory for all commencing coursework students

Penalties for serious breaches can significantly impact your studies and your career after graduation. It is important that you speak with your unit coordinator if you need help with completing assessments.

Visit the Current Students website for more information on AI in assessments, including details on how to acknowledge its use.

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.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	L1: Introduction to PHSI3009	Lecture (1 hr)
	L2: Introduction to Module 1: The Plasma Membrane	Lecture (1 hr)
	Introduction to Literature Review	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 02	L3: Cystic Fibrosis: Ion transport mechanisms - 1	Lecture (1 hr)
	L4: Cystic Fibrosis: Ion transport mechanisms - 2	Lecture (1 hr)
	Challenge-Based Learning (CBL)	Tutorial (3 hr)
Week 03	L5: Epilepsy and Ion Channels - 1	Lecture (1 hr)
	L6: Epilepsy and Ion Channels - 2	Lecture (1 hr)
	Challenge-Based Learning (CBL)	Tutorial (3 hr)
Week 04	L7: Pain and Membrane Proteins -1	Lecture (1 hr)
	L8: Pain and Membrane Proteins -2	Lecture (1 hr)
	Challenge-Based Learning (CBL)	Tutorial (3 hr)
Week 05	L9: Heart disease and Ion Channels - 1	Lecture (1 hr)
	L10: Heart disease and Ion Channels - 2	Lecture (1 hr)
	Beta cell Practical - Week 1 of 3	Practical (3 hr)
Week 06	Module 1 Review	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 07	L11: Intro to Module 2 Cellular basis of Signalling mechanism -1 (TK)	Lecture (1 hr)
	L12: Signalling mechanisms -2 (GPCRs)	Lecture (1 hr)
	Beta cell Practical - Week 2 of 3	Practical (3 hr)
Week 08	L13: Signaling mechanism – 3 (Lipid signalling)	Lecture (1 hr)
	L14: Cellular basis of beta cell failure in T2D	Lecture (1 hr)
	Beta cell Practical - Week 3 of 3	Practical (3 hr)
Week 09	L15: Cellular basis of beta cell failure in T2D	Lecture (1 hr)
	L16: Cell signalling and disease: Insulin Resistance	Lecture (1 hr)
	Literature Review - Presentations Week 1	Tutorial (3 hr)
Week 10	L17: Cell signalling and disease: Insulin Resistance	Lecture (1 hr)
	L18: Cellular cancer signaling and Metabolism -1	Lecture (1 hr)
	Literature Review - Presentations Week 2	Tutorial (3 hr)
Week 11	L19: Cellular cancer signaling and Metabolism -2	Lecture (1 hr)
	L20: Heat Stress and Cell Metabolism - 1	Lecture (1 hr)
	Literature Review - Presentations Week 3	Tutorial (3 hr)
Week 12	L21: Heat Stress and Cell Metabolism - 2	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 12	L22: Cell Metabolism and the Microbiome	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 13	Final Review	Lecture (1 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance: Students are expected to attend a minimum of 80% of timetabled activities for a unit of study, unless granted exemption by the Associate Dean. Thus, attendance at a minimum of 80% of all timetabled classes is compulsory for successful completion of the course. Attendance will be recorded. If you do not show sufficient cause for absence from any part of the course you may not be allowed to sit the final examination. Absences from scheduled practical, workshop or tutorial sessions must be supported by appropriate documentation (also see Guidelines for Special Consideration/Arrangements for important information relating to absence from scheduled classes). It may be possible to attend a different practical or tutorial session by special arrangement with the UoS coordinator.

From Week 1, students enrolled in this unit should engage with and study all online content, as directed in the Canvas site, including the submission of any required formative tasks and completion of any asynchronous activities.

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

All readings for this unit can be accessed through the Library, links available on Canvas

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. Develop a deep and integrated knowledge of physiological principles and concepts and their role in the workings of the major systems of the human body
LO2. Develop a broad and coherent body of knowledge of the methods used in the physiological sciences and explain why current disciplinary knowledge is both contestable and testable by further inquiry
LO3. Select and apply practical and theoretical techniques and tools to conduct physiological investigations
LO4. Source, collate, synthesise and critically evaluate information in physiology from a range of relevant sources
LO5. Communicate concepts and findings in physiology and their implications through a range of modes for a variety of purposes, using evidence-based arguments that are robust to critique
LO6. Develop creative and innovative approaches to problem-solving in the field of physiological research
LO7. Address authentic problems in physiology, working professionally, responsibly, and ethically within collaborative, interdisciplinary teams

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.

Changes have been made to assessment types to minimizing the potential misuse of AI in student assessments

Additional information

More information can be found on Canvas

Additional costs

There are no additional costs for this unit

Site visit guidelines

There are no site visit guidelines for this unit

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.

General Laboratory Safety Rules

No eating or drinking is allowed in any laboratory under any circumstances
A laboratory coat and closed-toe shoes are mandatory
Follow safety instructions in your manual and posted in laboratories
In case of fire, follow instructions posted outside the laboratory door
First aid kits, eye wash and fire extinguishers are located in or immediately outside each laboratory
As a precautionary measure, it is recommended that you have a current tetanus immunisation. This can be obtained from University Health Service: unihealth.usyd.edu.au/

Disclaimer

Important: the University of Sydney regularly reviews units of study and reserves the right to change the units of study available annually. To stay up to date on available study options, including unit of study details and availability, refer to the relevant handbook.

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

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Additional costs

Site visit guidelines

Work, health and safety

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

PHSI3009: Cell Physiology of Disease

Semester 1, 2026 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Additional costs

Site visit guidelines

Work, health and safety

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links