Genes, Cells & Evolution (BIOL1020)

Course overview

Students taking this course will learn about the fundamentals of molecular cell biology and genetics by examining what cells are made of and how the genetic information to build cells and perform cellular processes are encoded, executed, and inherited. The course explores the connections between physical processes at the molecular level and the whole organism phenotype, and identifies how cellular, genetic, and evolutionary processes affect everyday life.

Cells and genetic material form the building blocks of life. This course will start by focusing on cells: examining the major domains of life (recognisable by their distinct cell types), introducing biologically important molecules and their roles in defining cell structure and function, considering metabolic energy flows, and finally inspecting the mechanics of cellular division and reproduction. Then we will examine how genetic information is encoded, copied and used to create proteins by various organisms (prokaryotes, eukaryotes, and viruses). Building upon this understanding of the mechanics of DNA copying and transcription, we will explore how these molecular and cellular processes yield whole organism phenotypes. And, conversely, using phenotypes as a starting point for observations, we will examine how the underlying molecular structures and cellular processes can be inferred. Then, we will consider how the relationships between molecular and cellular structures and organismal phenotypes influences evolutionary change, and we will discuss how evolution impacts our everyday lives. The course will close by introducing students to new insights being revealed by genomics and by illustrating the many ways that modern molecular biology and biotechnology use “tools” taken from biological organisms.

Examples in lectures, tutorials, practicals, online activities and assigned readings will draw on a wide range of experimental systems and will be related to contemporary issues in human health, agriculture, and biodiversity whenever possible. Small group and peer-to-peer learning are an important part of the university experience and will be especially promoted during practicals andﾠtutorials. Becoming a life-long learner requires developing skills in self-directed learning; the development of these skills will be supported by guided online activities and assigned readings.

Course requirements

Incompatible

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

CHEE1001, BIOL7020 (co-taught)

Restrictions

Any student who has completed AGRC1020, AGRC1021, ANIM1060, or AGRC1041 will need permission from the Faculty of Science to enrol into BIOL1020. Please contact the Faculty of Science.

Course contact

Course staff

Timetable

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

Additional timetable information

SIGNING UP FOR LECTURES, PRACTICALS and ONLINE LEARNING!!!!

Enrol in one of the lecture and tutorial streams. You attend a one-hour lecture and one-hour tutorial a week.ﾠ

Enrol in one of the practical sessions. You will attend one practical session per week that lasts three hours. (Some weeks will not have practicals due to public holidays. Practicals start in teaching week 2).

You will be given information on how to access and enrol in Online Learning for BIOL1020. There will be one weekly Online Learning for every week of class (roughly requiring 2-3 hours to complete). You can complete your online learning at your own pace up to each weekly due date for each online learning.

Please note: Every effort is made to place students in their preferred class. However, it is not always possible for a student to be in their most preferred practical or tutorial class. If you have a reason for special consideration (e.g. elite athletes, students with student access plan, or other objective and unplanned issues) please email Lois Eden at l.eden@uq.edu.au with:

• Your full name (as per UQ enrolment)
• Your student ID number
• Details of the class time you'd prefer and the reason why

Attendance in practicals and tutorials is mandatory.ﾠPlease take care to note the timetable for tutorials and practicals as they do not run every week.

Aims and outcomes

This course aims to introduce students to central concepts in cell biology, genetics, and evolution.

Lectures, research orientated laboratory practicals, tutorials, readings, and self-directed study activities are organized around 3 themes:

1. Molecular and cellular biology
2. Genes to traits
3. Inheritance and evolution

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

Online activity questions

• Identity Verified

Mode

Written

Category

Quiz

Weight

5%

Due date

Week 1 - Week 13

Due weekly by 1pm on the Friday of the teaching week.

Task description

Submission guidelines

Criteria & Marking: The Online Learning will contain several sets of questions each week. The due dates are clearly given to you on the "Course" page of UQ Extend. The content is paced to match content in lectures and practicals so it is advisable to complete the module prior to the teaching week. All questions can be attempted multiple times. To be considered "completed", all questions must be answered correctly. Part marks for a week are not awarded. You can check this on the "Progress" page. Each week's activities successfully completed gives you 0.5% to a maximum of 5% over the course of the semester. There are modules due for 12 of the 13 weeks of the semester.

Please note that once the due date is passed, the interactive learning assessment (questions) should be accessed for study purposes (but completion is recorded at the due date).

Deferral or extension

You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.

Extensions are not available for this assessment as they are paced to match content in lectures+tutorials and practicals. If you are unable to submit, please contact Lois Eden (l.eden@uq.edu.au) to discuss exemption.

Late submission

You will receive a mark of 0 if this assessment is submitted late.

If students do not complete the online reading and quiz questions each week by Thursday 1pm, they forfeit the marks for that week. Students may miss two of the twelve question sessions without penalty.

Practical preparation and participation

• In-person

Mode

Activity/ Performance

Category

Practical/ Demonstration

Weight

5%

Due date

Week 1 Mon - Week 13 Fri

Task description

Submission guidelines

Students must have their pre-practical questions checked off by their tutor upon arriving at the beginning of each practical session. If you are unable to attend your timetabled practical you may attend another within the week in order to submit. If you are unable to submit, please contact Lois Eden (l.eden@uq.edu.au) to discuss exemption.

Deferral or extension

You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.

Extensions are not available for this assessment as the submissions are to be checked off by a tutor in attendance at the Practical session. If you are unable to submit, please contact Lois Eden (l.eden@uq.edu.au) to discuss exemption.

Late submission

You will receive a mark of 0 if this assessment is submitted late.

Students need to have their pre-practical questions checked off by their tutor upon arriving at the beginning of each practical session or they will forfeit the mark for that session's pre-practical questions. If you are unable to attend your timetabled practical you may attend another within the week in order to submit.

Mini tests

• In-person

Mode

Written

Category

Examination

Weight

40% (3 x 13.33%)

Due date

Weeks 5, 9, and 13 during Practicals

Task description

Exam details

Submission guidelines

Deferral or extension

You may be able to defer this exam.

See the Additional assessment information section further below for information relating to extension and deferral applications. When you are completing the application, please choose “In-semester exam”. The date of the deferred mini-test will be provided to you as part of the deferred exam application outcome in mySI-net or by email from Lois Eden.

End of semester exam

• Hurdle
• Identity Verified

Mode

Written

Category

Examination

Weight

50%

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.

See the Additional assessment information section further below for information relating to extension and deferral applications

Course grading

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

Additional course grading information

You must achieve 50% on the final exam to pass the course, even if you have passing marks in other BIOL1020 assessment tasks. For example, if you obtain a grade of 4 or 5 for all non-exam assessment, but fail the final exam, your overall course grade will be a maximum grade 3.ﾠ

Supplementary assessment

Supplementary assessment is available for this course.

If you are awarded supplementary assessment then generally the supplementary assessment will be equivalent to the failed assessment piece. For example, If you failed the practical component, then you will be required to complete an additional practical report/exam. If you failed the exam component, then you will be required to complete an exam. If you failed both components, you will be required to complete both.

• A passing grade of 3S4 will be awarded only if you obtain at least 50% of the marks in all items of supplementary assessment that you undertake.
• The decision on the format of the supplementary assessment will be made by the course coordinator.
• For some assessment items, for example oral presentations, a different type of assessment may be substituted at the discretion of the course co-ordinator

Supplementary assessments will be designed to allow eligible students to demonstrate specific learning objectives of the course.

Additional assessment information

Please ensure that you include your UQ student number and the course code in all correspondence with the teaching team.

HERE ARE A FEW RULES TO NOTE FOR BIOL1020 ASSESSMENT:

1. Attendance at practical classes and tutorials is highly recommended.ﾠ Practical work is an important part of biology. Preparation for & participation in your practicals is part of your assessment. Tutorials are designed to reinforce lecture and reading materials.
2. You must complete all online study (UQ Extend) modules on time. ﾠBear in mind that most of the Online Learning content will not be covered separately in lectures.

Absence from a Practical Session or Missed Online Learning (UQ Extend) module

If you are unable to attend your timetabled practical session & you have not been able to attend an alternative session or you have missed an Online Learning module due to circumstances beyond your control (e.g., illness) you must email the Practical Coordinator, Lois Eden (l.eden@uq.edu.au) immediately and provide the following information:

Email Subject Line: BIOL1020 Practical Absence or BIOL1020 Missed UQ Extend Quiz

Name:

Student ID Number:

Timetabled Practical Day and Time or Online Learning week.

Statement outlining why you are unable to attend your timetabled practical or complete your LearnX quiz.

Attached supporting documentation (e.g medical certificate if appropriate)

Your request must be made prior to or on the day of the missed practical or UQ Extend quiz. If the reason for your absence is approved, a note will be added to your record to ensure that you are not penalised for the missed practical or Online Learning module. If the reason for your absence is not approved, you will be considered as absent from that practical session or your online learning module will be considered incomplete. You will therefore not gain the marks for that activity.

PLAGIARISM WILL NOT BE TOLERATED: You should be aware that the University employs purpose built software to detect plagiarism. It is very important that you understand clearly the practical meaning of plagiarism.

Students are encouraged to read the UQ Academic Integrity and Plagiarism policy (http://www.uq.edu.au/hupp/index.html?page=25128) which makes a comprehensive statement about the University's approach to plagiarism, including the approved use of plagiarism detection software, the consequences of plagiarism and the principles associated with preventing plagiarism.

DEFINITION OF PLAGIARISM: Plagiarism is the act of misrepresenting as one's own the ideas, interpretations, words or creative works of another. 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 are expected to submit work that is in their own words and/or that properly recognises/cites when their work presents ideas or words etc of others.

EXAMPLES OF PLAGIARISM:

Copying or adapting another student's original work into a submitted assessment.

Direct copying of paragraphs, sentences, a single sentence or significant parts of a sentence without attributing its origin;

Direct copying of paragraphs, sentences, a single sentence or significant parts of a sentence with an end reference but without quotation marks around the copied text;

Copying ideas, concepts, research results, computer codes, statistical tables, designs, images, sounds or text or any combination of these;

Paraphrasing, summarising or simply rearranging another person's words, ideas, etc without changing the basic structure and/or meaning of the text;

Offering an idea or interpretation that is not one's own without identifying whose idea or interpretation it is;

A 'cut and paste' of statements from multiple sources;

Presenting as independent, work done in collaboration with others;

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE USE (AI)

The assessment tasks in this course evaluate students’ abilities, skills, and knowledge without the aid of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Students are advised that the use of AI technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.

Applications for Extensions to Assessment Due Dates

Extension requests are submitted online via my.UQ – applying for an extension. Extension requests received in any other way will not be approved. Additional details associated with extension requests, including acceptable and unacceptable reasons, may be found at my.UQ.

Please note:

• Requests for an extension to an assessment due date must be submitted through your my.UQ portal and you must provide documentation of your circumstances, as soon as it becomes evident that an extension is needed. Your application must be submitted on or before the assessment item's due date and time.
• Applications for extension can take time to be processed so you should continue to work on your assessment item while awaiting a decision. We recommend that you submit any completed work by the due date, and this will be marked if your application is not approved. Should your application be approved, then you will be able to resubmit by the agreed revised due date.
• If an extension is approved, you will be notified via your my.UQ portal and the new date and time for submission provided. It is important that you check the revised date as it may differ from the date that you requested.
• If the basis of the application is a medical condition, applications should be accompanied by a medical certificate dated prior to the assignment due date. If you are unable to provide documentation to support your application by the due date and time you must still submit your application on time and attach a written statement (Word document) outlining why you cannot provide the documentation. You must then upload the documentation to the portal within 24 hours.
• If an extension is being sought on the basis of exceptional circumstances, it must be accompanied by supporting documentation (eg. Statutory declaration).
• For extensions based on a SAP you may be granted a maximum of 7 days (if no earlier maximum timeframe applies). See the Extension or Deferral availability section of each assessment for timeframes. Your SAP is all that is required as documentation to support your application. However, additional extension requests for the assessment item will require the submission of additional supporting documentation e.g., a medical certificate. All extension requests must be received by the assessment due date and time.
• An extension for an assessment item due within the teaching period in which the course is offered, must not exceed four weeks in total. If you are incapacitated for a period exceeding four weeks of the teaching period, you are advised to apply for Removal of Course.
• If you have been ill or unable to attend class for more than 4 weeks, you are advised to carefully consider whether you are capable of successfully completing your courses this semester. You might be eligible to withdraw without academic penalty - seek advice from the Faculty that administers your program.
• Students may be asked to submit evidence of work completed to date. Lack of adequate progress on your assessment item may result in an extension being denied.
• There are no provisions for exemption from an assessment item within UQ rules. If you are unable to submit an assessment piece then, under special circumstances, you may be granted an exemption, but may be required to submit alternative assessment to ensure all learning outcomes are met.

Applications to defer an exam

In certain circumstances you can apply to take a deferred examination for in-semester and end-of-semester exams. You'll need to demonstrate through supporting documentation how unavoidable circumstances prevented you from sitting your exam. If you can’t, you can apply for a one-off discretionary deferred exam.

Deferred Exam requests are submitted online via mySi-net. Requests received in any other way will not be approved. Additional details associated with deferred examinations, including acceptable and unacceptable reasons may be found at my.UQ.

Please note:

• Applications can be submitted no later than 5 calendar days after the date of the original exam.
• There are no provisions to defer a deferred exam. You need to be available to sit your deferred examination.
• Your deferred examination request(s) must have a status of "submitted" in mySI-net to be assessed.
• All applications for deferred in-semester examinations are assessed by the relevant school. Applications for deferred end-of-semester examinations are assessed by the Academic Services Division.
• You’ll receive an email to your student email account when the status of your application is updated.
• If you have a medical condition, mental health condition or disability and require alternative arrangements for your deferred exam you’ll need to complete the online alternative exam arrangements through my.UQ. This is in addition to your deferred examinations request. You need to submit this request on the same day as your request for a deferred exam or supplementary assessment. Contact Student Services if you need assistance completing your alternative exam arrangements request.

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

Students are encouraged to read the UQ Academic Integrity and Plagiarism policy (http://www.uq.edu.au/hupp/index.html?page=25128) which makes a comprehensive statement about the University's approach to plagiarism, including the approved use of plagiarism detection software, the consequences of plagiarism and the principles associated with preventing plagiarism.

Learning activities

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

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.