School: Medical and Health 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

    Medical Biochemistry
  • Unit Code

    SCH2232
  • Year

    2024
  • Enrolment Period

    1
  • Version

    4
  • Credit Points

    15
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
  • Unit Coordinator

    Dr Andrew WOO

Description

This unit investigates the energetic metabolic processes of the normal human, and how various disease states are manifestations of abnormalities of biomolecular reactions and processes. Students gain an understanding of the principles of major laboratory methods used in biomedical research.

Prerequisite Rule

Students must pass SCC1226 and at least one of (SCH1134, SCH1143, SCH1106, MHS1101, MHS1102)

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Explain the importance of optimal DNA replication and correct protein production and function on cellular health.
  2. Describe the principles behind biochemical assay procedures and perform basic calculations commonly used in scientific research.
  3. Describe the metabolic pathways used in the generation and storage of energy.
  4. Apply scientific principles to the understanding of disease processes and describe the biochemical processes that underpin human disease.

Unit Content

  1. Basic enzyme kinetics, understanding enzyme mechanisms, coenzymes, enzyme specificity.
  2. Carbohydrate metabolism - review of glycolytic and energy producing processes, gluconeogenesis; disorders of carbohydrate anabolism - hyperglycaemia and diabetes mellitus, hypoglycemia.
  3. Biomolecules of blood - proteins of oxygen transport - myoglobin, haemoglobin; plasma proteins and enzymes - albumin, lipoproteins, disorders.
  4. Biological membranes - role of proteins, lipids and carbohydrates in membranes, carrier proteins, protein transport channels, Na/K pump.
  5. The role of the Citric Acid Cycle and proton-motive force in the generation of energy.
  6. Biochemical assay techniques and associated calculations - colorimetric reactions and enzymatic reactions.
  7. Integration of amino acid, lipid and carbohydrate metabolism - major pathways and their control site, inherited metabolic abnormalities.
  8. Cell signalling pathways - second messengers-cyclic AMP, G-proteins (stimulatory and inhibitory), effects on enzyme action and effects on gene transcription. Neurochemical signalling and neurotransmitters.
  9. Hormones and hormone action - protein and steroid hormones.
  10. Lipid metabolism - beta-oxidative pathway, synthesis of triacylglycerol, essential fatty acids, lipolytic hormones. Analysis of lipase activity on various lipids.
  11. Nucleotide structure; DNA replication and transcription. Nuclear biosynthetic enzymes and nucleotide analogues as therapeutic agents. Consequences of heritable alterations of nucleotide metabolism.

Learning Experience

Students will attend on campus classes as well as engage in learning activities through ECU's LMS

JoondalupMount LawleySouth West (Bunbury)
Semester 113 x 2 hour labNot OfferedNot Offered
Semester 113 x 2 hour lectureNot OfferedNot Offered

For more information see the Semester Timetable

Additional Learning Experience Information

During laboratory sessions, students work in pairs or small groups to forward plan, organize and complete experiments over several weeks. The results of the experiments will be communicated by each group during in-class discussions. Students will also prepare a PowerPoint presentation seminar based on the investigation of current scientific research on a specific disease.

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 School Progression Panel.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
TestMedical Biochemistry Online Tests10%
Literature ReviewMedical Biochemistry Literature Review and Presentation25%
Laboratory WorkMedical Biochemistry Laboratory Skills and Calculations25%
ExaminationMedical Biochemistry Exam40%

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.

Assessment

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. Informal vivas may be conducted as part of an assessment task, where staff require further information to confirm the learning outcomes have been met. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant School Progression Panel.

Academic Integrity

Integrity is a core value at Edith Cowan University, and it is expected that ECU students complete their assessment tasks honestly and with acknowledgement of other people's work as well as any generative artificial intelligence tools that may have been used. This means that assessment tasks must be completed individually (unless it is an authorised group assessment task) and any sources used must be referenced.

Breaches of academic integrity can include:

Plagiarism

Copying the words, ideas or creative works of other people or generative artificial intelligence tools, without referencing in accordance with stated University requirements. Students need to seek approval from the Unit Coordinator within the first week of study if they intend to use some of their previous work in an assessment task (self-plagiarism).

Unauthorised collaboration (collusion)

Working with other students and submitting the same or substantially similar work or portions of work when an individual submission was required. This includes students knowingly providing others with copies of their own work to use in the same or similar assessment task(s).

Contract cheating

Organising a friend, a family member, another student or an external person or organisation (e.g. through an online website) to complete or substantially edit or refine part or all of an assessment task(s) on their behalf.

Cheating in an exam

Using or having access to unauthorised materials in an exam or test.

Serious outcomes may be imposed if a student is found to have committed one of these breaches, up to and including expulsion from the University for repeated or serious acts.

ECU's policies and more information about academic integrity can be found on the student academic integrity website.

All commencing ECU students are required to complete the Academic Integrity Module.

Assessment Extension

In some circumstances, Students may apply to their Unit Coordinator to extend the due date of their Assessment Task(s) in accordance with ECU's Assessment, Examination and Moderation Procedures - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000001386.

Special Consideration

Students may apply for Special Consideration in respect of a final unit grade, where their achievement was affected by Exceptional Circumstances as set out in the Assessment, Examination and Moderation Procedures - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000003318.

SCH2232|4|1

School: Medical and Health 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

    Medical Biochemistry
  • Unit Code

    SCH2232
  • Year

    2024
  • Enrolment Period

    2
  • Version

    4
  • Credit Points

    15
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
  • Unit Coordinator

    Dr Andrew WOO

Description

This unit investigates the energetic metabolic processes of the normal human, and how various disease states are manifestations of abnormalities of biomolecular reactions and processes. Students gain an understanding of the principles of major laboratory methods used in biomedical research.

Prerequisite Rule

Students must pass SCC1226 and at least one of (SCH1134, SCH1143, SCH1106, MHS1101, MHS1102)

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Explain the importance of optimal DNA replication and correct protein production and function on cellular health.
  2. Describe the principles behind biochemical assay procedures and perform basic calculations commonly used in scientific research.
  3. Describe the metabolic pathways used in the generation and storage of energy.
  4. Apply scientific principles to the understanding of disease processes and describe the biochemical processes that underpin human disease.

Unit Content

  1. Basic enzyme kinetics, understanding enzyme mechanisms, coenzymes, enzyme specificity.
  2. Carbohydrate metabolism - review of glycolytic and energy producing processes, gluconeogenesis; disorders of carbohydrate anabolism - hyperglycaemia and diabetes mellitus, hypoglycemia.
  3. Biomolecules of blood - proteins of oxygen transport - myoglobin, haemoglobin; plasma proteins and enzymes - albumin, lipoproteins, disorders.
  4. Biological membranes - role of proteins, lipids and carbohydrates in membranes, carrier proteins, protein transport channels, Na/K pump.
  5. The role of the Citric Acid Cycle and proton-motive force in the generation of energy.
  6. Biochemical assay techniques and associated calculations - colorimetric reactions and enzymatic reactions.
  7. Integration of amino acid, lipid and carbohydrate metabolism - major pathways and their control site, inherited metabolic abnormalities.
  8. Cell signalling pathways - second messengers-cyclic AMP, G-proteins (stimulatory and inhibitory), effects on enzyme action and effects on gene transcription. Neurochemical signalling and neurotransmitters.
  9. Hormones and hormone action - protein and steroid hormones.
  10. Lipid metabolism - beta-oxidative pathway, synthesis of triacylglycerol, essential fatty acids, lipolytic hormones. Analysis of lipase activity on various lipids.
  11. Nucleotide structure; DNA replication and transcription. Nuclear biosynthetic enzymes and nucleotide analogues as therapeutic agents. Consequences of heritable alterations of nucleotide metabolism.

Learning Experience

Students will attend on campus classes as well as engage in learning activities through ECU's LMS

JoondalupMount LawleySouth West (Bunbury)
Semester 113 x 2 hour labNot OfferedNot Offered
Semester 113 x 2 hour lectureNot OfferedNot Offered

For more information see the Semester Timetable

Additional Learning Experience Information

During laboratory sessions, students work in pairs or small groups to forward plan, organize and complete experiments over several weeks. The results of the experiments will be communicated by each group during in-class discussions. Students will also prepare a PowerPoint presentation seminar based on the investigation of current scientific research on a specific disease.

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 School Progression Panel.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
TestMedical Biochemistry Online Tests10%
Literature ReviewMedical Biochemistry Literature Review and Presentation25%
Laboratory WorkMedical Biochemistry Laboratory Skills and Calculations25%
ExaminationMedical Biochemistry Exam40%

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.

Assessment

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. Informal vivas may be conducted as part of an assessment task, where staff require further information to confirm the learning outcomes have been met. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant School Progression Panel.

Academic Integrity

Integrity is a core value at Edith Cowan University, and it is expected that ECU students complete their assessment tasks honestly and with acknowledgement of other people's work as well as any generative artificial intelligence tools that may have been used. This means that assessment tasks must be completed individually (unless it is an authorised group assessment task) and any sources used must be referenced.

Breaches of academic integrity can include:

Plagiarism

Copying the words, ideas or creative works of other people or generative artificial intelligence tools, without referencing in accordance with stated University requirements. Students need to seek approval from the Unit Coordinator within the first week of study if they intend to use some of their previous work in an assessment task (self-plagiarism).

Unauthorised collaboration (collusion)

Working with other students and submitting the same or substantially similar work or portions of work when an individual submission was required. This includes students knowingly providing others with copies of their own work to use in the same or similar assessment task(s).

Contract cheating

Organising a friend, a family member, another student or an external person or organisation (e.g. through an online website) to complete or substantially edit or refine part or all of an assessment task(s) on their behalf.

Cheating in an exam

Using or having access to unauthorised materials in an exam or test.

Serious outcomes may be imposed if a student is found to have committed one of these breaches, up to and including expulsion from the University for repeated or serious acts.

ECU's policies and more information about academic integrity can be found on the student academic integrity website.

All commencing ECU students are required to complete the Academic Integrity Module.

Assessment Extension

In some circumstances, Students may apply to their Unit Coordinator to extend the due date of their Assessment Task(s) in accordance with ECU's Assessment, Examination and Moderation Procedures - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000001386.

Special Consideration

Students may apply for Special Consideration in respect of a final unit grade, where their achievement was affected by Exceptional Circumstances as set out in the Assessment, Examination and Moderation Procedures - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000003318.

SCH2232|4|2