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 focussing 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 andﾠcellular 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.

SIGNING UP FOR LECTURES, PRACTICALS, and TUTORIALS!!!!

In Semester 2, there is only one stream of lectures. There are several on-campus tutorial sessions available throughout the week. You attend a one-hour lecture and a one-hour tutorial a week.

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 1.

There will be one weekly Online Learning for every week of class (roughly requiring 1-3 hours to complete). You can complete your online learning at your own pace up to each weekly due date for each online learning.

Attendance in practicals and tutorialsﾠis mandatory.ﾠ

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

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

Please take care to note the timetable for tutorials and practicals as they do not run every week.

Please note:ﾠEvery effort is made to place students in their preferred class. However, it is not always possible for a student to be in the 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

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 Quiz

• Identity Verified

Mode

Written

Category

Quiz

Weight

5%

Due date

Week 1 Mon - Week 13 Fri

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

Task description

Submission guidelines

The Online Learning will contain several sets of questions each week. These questions will be due weekly by 1pm on the Friday of the teaching 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

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 (the 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). 

Practical Activities

• In-person

Mode

Activity/ Performance

Category

Practical/ Demonstration

Weight

5%

Due date

Week 1 Mon - Week 13 Fri

Task description

Submission guidelines

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

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 (the 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). 

Mini-tests

• In-person

Mode

Written

Category

Examination

Weight

40% (3 x 13.33%)

Due date

Mini Test 1: 27/08/2025 - 29/08/2025

Mini Test 2: 24/09/2025 - 26/09/2025

Mini Test 3: 29/10/2025 - 31/10/2025

Task description

Exam details

Submission guidelines

Deferral or extension

You may be able to defer this exam.

If you are unable to sit a mini-test, you are required to submit a deferred exam request via mySI-net. Applications can be submitted any time before the date of the mini-test but must be submitted no later than 5 calendar days after the date of the original mini-test. When you are completing the application, please choose “Mid-semester exam”.

Acceptable grounds for the deferral of a mini-test and the required supporting documentation are outlined here: Deferring an exam - my.UQ - University of Queensland

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
• In-person

Mode

Written

Category

Examination

Weight

50%

Due date

End of Semester Exam Period

8/11/2025 - 22/11/2025

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

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

• You must obtain 45% or more on End of semester exam.

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 the UQ website 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

HERE ARE A FEW RULES TO NOTE FOR BIOL1020 ASSESSMENT:

1. Attendance: practical classes and tutorials is highly recommended. Practical work is an important part of biology. Preparation for and 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 weeks on time, unless you are granted an exemption. Bear 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 (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.

Applications for Extensions to Assessment Due Dates

Read the information contained in the following links carefully before submitting an application for extension to assessment due date.

For guidance on applying for an extension, information is available here: https://my.uq.edu.au/information-and-services/manage-my-program/exams-and-assessment/applying-assessment-extension

For the policy relating to extensions, information is available here (Part D): https://policies.uq.edu.au/document/view-current.php?id=184

Please note the University's requirements for medical certificates here: https://my.uq.edu.au/information-and-services/manage-my-program/uq-policies-and-rules/requirements-medical-certificates

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.

Own copy required

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

Other course materials

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 for Students Policy and Procedure

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