Cells to Organisms (BIOL1040)

Course overview

The course covers the fundamental concepts that allow complex organisms to function, with some focus on the human body & other higher organisms. Key concepts include basic cellular transport & signalling mechanisms, neuronal structure & function, motor mechanisms & locomotion, circulation & gas exchange, & the endocrine system. Of key importance is the integration of different concepts as they apply to the structure and function of different regions of the entire organism.

BIOL1040 ('Cells to Organisms') is an integratedﾠbiology course offered by the School of Biomedical Sciences in the Faculty of Health, Medicine, and Behavioural Sciences and multiple Schools from the Faculty of Science. It presents a comprehensive overview of how structure and function are integrated at all levels from the cell to the organism.

The course contact hours include three lectures per week (most weeks), a workshop almost every week and five 3hour practical laboratory sessions during the semester. See Learning Activities section for specific details. NOTE that practicals do not necessarily occur on alternating weeks and you should carefully check the dates for your scheduled Practical group in your timetable.

In Week 3, optional but highly recommended Tutorial sessions will commence and run for the rest of the semester. More information on this will be provided in Week 1 of the semester during the Course Introduction Workshop.

There will be lecture recordings for the lectures provided that the technology functions (as it usually does), but we strongly recommend that you attend ALL lectures and that you use theﾠrecordings only to help in your review of the material from the lectures that you have attended. Workshops and tutorial classes are also expected to be recorded for those who cannot be there in-person.

BIOL1040 is a 2 unit course, so, in addition to formal class contact, students are expected to study in groups and individually, progressively throughout the semester. It will be necessary to spend a total of approximately 10-12 hours each week engaged in activities related to BIOL1040 throughout the semester. You must plan your timetable to enable you to attend all of your lectures and other classes, as you will find the material very challenging if you are not present for all of the classes.

Students should note that this course utilises animalﾠspecimens during the practical classes. Potential students who, for medical, personal, religious or other reasons, are unable to fully participate in these practical classes should discuss their situation with the Course Coordinator prior to enrolment.

BIOL1040 will have Scheduled Readings. These are optional readings for those who want to familiarise themselves with the concepts of a module before the lectures commence for that module. They are available for some background knowledge, and are not part of the assessment as such. More information on Scheduled Readings, and how to access them, will be discussed at the Course Introduction Workshop. Subsequent to that, you should be able to access Scheduled Readings for all the modules of the course.

Course requirements

Assumed background

Incompatible

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

BIOM1050, BIOM1051, BIOM1070

Course contact

Course staff

Timetable

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

Additional timetable information

It is essential that you check the timetable in the BIOL1040 course profile on a weekly basis under Learning Activities for the lectures, workshops and practicals. Your personal timetable will have the details including the venues for all of your classes in BIOL1040.

The dates for your practicals are shown in your timetable and you need to take care to attend the correct practicals for your group. If you miss a practical for a valid reason such as illness, then you will need to liaise with your group members promptly, so that you can submit your practical assessment by the due date and time. If you miss a practical for any reason, then you must still submit the relevant practical assessment (report or worksheet) by the due date, unless you have an approved extension based on a medical certificate or other evidence as appropriate.

Aims and outcomes

BIOL1040 is structured around six key organising principles that map to unifying themes in the "Campbell Biology" textbook and to the learning objectives of BIOL1040. Students undertaking BIOL1040 should understand and appreciate the following six key organising principles:

1. That structure and function are interrelated at all levels. Each level of organisation in the living world has its own unique aspects and there is continual interaction of structure and function between these levels.ﾠ
2. That life can be described, explained and explored at different levels of hierarchical organisation.
3. That cells and groups of cells / organisms are capable of responding to stimuli and initiateﾠfeedback loops.ﾠ
4. That organisms are open systems that exchange materials and energy with their surroundings and in doing so perform work.ﾠ
5. That the process of bioscience includes observation-based discovery and the reproducible testing of explanations through hypothesis-driven enquiry.ﾠ
6. That bioscience is multidisciplinary and new technologies are frequent outcomes. An understanding of the importance of science and technology in everyday life is critical to the broader society.

Learning outcomes

After successfully completing this course you should be able to:

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment details

Practical Series: Osmosis Report

• Team or group-based

Mode

Written

Category

Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Practical/ Demonstration

Weight

6%

Due date

7/08/2025 - 17/08/2025

See 'Task Description' for your Group's due date

Learning outcomes

L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L10, L14

Task description

Submission guidelines

Submit your report via the submission link for your prac Group in the Assessment section of Blackboard. You must submit your Assessment task, with the electronic coversheet available on the School's website (under Undergraduate - Assessment), to Turnitin by the submission deadline. You may submit drafts to Turnitin up to the due date, but you will only be able to submit once on or after the due date. You should also keep an electronic copy of every piece of assessment you submit. Upon submission, you will need to generate a digital Turnitin receipt confirming your work has been successfully submitted; proof of submission will be accepted only by providing this digital receipt so make sure to always check that you have received this.

If you are experiencing technical difficulties uploading your submission, please email a copy of your assessment to sbms@enquire.uq.edu.au so this can be logged on your behalf before the due date.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

The maximum extension allowed is 14 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.

This assessment has a maximum extension of 14 days to encourage timely engagement with course content.

A request for an extension must be submitted through my.UQ as soon as it becomes evident that an extension is needed, but no later than one calendar day after the assessment task submission due date and time.

Requests for extension received more than one calendar day after the assessment task submission due date and time will not be accepted for consideration unless you provide evidence of exceptional circumstances preventing you from submitting a request prior to the deadline, e.g., due to hospitalisation.

If you have been granted an extension, then the assessment specified penalty listed under Late Submission will be applied to submissions made after the due date of the approved extension

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.

Practical Series: Reproduction & Development Submission

• Team or group-based
• In-person

Mode

Written

Category

Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Practical/ Demonstration

Weight

6%

Due date

18/08/2025 - 1/09/2025

See 'Task Description' for your Group's due date

Other conditions

Time limited.

See the conditions definitions

Learning outcomes

L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07, L08, L09, L10, L12, L14

Task description

Submission guidelines

Complete this assessment in the Assessment section of Blackboard using Slice software (an email outlining how to set up your access to Slice will be sent prior to this practical).

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

The maximum extension allowed is 14 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.

This assessment has a maximum extension of 14 days to encourage timely engagement with course content.

A request for an extension must be submitted through my.UQ as soon as it becomes evident that an extension is needed, but no later than one calendar day after the assessment task submission due date and time.

Requests for extension received more than one calendar day after the assessment task submission due date and time will not be accepted for consideration unless you provide evidence of exceptional circumstances preventing you from submitting a request prior to the deadline, e.g., due to hospitalisation.

If you have been granted an extension, then the assessment specified penalty listed under Late Submission will be applied to submissions made after the due date of the approved extension

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.

Quiz 1 - Modules 1, 2 & 3

• Online

Mode

Written

Category

Quiz

Weight

7.5%

Due date

5/09/2025 1:00 pm

The quiz will be available 48 hours prior to the due date and time

Other conditions

Time limited.

See the conditions definitions

Learning outcomes

L01, L03, L04, L06, L07, L08, L09, L10, L12, L14

Task description

Submission guidelines

Submitted from the Course Blackboard Site.

We recommend that you do not use the Blackboard Phone App nor a wireless network connection when completing this assessment. Both are unstable and could affect your ability to complete your Blackboard assessment, by for example:

• you may lose connectivity and lose the work you have completed;
• your submission could indicate you have completed your assessment task, but nothing has been delivered into BlackBoard.

Please ensure that you only use a reliable internet connection.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

This assessment has a maximum extension of 7 days to encourage timely engagement with course content, and facilitate prompt feedback.

A request for an extension must be submitted through my.UQ as soon as it becomes evident that an extension is needed, but no later than one calendar day after the assessment task submission due date and time.

Requests for extension received more than one calendar day after the assessment task submission due date and time will not be accepted for consideration unless you provide evidence of exceptional circumstances preventing you from submitting a request prior to the deadline, e.g., due to hospitalisation.

If you have been granted an extension, then the assessment specified penalty listed under Late Submission will be applied to submissions made after the due date of the approved extension

Late submission

No late submission permitted.

Practical Series: Action Potential Report

• Team or group-based

Mode

Written

Category

Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Practical/ Demonstration

Weight

6%

Due date

11/09/2025 - 21/09/2025

See 'Task Description' for your Group's due date

Learning outcomes

L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L08, L09, L10, L12, L14

Task description

Submission guidelines

Submit your report via the submission link for your prac Group in the Assessment section of Blackboard. You must submit your Assessment task, with the electronic coversheet available on the School's website (under Undergraduate - Assessment), to Turnitin by the submission deadline. You may submit drafts to Turnitin up to the due date, but you will only be able to submit once on or after the due date. You should also keep an electronic copy of every piece of assessment you submit. Upon submission, you will need to generate a digital Turnitin receipt confirming your work has been successfully submitted; proof of submission will be accepted only by providing this digital receipt so make sure to always check that you have received this.

If you are experiencing technical difficulties uploading your submission, please email a copy of your assessment to sbms@enquire.uq.edu.au so this can be logged on your behalf before the due date.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

The maximum extension allowed is 14 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.

This assessment has a maximum extension of 14 days to encourage timely engagement with course content.

A request for an extension must be submitted through my.UQ as soon as it becomes evident that an extension is needed, but no later than one calendar day after the assessment task submission due date and time.

Requests for extension received more than one calendar day after the assessment task submission due date and time will not be accepted for consideration unless you provide evidence of exceptional circumstances preventing you from submitting a request prior to the deadline, e.g., due to hospitalisation.

If you have been granted an extension, then the assessment specified penalty listed under Late Submission will be applied to submissions made after the due date of the approved extension

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.

Practical Series: Skeletal Muscle Report

• Team or group-based

Mode

Written

Category

Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Practical/ Demonstration

Weight

6%

Due date

9/10/2025 - 19/10/2025

See 'Task Description' for your Group's due date

Learning outcomes

L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L10, L14

Task description

Submission guidelines

Submit your report via the submission link for your prac Group in the Assessment section of Blackboard. You must submit your Assessment task, with the electronic coversheet available on the School's website (under Undergraduate - Assessment), to Turnitin by the submission deadline. You may submit drafts to Turnitin up to the due date, but you will only be able to submit once on or after the due date. You should also keep an electronic copy of every piece of assessment you submit. Upon submission, you will need to generate a digital Turnitin receipt confirming your work has been successfully submitted; proof of submission will be accepted only by providing this digital receipt so make sure to always check that you have received this.

If you are experiencing technical difficulties uploading your submission, please email a copy of your assessment to sbms@enquire.uq.edu.au so this can be logged on your behalf before the due date.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

The maximum extension allowed is 14 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.

This assessment has a maximum extension of 14 days to encourage timely engagement with course content.

A request for an extension must be submitted through my.UQ as soon as it becomes evident that an extension is needed, but no later than one calendar day after the assessment task submission due date and time.

Requests for extension received more than one calendar day after the assessment task submission due date and time will not be accepted for consideration unless you provide evidence of exceptional circumstances preventing you from submitting a request prior to the deadline, e.g., due to hospitalisation.

If you have been granted an extension, then the assessment specified penalty listed under Late Submission will be applied to submissions made after the due date of the approved extension

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.

If you are experiencing technical difficulties uploading your submission, please email a copy of your assessment to sbms@enquire.uq.edu.au so this can be logged on your behalf before the due date.

Quiz 2 - Modules 4, 5 & 6

• Online

Mode

Written

Category

Quiz

Weight

7.5%

Due date

17/10/2025 1:00 pm

The quiz will be available 48 hours prior to the due date and time

Other conditions

Time limited.

See the conditions definitions

Learning outcomes

L01, L03, L04, L06, L07, L08, L09, L10, L11, L12, L14

Task description

Submission guidelines

Submitted from the Course Blackboard Site.

We recommend that you do not use the Blackboard Phone App nor a wireless network connection when completing this assessment. Both are unstable and could affect your ability to complete your Blackboard assessment, by for example:

• you may lose connectivity and lose the work you have completed;
• your submission could indicate you have completed your assessment task, but nothing has been delivered into BlackBoard.

Please ensure that you only use a reliable internet connection.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

This assessment has a maximum extension of 7 days to encourage timely engagement with course content, and facilitate prompt feedback.

A request for an extension must be submitted through my.UQ as soon as it becomes evident that an extension is needed, but no later than one calendar day after the assessment task submission due date and time.

Requests for extension received more than one calendar day after the assessment task submission due date and time will not be accepted for consideration unless you provide evidence of exceptional circumstances preventing you from submitting a request prior to the deadline, e.g., due to hospitalisation.

If you have been granted an extension, then the assessment specified penalty listed under Late Submission will be applied to submissions made after the due date of the approved extension

Late submission

No late submission permitted.

Practical Series: Plant Form & Function Worksheet

• Team or group-based
• In-person

Mode

Written

Category

Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Practical/ Demonstration

Weight

6%

Due date

21/10/2025 - 31/10/2025

See 'Task Description' for your Group's due date

Other conditions

Time limited.

See the conditions definitions

Learning outcomes

L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07, L09, L13, L14

Task description

Submission guidelines

Submit your report via the submission link for your prac Group in the Assessment section of Blackboard. You must submit your Assessment task, with the electronic coversheet available on the School's website (under Undergraduate - Assessment), to Turnitin by the submission deadline. You may submit drafts to Turnitin up to the due date, but you will only be able to submit once on or after the due date. You should also keep an electronic copy of every piece of assessment you submit. Upon submission, you will need to generate a digital Turnitin receipt confirming your work has been successfully submitted; proof of submission will be accepted only by providing this digital receipt so make sure to always check that you have received this.

If you are experiencing technical difficulties uploading your submission, please email a copy of your assessment to sbms@enquire.uq.edu.au so this can be logged on your behalf before the due date.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

The maximum extension allowed is 14 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.

This assessment has a maximum extension of 14 days to encourage timely engagement with course content.

A request for an extension must be submitted through my.UQ as soon as it becomes evident that an extension is needed, but no later than one calendar day after the assessment task submission due date and time.

Requests for extension received more than one calendar day after the assessment task submission due date and time will not be accepted for consideration unless you provide evidence of exceptional circumstances preventing you from submitting a request prior to the deadline, e.g., due to hospitalisation.

If you have been granted an extension, then the assessment specified penalty listed under Late Submission will be applied to submissions made after the due date of the approved extension

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.

End-of-Semester Exam

• Identity Verified
• In-person

Mode

Written

Category

Examination

Weight

55%

Due date

End of Semester Exam Period

8/11/2025 - 22/11/2025

Other conditions

Time limited, Secure.

See the conditions definitions

Learning outcomes

L02, L03, L04, L06, L07, L08, L09, L10, L11, L12, L13, L14

Task description

Exam details

Submission guidelines

Deferral or extension

You may be able to defer this exam.

Late submission

No late submissions permitted.

Course grading

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

Additional course grading information

No assessment items are compulsory. A mark of zero will be recorded if an assessment item is not submitted. Penalties apply for late submission unless there is an approved extension date.ﾠ

Supplementary assessment

Supplementary assessment is available for this course.

The supplementary assessment may be in the form of an exam (written or oral), a written submission or another assessment as determined by the Course Coordinator. It may be made up of multiple components and will allow students to meet any outstanding Learning Outcomes. The final grade awarded will be based on the results of the supplementary assessment only and a passing grade will be awarded only if a student passes the supplementary assessment.

Additional assessment information

Refer to the SBMS Assessment Guidelines for School specific assessment information.

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

Library resources are available on the UQ Library website.

Other course materials

Additional learning resources information

A lot of practice questions will be provided in lectures, workshops, tutorial sessions and formative quizzes through Mastering Biology to help you to prepare for the standard of the questions that you can expect in the two summative on-line quizzes and in the end of semester examination.

All of the materials that you will need for your classes and assessment tasks in the course will be made available via the BIOL1040 Blackboard website, either directly or through internet links.

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.

School guidelines

Your school has additional guidelines you'll need to follow for this course:

• SBMS Assessment Guidelines