Model Organism Genetics (BIOL3222)

Course overview

The course will investigate the full breadth of experimental paradigms for genetic analysis in four multicellular model genetic organisms (Arabidopsis, Drosophila, C. elegans and mouse) through a structured series of lectures with a focus on the primary research literature. A series of research paper discussions will be integrated with the lectures. In the latter portion of the course, students will select an academic mentor who will assign a research problem to them. The academic mentor will then guide students in the development of a research proposal designed to address the assigned problem.

The course will consist of 4 modules to be developed around 4 very distinct research paradigms each of which reflects the unique characteristics of a genetic research organism - C. elegans, Arabidopsis, mouse, and Drosophila. The course will also require a final written paper that outlines a proposed genetics research project to address a specific research scenario. You will develop your research project proposal under the guidance of an academic mentor.

Course layout

Four modules in the following order:

1) C. elegans (weeks 1-2)

2) Arabidopsis (weeks 3-4)

3) ﾠMammals (weeks 5-6)

4)ﾠ Drosophila (weeks 7-8)

Lecture and discussion

Each module will run for 2 weeks, with 3 lectures in the first week and two lectures in the second week. There will also be a 2 hour class discussion in the second week of each module.

Exams

There will be a one hour exam covering modules 1 & 2. There will be a second one hour exam covering modules 3 &4.

There will be no final exam for the course during the exam period.

Projects

There will be a one hour tutorial held during the normal lecture period at 2pm on Thursday ofﾠ week 8ﾠ at which time the research proposal project will be discussed and topics assigned. There will be mandatory sessions with your project mentor to be held at a venue that will be arranged by your academic mentor. See the Learning Activities within the ECP for the timing and topics of these sessions. These sessions are to assist you with writing your research proposal project. Some of these sessions require submissions by Email or that you present your ideas to the group, so be sure that you come prepared.

Course requirements

Assumed background

You should have completed second level genetics.

Prerequisites

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

BIOL2202 or BIOL2902

Restrictions

School approval required for enrolment in the external mode.

Course contact

Course staff

Timetable

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

Additional timetable information

Note that the two exams will be held during the semester at regularly scheduled lecture times, but not in your normal lecture venue.

Please note that the Ekka holiday will require that one of the discussions gets displaced to the following week.

Also be aware that The final third of the course will involve developing a research proposal under the guidance of an academic mentor. The specific times of your meetings with your mentor will have to be adjusted around their lecturing schedule, but approximate times for the meetings are listed later in this course profile. Venues will be determined by your mentor.

Aims and outcomes

This course will introduce you to the genetics research literature. You will learn a wide range of approaches and experimental organisms that are used for genetic discovery. We will address: - Establishing an hypothesis - setting specific research question - framing a research approach - selecting appropriate techniques - interpreting data - presenting data. You will then use what you have learned to design a research project that will address an assigned research problem. This course will provide excellent preparation for Honours research. If you terminate your education without ever doing independent research, this course will provide you with insight into the scientific discovery process. It will also provide you with experience interpreting and presenting novel information. With the advent of high-throughput genome sequencing, genetics will begin to have a huge impact on society. Your experience in this course will assist you in understanding the information that will result and will help you to interpret that information for others who lack a strong genetic background.

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

Examination #1

• Hurdle
• Identity Verified
• In-person

Mode

Written

Category

Examination

Weight

30%

Due date

11/09/2025 2:00 pm

Other conditions

Student specific, Time limited.

See the conditions definitions

Learning outcomes

L01

Task description

Hurdle requirements

Exam details

Submission guidelines

Deferral or extension

You may be able to defer this exam.

Examination #2

• Hurdle
• Identity Verified
• In-person

Mode

Written

Category

Examination

Weight

30%

Due date

7/10/2025 2:00 pm

Other conditions

Student specific, Time limited.

See the conditions definitions

Task description

Hurdle requirements

Exam details

Submission guidelines

Deferral or extension

You may be able to defer this exam.

Research proposal

Mode

Written

Category

Paper/ Report/ Annotation

Weight

30%

Due date

30/10/2025 2:00 pm

Task description

Submission guidelines

Online submission by Turnitin only by the due date and time. No hard copy or assignment cover sheets are required.

4 of the 30 marks will be awarded for meeting milestones during the course of research proposal development. Required milestone information will be submitted by Email to your specific mentor. Be sure to include BIOL3222 and the specific milestone in the subject line of the Email.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.

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). 

Discussion sessions

• In-person

Mode

Oral

Category

Presentation

Weight

10%

Due date

1) Module 1: 4/08/2025 4:00 pm

2) Module 2: 18/08/2025 4:00 pm

3) Module 3: 1/09/2025 4:00 pm

4) Module 4: 15/09/2025 4:00 pm

Other conditions

Time limited.

See the conditions definitions

Learning outcomes

L01, L02, L04

Task description

Submission guidelines

The text and the slide must be sent by Email to the lecturer for the module. Be sure to include "BIOL3222 discussion text & powerpoint" in the subject line of the Email, please ensure you include your name and student number. The lecturer will assemble these slides into a presentation for the discussion.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.

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). 

Course grading

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

Additional course grading information

Assessment Hurdle

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 in combined marks for Examination #1 and Examination #2.

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

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

PLAGIARISM: 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 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 original work 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.

EXAMPLES OF PLAGIARISM:

1. Direct copying of paragraphs, sentences, a single sentence or significant parts of a sentence;

2. 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;

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

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

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

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

7. Presenting as independent, work done in collaboration with others;

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

Group Work

Students may be required to work in groups and submit an assessment item as a group.

In some cases, students are expected to work in a group to gather data or generate ideas, but are expected to submit individual assessment items based on the group work. This means that you can use the group-generated ideas or data but you cannot collaborate to produce the individual written submissions. If the divisions are unclear, ask for clarification

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Translation (MT)

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Translation (MT) are emerging tools that may support students in completing this assessment task. Students may appropriately use AI and/or MT in completing this assessment task. Students must clearly reference any use of AI or MT in each instance.

A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.

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.

Additional learning resources information

You will be advised of research papers and supplementary learning materials that will be required for each module.

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.