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BIOS1167: Human Cell Biology (2013 - Semester 1)

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Unit: BIOS1167: Human Cell Biology (6 CP)
Mode: Normal-Day
On Offer: Yes
Level: Junior
Faculty/School: Biomedical Science
Unit Coordinator/s: Dr Oakes, Diana
Session options: Semester 1
Versions for this Unit:
Site(s) for this Unit:
Campus: Cumberland
Pre-Requisites: None.
Brief Handbook Description: This unit of study introduces students to the biological and biochemical processes that are fundamental to life. The material covered in this unit forms the basis of subsequent biomedical and professional units of study. Knowledge gained in this unit will help students to understand principles of health and disease and the scientific basis for many of the professional practices they will undertake in their careers. The following topics are studied: structure and function of cells, homeostasis, basic chemical processes of life, biochemistry of human function, energy and function (including metabolic processes and diseases), genetic code in health and disease (including cell division, basic genetics, protein synthesis and genetic diseases). The relevance of these fundamental principles to practices of health care is examined.
Assumed Knowledge: None.
Lecturer/s: Dr Holsinger , Damian
A/Prof Huq, Fazlul
Dr Hegedus, Elizabeth
Dr Oakes, Diana
Timetable: BIOS1167 Timetable
T&L Activities: 4hr lectures/week, 8hrs practicals/semester

Lectures: 4 lectures per week (check your personal timetable (myUni) for times and locations)

Practical or Tutorial Classes: will be held in Weeks 4, 7, 10

Lectures under the following topics will be presented:

1. Homeostasis and Control Systems (Lecturer: D.Holsinger)

2. Cell Structure and Function (Lecturer: D.Holsinger)

3. Introductory Chemistry (Lecturer: F.Huq)

4. Biochemistry – Important Biological Molecules – (Lecturer: D Oakes)

5. Membrane Structure and Function (Lecturer: F.Huq)

6. Principles of Acids and Bases (Lecturer: F.Huq)

7. Protein Synthesis (Lecturer: D.Holsinger)

8. Energy, Reactions and Metabolism (Lecturer: D Oakes)

9. Cell Replication and Genetics (Lecturer: E Hegedus)

You should however, refer to the detailed timetable provided on this Unit of Study on-line site to ascertain the latest details of topic, times, group and location. You will find that sometimes a lecture may not be scheduled, to allow you to do some private study for the mid-semester examination.

Review sessions, are scheduled in a lecture time in Week 6 (prior to the mid-semester exam) and week 13. These sessions are optional.

Practical and Tutorial Classes require that you PREPARE for them prior to the scheduled class. Bring your student manual to each class.

Students are very strongly recommended to approach this subject as independent learners, to read the texts and develop your understanding of the concepts between lectures, tutorials/practicals and individual activities. Take the opportunity to ask questions and seek explanations of difficult concepts in tutorials/practicals. Utilise the post-lecture activities that are provided for each topic folder on the elearning site – these include worksheets, multiple choice questions and on-line computer tutorials. This means that besides lectures, an important aspect of your learning requires you to complete activities, in your own time.
Assessment Description: mid semester exam (30%), online quizzea (5%) end semester exam (65%)

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There are 2 types of assessments:

1. FORMATIVE assessment

1) Post Lecture Activities (eg activity sheets, worksheets and on-line computer tutorials) are provided for some topics (available on the elearning site) , ie assessment that provides ongoing feedback on your progress, not centrally recorded and administered:

* to provide extra revision

* to be completed in your own time and do not need to be submitted

2) Discussion of topics with peers via the ‘Communication’ link on the eLearning site

3) Sample Mid-semester and End-semester Questions will be provided before each exam

2. SUMMATIVE Assessment ie assessment that is centrally recorded:

1) MID-SEMESTER EXAM (30%).

• A written exam consisting of multiple choice questions in Week 6, 40 minutes duration. You will be notified of the time and venue at a later date.

2) ON-LINE QUIZZES (5%)

• MCQ quizzes posted during the semester, to be completed on-line.

3) END-SEMESTER EXAM (65%).

• A two (2) hour long written exam containing multiple choice questions, in Week 15/16. Venue and formal seat allocation will be found on the Faculty website.

• This examination will cover all Semester 1 work in this subject, with less emphasis on the material already covered in the Week 6 examination.

Material covered in lectures, tutorials, practical sessions and post-lecture activities (activity sheets, worksheets and on-line computer tutorials) will be assessed in the written examinations. Questions will be derived from lectures, tutorials/practicals and from post-lecture activities (activity sheets, worksheets and on-line computer tutorials). Questions will be allocated to each topic in proportion to the time devoted to it.

ALL SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENTS MUST BE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED in order to complete this unit of study. Component marks of mid-semester and end-semester examinations and on-line quizzes for the semester will be combined to produce the aggregate mark, which will be a numerical, raw score.
Assessment Feedback: The aim of our teaching is to support your learning. The various assessment tools have been developed over many years as a result of our experience of teaching and previous students’ learning. We have also learned much from surveys of learning that previous students have completed.

As a result we have learnt that students with little or no background in the topics covered in this unit need to work steadily at understanding, because so much of the later semester work is building on material covered in the early weeks. It takes some time for all the pieces to come together. Because of this, there are several post-lecture activities which carry no marks, but for which the completion is vital. Assessments carrying marks (summative assessment) follows somewhat later (Week 6 and 15/16) when there has been more time for the “bigger picture” to have been painted and understood.

The post-lecture activities are designed to give students who have some background the opportunity to assess what they do already know, and the areas where they need to focus more strongly.

Exam questions are designed to test both factual knowledge of relevant material and critical analysis. Short answer questions also test clarity of written communication and application of material in a broader context.
A framework for the development of these skills is provided by the post-lecture activities practice exam questions. Students are encouraged to work in groups on the post-lecture activities to further their understanding and assist development of collaborative skills, a key graduate attribute.

Deliberate breaches of academic honesty constitute academic misconduct. These breaches include:
• Engaging someone else to complete an assessment on one’s behalf
• Misconduct during supervised assessments

The penalties for academic misconduct may include:
• A mark of zero on the assessment
• A fail grade in the unit of study
• Additional assessment (including an unseen exam)
• Reference of the matter to the University Registrar

Issues concerning breaches of academic honesty may be dealt with either through the process of determining academic results in a unit of study, or, in the most serious cases, by invocation of misconduct procedures
Students should consult: http://www.usyd.edu.au/senate/policies/Plagiarism.pdf
Grading:
Grade Type Description
Standards Based Assessment Final grades in this unit are awarded at levels of HD for High Distinction, DI (previously D) for Distinction, CR for Credit, PS (previously P) for Pass and FA (previously F) for Fail as defined by University of Sydney Assessment Policy. Details of the Assessment Policy are available on the Policies website at http://sydney.edu.au/policies . Standards for grades in individual assessment tasks and the summative method for obtaining a final mark in the unit will be set out in a marking guide supplied by the unit coordinator.
Online Course Content: An on-line site has been created for this unit of study.

NOTE: The on-line site is available to all students enrolled in BIOS 1167.

The on-line site contains the following:

• Lecture notes

• Self-directed learning tutorials are will be provided on-line (Post-lecture activities).

• Activity sheets (for extra revision – you do not need to submit these activity sheets – answers are provided on-line)

• Worksheets

• Practice questions for mid- and end- semester examinations will be posted on-line during the semester