Molecular Cell Biology II (BIOL3006)

Course overview

This course examines cellular structure & function at the molecular level and integrates the disciplines of biochemistry, molecular biology, structural biology, and molecular genetics. This is an advanced course that utilizes current published research as the medium to instruct on topics such as methods in molecular cell biology, cell architecture, cell interactions, the nucleus, cell differentiation and cellular dynamics. The final topic discusses the role of molecular cell biology in the diagnosis and treatment of disease.

This course covers the most significant areas of cell biology. Topics include cell interactions, cell migration, cell division, cell differentiation, nuclear structure and function, protein trafficking, cell death, cellular stress and homeostasis. There is a strong emphasis on the clinical applications of cell biology, research approaches and practical techniques, and on problem-based learning in this course.

Course requirements

Assumed background

A good understanding of the basic concepts underpinning cell and molecular biology. Prerequisite coursesﾠare BIOC2000 (Biochemistry & Molecular Biology)ﾠand BIOL2200 (Cell Structure & Function). BIOL2202 (Genetics) would also be beneficial.

Prerequisites

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

[BIOL2200 or BIOL2900] AND [BIOL2202 or BIOL2902]

Jointly taught details

This course is jointly-taught with:

BIOL3906 shares lectures and practicals classes with BIOL3006. The students in BIOL3006 and BIOL3906 both participate in a research method group presentation.

Course contact

Course staff

Timetable

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

Additional timetable information

Please check your timetable regularly at the start of each semester.

Aims and outcomes

The aims of BIOL3006 are:

• To appreciate how cell function is dictated at the level of protein structure and interactions, organelle structure and cell interactions.
• To develop aﾠbroad insight into how different experimental techniques contribute to our investigation of cell biology.
• To link experimental techniques to an understanding of how current discoveries were made and where how these results and (new) techniques drive the research forward.
• To recognize the importance of cell biology to our understanding of the mechanisms of disease and how this contributes to disease diagnosis and treatment.

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

Research Approaches Presentations

• Hurdle
• Team or group-based
• In-person

Mode

Activity/ Performance, Oral

Category

Presentation

Weight

20%

Due date

12/08/2024 - 23/08/2024

Held in the lecture slots 15 August - (Week 4) - 22 August (Week 5).

Learning outcomes

L03, L05, L06

Task description

Hurdle requirements

Submission guidelines

PowerPoint presentations must be emailed to f.simpson@uq.edu.au before 2 pm on the Friday immediately prior to the first scheduled presentation (Friday 16 August 2024).

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.

Problem-based learning exercise

• Hurdle
• Identity Verified
• In-person

Mode

Written

Category

Quiz

Weight

15%

Due date

19/08/2024 - 23/08/2024

2/09/2024 - 6/09/2024

Other conditions

Time limited.

See the conditions definitions

Learning outcomes

L01, L02, L03, L04, L06

Task description

Hurdle requirements

Submission guidelines

Completed in your allocated PBL session.

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.

Practical Assessment - Methods in Molecular Cell Biology Quiz

• Hurdle

Mode

Activity/ Performance, Written

Category

Practical/ Demonstration, Quiz

Weight

15%

Due date

16/09/2024 - 20/09/2024

14/10/2024 - 18/10/2024

Other conditions

Time limited.

See the conditions definitions

Learning outcomes

L01, L04

Task description

Hurdle requirements

Submission guidelines

Submitted online - within 24 hours of the final practical session.

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.

End of semester exam

• Hurdle
• Identity Verified
• In-person

Mode

Written

Category

Examination

Weight

50%

Due date

End of Semester Exam Period

2/11/2024 - 16/11/2024

Other conditions

Time limited.

See the conditions definitions

Learning outcomes

L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06

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.ﾠ You must obtain an overall course mark of 50% or more; and

2. ﾠYou must obtain an overall mark of 40% or more on the end of semester exam; and

3. ﾠYou must obtain a minimum weighted average mark of 40% across all other non-examination course assessment items and learning tasks; and

4. You must attend 100% of the PBL and practical sessions and ALL of the research approaches seminars.

The maximum grade you will receive will be a 2 if you:

1.ﾠ Obtain a weighted average mark of 30% or less on the non-examination course assessment items.

2.ﾠ Obtain an overall mark of 30% or less on the 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 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.

Please ensure you receive and save the submission confirmation for all submitted items, you may be asked to produce this as evidence of your submission.

Turnitin

By submitting work through Turnitin you are deemed to have accepted the following declaration “I certify that this assignment is my own work and has not been submitted, either previously or concurrently, in whole or in part, to this University or any other educational institution, for marking or assessment”.

All students must ensure they receive their Turnitin receipt on submission of any assessments. A valid Turnitin receipt will be the only evidence accepted if one or more of your submissions are missing. Without evidence, the assessment will receive the standard late penalty, or after seven days, will receive zero. In the case of a Blackboard outage, please contact the Course Coordinator as soon as possible to confirm the outage with ITS.

Assessment/Attendance

Please 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 Electronic Course Profile (ECP) for your course also provide information about your course requirements, the rules associated with your courses and services offered by the University.

Absence from the PBL/Practical Session

You must attend 100% of the PBLs and laboratory component of this course.

If you are unable to attend your timetabled practical session due to circumstances beyond your control (e.g., illness) you must submit a practical absence request immediately accompanied by acceptable supporting documentation that covers the date of the missed practical. 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 the Learning Resources folder in the PBL and Practical absences folder in Blackboard.

Requests without 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 or PBL and the attendance hurdle may apply.

After your request is submitted, email the course coordinator (Dr Mathew Jones mathew.jones@uq.edu.au) to obtain a copy of a relevant, published research paper. You will then have to write a lay summary (something that could be understood by one of your peers) of the paper. This should be no less than 1.5 and no more than 2 printed A4 pages in length, and presented single-spaced in Calibri/Times New Roman font size 12 on a page with 2 cm margins. You will be asked to submit your summary to the course coordinator no more than seven (7) calendar days after the paper is sent to you.

It is your responsibility to submit an application, provide correct documentation and complete the summary by the due date and time. Extensions will not be granted for alternate assessment (unless exceptional circumstances can be demonstrated).

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

A note for repeating students in this course

Any student who enrols in a course must not be given exemption or partial credit from their previous attempt(s) for any individual piece of assessment. Instead, the student must successfully complete all of the learning activities and assessment items within the study period of enrolment (PPL Assessment - Procedures Section: Assessment integrity).

If the same assessment item is set from one year to the next, repeating students are allowed to submit the same work they submitted in previous attempts at the course. Where possible SCMB recommends that you use the feedback you received in your last attempt to improve parts of the item where you lost marks. Resubmission of an altered or unaltered assessment item by a repeating student (where the same assessment has been set) will not be considered as self-plagiarism.

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 are encouraged to read the UQ Academic Integrity and Plagiarism policy at: ppl.app.uq.edu.au/content/3.60.04-student-integrity-and-misconduct

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.

Additional learning resources information

Blackboard

Additional supplementary material may be posted on the course Blackboard site at learn.uq.edu.au.

Please check the Announcements page on Blackboard regularly for information updates.

Problem-based learning exercises and practical notes will be available from tutorial staff during the semester.

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.

You'll also need to be aware of the following policies and procedures while completing this course:

• Laboratory Occupational Health and Safety