Advanced Biochemistry & Molecular Biology (BIOC2900)

Course overview

This course will enable you to gain an understanding of the key concepts of biochemistry and molecular biology. At the end of the course you will have an understanding of how proteins can catalyse the chemical reactions that allow cells to function. To get to this point you will gain an understanding of: the nature of chemical reactions in biological systems; how genetic information is used to direct protein synthesis; how the structure of proteins is determined; how structure determines function; and how we understand the properties of enzymes. You will be able to reinforce and apply these concepts in extended laboratory practicals where you will complete a small project involving the expression, purification, quantification and characterisation of a protein.

An understanding of cellular processes at the molecular level is central to contemporary biological and biomedical sciences. The principles and practise of biochemistry and molecular biology form the basis for that understanding. The focus of BIOC2900 is the molecular components of cells: protein structure and function, enzymes and catalysis, DNA structure and function, and cellular metabolism. BIOC2900, BIOL2900, BIOL2902 and MICR2900 form a suite of offerings in the Bachelor of Advanced Science program that contribute to the Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Bioinformatics, Cell Biology, Genetics, and Microbiology specialisations.

For this course you will join the BIOC2000 students in the lectures but will complete a distinctly different lab component and different assessment.

Course requirements

Prerequisites

You'll need to complete the following courses before enrolling in this one:

CHEM1100, BIOL1020, CHEM1200

Incompatible

You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:

BIOC2000

Restrictions

Internal offering only. This course has a maximum enrolment of 60 students.

Course contact

Course staff

Timetable

The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.

Additional timetable information

Check your online timetable regularly.

Aims and outcomes

The aim of this course is to familiarize students with biomolecules (the molecules of life). Students will become familiar with proteins, DNA, RNA, lipids, and carbohydrates and their structures and roles in cells. The focus of the course is at the biochemical, metabolic, and basic bioinformatics level. Completion of this course will assure a sound basis for biochemistry, molecular biology, biomedical science, physiology, cell biology, and pharmacology studies.

Learning outcomes

After successfully completing this course you should be able to:

Assessment

Assessment summary

A hurdle is an assessment requirement that must be satisfied in order to receive a specific grade for the course. Check the assessment details for more information about hurdle requirements.

Assessment details

In-semester Exam

• Hurdle
• Identity Verified
• In-person

Mode

Written

Category

Examination

Weight

20%

Due date

In-semester Saturday

29/03/2025 - 12/04/2025

Task description

Hurdle requirements

Exam details

Submission guidelines

Deferral or extension

You may be able to defer this exam.

Experimental Plan & Data Analysis

• Hurdle

Mode

Written

Category

Paper/ Report/ Annotation

Weight

25% NOTE: multiple submissions required, each with their own due date.

Due date

Experimental Plan 14/04/2025 2:00 pm

Data Analysis 19/05/2025 2:00 pm

Task description

Hurdle requirements

Submission guidelines

Each part of this assignment must be submitted via the appropriate Turnitin submission point found on the course Blackboard site. Penalties may apply if your submission is late - see Section 5.3 of this ECP for details. It is your responsibility to ensure that your submission is complete.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

Applications for Extensions

Information on applying for an extension can be found here: my.UQ Applying for an extension.

Extension applications must be received by the assessment due date and time.

If you are unable to provide approved documentation to support your application by the due date and time, you must still submit your application by the deadline but with an attached Word document that outlines why you cannot provide the approved documentation by the deadline. You will then need to acquire and upload the approved documentation to your request within 24 hours. Please note: When an extension request has been submitted and is pending, students are expected to continue to work on the assessment item, with the aim of submitting by the requested due date and time.

Prolonged Absence

If you have been ill or unable to attend class for more than 14 days, we advise you to carefully consider whether you are capable of successfully completing your courses this semester.

Extensions with Student Access Plans (SAP)

For extensions up to 7 days, your SAP is all that is required as documentation to support your application. However, extension requests longer than 7 days (for any one assessment item) will require the submission of additional supporting documentation e.g. a medical certificate.

Late submission

A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.

You are required to submit assessable items on time. If you fail to meet the submission deadline for any assessment item, then 10% of the maximum possible mark for the assessment item (assessment ‘marked from’ value) will be deducted as a late penalty for every day (or part day) late after the due date. For example, if you submit your assignment 1 hour late, you will be penalised 10%; if your assignment is 24.5 hours late, you will be penalised 20% (because it is late by one 24-hour period plus part of another 24-hour period). 10% will be deducted per day for up to 7 calendar days, at which point your submission will receive a mark of zero (0) unless an extension has been approved.

In most instances one or more hurdles will apply to your assessment item so you will need to submit it to fulfil the requirements of the course regardless of how late it is and the mark you are likely to be awarded.

Feasibility Report

• Hurdle

Mode

Written

Category

Paper/ Report/ Annotation

Weight

25%

Due date

28/05/2025 2:00 pm

Task description

Hurdle requirements

Submission guidelines

This assignment must be submitted via the appropriate Turnitin submission point found on the course Blackboard site. Penalties may apply if your submission is late - see Section 5.3 of this ECP for details. It is your responsibility to ensure that your submission is complete.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

Applications for Extensions

Information on applying for an extension can be found here: my.UQ Applying for an extension.

Extension applications must be received by the assessment due date and time.

If you are unable to provide approved documentation to support your application by the due date and time, you must still submit your application by the deadline but with an attached Word document that outlines why you cannot provide the approved documentation by the deadline. You will then need to acquire and upload the approved documentation to your request within 24 hours. Please note: When an extension request has been submitted and is pending, students are expected to continue to work on the assessment item, with the aim of submitting by the requested due date and time.

Prolonged Absence

If you have been ill or unable to attend class for more than 14 days, we advise you to carefully consider whether you are capable of successfully completing your courses this semester.

Extensions with Student Access Plans (SAP)

For extensions up to 7 days, your SAP is all that is required as documentation to support your application. However, extension requests longer than 7 days (for any one assessment item) will require the submission of additional supporting documentation e.g. a medical certificate.

Late submission

A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.

You are required to submit assessable items on time. If you fail to meet the submission deadline for any assessment item, then 10% of the maximum possible mark for the assessment item (assessment ‘marked from’ value) will be deducted as a late penalty for every day (or part day) late after the due date. For example, if you submit your assignment 1 hour late, you will be penalised 10%; if your assignment is 24.5 hours late, you will be penalised 20% (because it is late by one 24-hour period plus part of another 24-hour period). 10% will be deducted per day for up to 7 calendar days, at which point your submission will receive a mark of zero (0) unless an extension has been approved.

In most instances one or more hurdles will apply to your assessment item so you will need to submit it to fulfil the requirements of the course regardless of how late it is and the mark you are likely to be awarded.

End-of-semester exam

• Hurdle
• Identity Verified
• In-person

Mode

Written

Category

Examination

Weight

30%

Due date

End of Semester Exam Period

7/06/2025 - 21/06/2025

Task description

Hurdle requirements

Exam details

Submission guidelines

Deferral or extension

You may be able to defer this exam.

Course grading

Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.

Additional course grading information

Assessment Hurdles

In order to pass this course, you must meet ALL of the following requirements (if you do not meet these requirements, the maximum grade you will receive will be a 3):

1. You must obtain an overall course mark of 50% or more; and
2. You must obtain a minimum weighted mark of 40% or more across the two examination components; and
3. You must obtain a minimum weighted mark of 40% across all other non-examination course assessment items; and
4. You must complete 100% of the laboratory component of the course.

Supplementary assessment

Supplementary assessment is available for this course.

Should you fail a course with a grade of 3, you may be eligible for supplementary assessment. Refer to my.UQ for information on supplementary assessment and how to apply. 

Supplementary assessment provides an additional opportunity to demonstrate you have achieved all the required learning outcomes for a course.  

If you apply and are granted supplementary assessment, the type of supplementary assessment set will consider which learning outcome(s) have not been met.  

Supplementary assessment can take any form (such as a written report, oral presentation, examination or other appropriate assessment) and may test specific learning outcomes tailored to the individual student, or all learning outcomes. 

To receive a passing grade of 3S4, you must obtain a mark of 50% or more on the supplementary assessment. 

Additional assessment information

Assessment Submission

It is the responsibility of the student to ensure the on time, correct and complete submission of all assessment items.

Students are responsible for retaining evidence of submission by the due date for all assessment items, in the required form (for example, screenshot, email, photo, and an unaltered copy of submitted work).

In the case of a Blackboard outage, contact the Course Coordinator as soon as possible to confirm the outage with ITS.

Assessment/Attendance

Notify your Course Coordinator as soon as you become aware of any issue that may affect your ability to meet the assessment/attendance requirements of the course. The my.UQ website and the Course Profile (CP) for your course provide information about your course requirements, the rules associated with your courses and services offered by the University.

A note for repeating students in this course

Only learning activities and/or assessment items completed during the study period of enrolment, including any approved extensions, may contribute to your grade in this course. The whole or partial use of assessment items previously submitted for the same course, for a course at any institution, or for published material, is not permitted without written permission of the Course Coordinator.

Important Note

Turnitin is to be used for assignments/laboratory reports to check for plagiarism. Penalties can be severe for plagiarism.

The University has adopted the following definition of plagiarism: Plagiarism is the act of misrepresenting as one's own original work the ideas, interpretations, words or creative works of another either intentionally or unintentionally. These include published and unpublished documents, designs, music, sounds, images, photographs, computer codes and ideas gained through working in a group. These ideas, interpretations, words or works may be found in print and/or electronic media.

Students should read the UQ Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy.

Absence from a Practical Session

If you do not complete all practical sessions, you may fail to meet the laboratory completion hurdle.

If you are unable to complete your timetabled practical session because of circumstances beyond your control (e.g., illness) you must submit a practical absence request immediately accompanied by acceptable supporting documentation.

A list of acceptable reasons and required supporting documentation is found at https://my.uq.edu.au/information-and-services/manage-my-program/exams-and-assessment/applying-assessment-extension?p=1#1

Your request must be submitted prior to or on the day of the missed practical. The submission link can be found in on the course Blackboard site.

Requests without the correct supporting documentation may not be approved. If the reason for your absence is not approved, you will be considered as absent from that practical session and the laboratory completion hurdle may apply.

Once you have submitted your application, you will be required to complete an alternative assessment item and submit this prior to your next scheduled lab session. Details will be provided in your confirmation email.

It is your responsibility to submit an application, provide correct documentation, and complete the alternative assessment at the time specified.

If you require further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact the School - ﾠenquiries@scmb.uq.edu.au.

Learning resources

You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.

Library resources

Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.

Other course materials

Additional learning resources information

Blackboard

Additional learning material will be avaliable on theﾠBlackboard site for BIOC2900. You can access theseﾠat learn.uq.edu.au.

Please check the Announcements section of the Blackboard site for information updates.

Although we will be working heavily from Lehninger, other Biochemistry and Molecular Biology texts are always a good additional resource. Reading things from more than one perspective can really help fill gaps in your understanding. The UQ Library has many good biochemistry texts available, and you will likely be able to pick up second-hand copies of Lehninger and other texts from past students.

Software

As a student in BIOC2900 we recommend sourcing the following software and installing it on your laptop:

• Graphpad Prism – this is a specialist graphing software that is very useful to plot and fit data, aiding you in completing the Experimental Plan & Data Analysis assessment item. You can obtain a copy of this as a UQ student via the "Free student software for personal use" webpage on the UQ website.
• SnapGene Viewer – this is a software package that allows you to visualise and interrogate nucleic acid sequence data, aiding you in understanding the genetic components we work with in the lab. You can download this from the SnapGene website.

Learning activities

The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.

Additional learning activity information

A detailed outline of lecture content is available on the course Blackboard site.

Policies and procedures

University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:

• Student Code of Conduct Policy
• Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
• Assessment Procedure
• Examinations Procedure
• Reasonable Adjustments - Students Policy and Procedure

Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.