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  2. Cellular and Molecular Biology [SCB2222]

Faculty of Health, Engineering and Science

School: Natural Sciences

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Cellular and Molecular Biology

  • Unit Code

    SCB2222

  • Year

    2015

  • Enrolment Period

    1

  • Version

    1

  • Credit Points

    15

  • Full Year Unit

     N

  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus

Description

In this unit students explore the structure and function of cells within a theoretical and experimental framework. Students study selected cellular processes and the nature and expression of genetic material.

Prerequisite Rule

Students must pass 1 units from SCI1183, SCI1187

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Deduce the cellular and chemical bases of life on earth.
  2. Demonstrate knowledge of and ability to apply important laboratory techniques for studying regulation of cellular functions: cell and viral cultures, recombinant DNA and genomics, genetic analysis.
  3. Describe the processes of DNA replication and recombination, transcription and translation.
  4. Detail the structure of nucleic acids and the molecular structure of genes and chromosomes.
  5. Display proficiency in data handling; laboratory skills and science communication.
  6. Outline the structure and function of biomembranes and eukaryotic cells.

Unit Content

  1. Cell and viral culture techniques: microorganisms, animal cells, viruses. Mutations as a genetic tool: the nature of mutations, molecular cloning, transformation. Recombinant DNA: DNA cloning, the polymerase chain reaction, genomics, bioinformatics.
  2. Cells as dynamic entities: architecture of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, cell life cycles, cellular differentiation. The chemistry of cells: chemical bonds, chemical equilibrium, energetics. Biomolecules: structure and function of proteins and nucleic acids, the genetic code and protein synthesis.
  3. DNA replication: the replication process, telomere structure and function. Regulation of transcription: bacterial gene control and transcription initiation, eukaryotic gene control, regulatory sequences, activators and repressors, RNA polymerase II, molecular control of transcription. RNA processing: transcription termination, processing of eukaryotic mRNA and its regulation, nuclear transport, post-transcriptional control mechanisms, processing of rRNA and tRNA.
  4. Data handling: Introduction to graphs, standard curves and determining the concentration of unknown solutions, linear regression and correlations, numeracy for determination of concentrations and dilutions. Laboratory skills: microscopy, spectrophotometry, centrifugation, electrophoresis, sterile technique, microbial cell culturing. Literacy: scientific drawings, syntax and grammar. Obtaining information: reading effectively, interpretation of scientific drawings. Communication: laboratory reports as scientific article, essays as review articles, graphs/drawings as a communication tool, discussion as a learning tool.
  5. Molecular structure of genes and chromosomes: definition of a gene, chromosome organisation and coding and non-coding DNA, chromosomal rearrangements, DNA in organelles.
  6. Structure and function of biomembranes: chemical composition of biomembranes, structure and function of membrane proteins, membrane fluidity, diffusion, protein-mediated transport, membrane electric potential, active transport, epithelia, osmosis. Subcellular organisation of eukaryotic cells: lysosomes, plant vacuoles, peroxisomes, mitochondria, chloroplasts, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi vesicles, nucleus, cytosol. Energy flow: glycolysis, beta-oxidation, the Krebs cycle, electron transport and oxidative phosphorylation.

Additional Learning Experience Information

Lectures, directed reading and laboratory exercises.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
AssignmentGroup assignment20%
Laboratory WorkLab skills and reports50%
ExaminationEnd of semester examination30%

Text References

  • ^ Lodish, H., Berk, A., Kaiser, C.A., Krieger, M., Bretscher, A., Ploegh, H., Amon, A., & Scott, M.P. (2013). Molecular cell biology (7th ed.). New York: W.H. Freeman and Company.
  • Xiong, J. (2006). Essential bioinformatics. New York: Cambridge University Press.
  • Campbell, N.A., Reece, J.B., Meyers, N., Urry, L.A., Cain, M.L., Wasserman, S.A., Minorsky, P.V., & Jackson, R.B. (2008). Biology (8th ed.). Australian version). San Francisco: Pearson.
  • Alberts, B., Johnson, A., Lewis, J., Raff, M., Roberts, K., & Walter, P. (2008). Molecular biology of the cell (5th ed.). New York: Garland Science.

Journal References

  • Scientific American
  • Annual Review of Biophysics and Biomolecular Structure
  • Science
  • Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews
  • Nature
  • Annual Review of Genetics
  • Proceedings of the National Academy of Science (USA)
  • Cell
  • Journal of Molecular Biology
  • American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology

Website References

^ Mandatory reference

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Academic Misconduct

Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • plagiarism;
  • unauthorised collaboration;
  • cheating in examinations;
  • theft of other students' work;

Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.

The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.

SCB2222|1|1

Faculty of Health, Engineering and Science

School: Natural Sciences

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Cellular and Molecular Biology

  • Unit Code

    SCB2222

  • Year

    2015

  • Enrolment Period

    2

  • Version

    1

  • Credit Points

    15

  • Full Year Unit

     N

  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus

Description

In this unit students explore the structure and function of cells within a theoretical and experimental framework. Students study selected cellular processes and the nature and expression of genetic material.

Prerequisite Rule

Students must pass 1 units from SCI1183, SCI1187

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Deduce the cellular and chemical bases of life on earth.
  2. Demonstrate knowledge of and ability to apply important laboratory techniques for studying regulation of cellular functions: cell and viral cultures, recombinant DNA and genomics, genetic analysis.
  3. Describe the processes of DNA replication and recombination, transcription and translation.
  4. Detail the structure of nucleic acids and the molecular structure of genes and chromosomes.
  5. Display proficiency in data handling; laboratory skills and science communication.
  6. Outline the structure and function of biomembranes and eukaryotic cells.

Unit Content

  1. Cell and viral culture techniques: microorganisms, animal cells, viruses. Mutations as a genetic tool: the nature of mutations, molecular cloning, transformation. Recombinant DNA: DNA cloning, the polymerase chain reaction, genomics, bioinformatics.
  2. Cells as dynamic entities: architecture of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, cell life cycles, cellular differentiation. The chemistry of cells: chemical bonds, chemical equilibrium, energetics. Biomolecules: structure and function of proteins and nucleic acids, the genetic code and protein synthesis.
  3. DNA replication: the replication process, telomere structure and function. Regulation of transcription: bacterial gene control and transcription initiation, eukaryotic gene control, regulatory sequences, activators and repressors, RNA polymerase II, molecular control of transcription. RNA processing: transcription termination, processing of eukaryotic mRNA and its regulation, nuclear transport, post-transcriptional control mechanisms, processing of rRNA and tRNA.
  4. Data handling: Introduction to graphs, standard curves and determining the concentration of unknown solutions, linear regression and correlations, numeracy for determination of concentrations and dilutions. Laboratory skills: microscopy, spectrophotometry, centrifugation, electrophoresis, sterile technique, microbial cell culturing. Literacy: scientific drawings, syntax and grammar. Obtaining information: reading effectively, interpretation of scientific drawings. Communication: laboratory reports as scientific article, essays as review articles, graphs/drawings as a communication tool, discussion as a learning tool.
  5. Molecular structure of genes and chromosomes: definition of a gene, chromosome organisation and coding and non-coding DNA, chromosomal rearrangements, DNA in organelles.
  6. Structure and function of biomembranes: chemical composition of biomembranes, structure and function of membrane proteins, membrane fluidity, diffusion, protein-mediated transport, membrane electric potential, active transport, epithelia, osmosis. Subcellular organisation of eukaryotic cells: lysosomes, plant vacuoles, peroxisomes, mitochondria, chloroplasts, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi vesicles, nucleus, cytosol. Energy flow: glycolysis, beta-oxidation, the Krebs cycle, electron transport and oxidative phosphorylation.

Additional Learning Experience Information

Lectures, directed reading and laboratory exercises.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
AssignmentGroup assignment20%
Laboratory WorkLab skills and reports50%
ExaminationEnd of semester examination30%

Text References

  • ^ Lodish, H., Berk, A., Kaiser, C.A., Krieger, M., Bretscher, A., Ploegh, H., Amon, A., & Scott, M.P. (2013). Molecular cell biology (7th ed.). New York: W.H. Freeman and Company.
  • Xiong, J. (2006). Essential bioinformatics. New York: Cambridge University Press.
  • Campbell, N.A., Reece, J.B., Meyers, N., Urry, L.A., Cain, M.L., Wasserman, S.A., Minorsky, P.V., & Jackson, R.B. (2008). Biology (8th ed.). Australian version). San Francisco: Pearson.
  • Alberts, B., Johnson, A., Lewis, J., Raff, M., Roberts, K., & Walter, P. (2008). Molecular biology of the cell (5th ed.). New York: Garland Science.

Journal References

  • Scientific American
  • Annual Review of Biophysics and Biomolecular Structure
  • Science
  • Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews
  • Nature
  • Annual Review of Genetics
  • Proceedings of the National Academy of Science (USA)
  • Cell
  • Journal of Molecular Biology
  • American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology

Website References

^ Mandatory reference

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Academic Misconduct

Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • plagiarism;
  • unauthorised collaboration;
  • cheating in examinations;
  • theft of other students' work;

Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.

The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.

SCB2222|1|2