School: Science
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
Origins and Evolution of LifeUnit Code
SCI1183Year
2016Enrolment Period
1Version
2Credit Points
15Full Year Unit
N
Mode of Delivery
On Campus
Description
This unit is a general introduction to biology, from the origin of life, cell structure and biochemistry to genetics, taxonomy and evolution. Note that practical activities in this unit include the use of animals, animal products and tissues. All activities comply with Animal Welfare legislation and NHMRC Guidelines and, where appropriate, are approved by the ECU Animal Ethics Committee.
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this unit students should be able to:
- Account for the evolution and diversity of life on Earth.
- Demonstrate competency in learning and scientific skills.
- Demonstrate the mechanisms of inheritance in terms of basic genetic principles.
- Describe the origins of life on earth and the cellular basis of life.
- Outline the molecular basis of inheritance.
Unit Content
- Evolution and diversity of life on earth.The gene pool; Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium; natural selection; population and species concepts; speciation; rates of evolution; micro- and macroevolution; diversity and taxonomy.
- Inheritance.Chromosome organisation; homologous chromosomes; cell division - mitosis and meiosis; alleles; genotype and phenotype; regulation of gene expression.
- Learning and scientific skills Interpretation of microscope images; use of biological keys; interpretation of experimental data including statistical analysis.
- The molecular basis of inheritance.The structure of nucleic acids, DNA and RNA; DNA replication; protein synthesis, transcription and translation; recombinant DNA.
- The origins of life on earth and the cellular basis of life Theories on the origin of life on earth, biological molecules and self-replication. The primordial soup; abiotic evolution and the chemical basis of life; structure and function of biomolecules; prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells; structure and function of the plasma membrane, ribosome, nucleus, endomembrane system, mitochondrion, chloroplast, peroxisome, cytoskeleton and cytosol.
Additional Learning Experience Information
Lectures, hands-on and/or online laboratory experiments, online activities and directed reading.
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| Type | Description | Value |
|---|
| Assignment | Poster | 20% |
| Laboratory Work | Hands on & virtual laboratory experiments | 30% |
| Test | Mid-Semester Test | 10% |
| Examination | End of semester examination | 40% |
Text References
- ^ Students may choose between a hardcopy text (includes access to Mastering Biology website) or etext with Mastering Biology subscription.
- ^ Reece, J.B., Urry, L.A., Meyers, N., Cain, M.L., Wasserman, S.A., Minorsky, P.V., Jackson, R.B., & Cooke, B.N. (2011). Campbell biology: Australian edition (9th ed.). San Francisco: Pearson. Note: Students may choose between a hardcopy text (includes access to Mastering Biology website) or etext with Mastering Biology subscription.
- Knox, B., Ladiges, P., Saint, R., & Evans B. (2010). Biology: an Australian focus (4th ed.). Noth Ryde, Australia: McGraw Hill.
- Thornton, R.M. The chemistry of life CD-ROM (2nd ed.). French's Forest, Australia: Pearson Education.
- Calver, M., Lymbery, A., McComb, J., & Bamford, M. (2009). Environmental biology. Melbourne, Australia: Cambridge University Press. Note: Students may choose between a hardcopy text (includes access to Mastering Biology website) or etext with Mastering Biology subscription.
- Knisely, K. (2013). A student handbook for writing in biology (4th ed.). Gordonsville, VA : W.H. Freeman.
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.
SCI1183|2|1
School: Science
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
Origins and Evolution of LifeUnit Code
SCI1183Year
2016Enrolment Period
2Version
2Credit Points
15Full Year Unit
N
Mode of Delivery
On Campus
Description
This unit is a general introduction to biology, from the origin of life, cell structure and biochemistry to genetics, taxonomy and evolution. Note that practical activities in this unit include the use of animals, animal products and tissues. All activities comply with Animal Welfare legislation and NHMRC Guidelines and, where appropriate, are approved by the ECU Animal Ethics Committee.
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this unit students should be able to:
- Account for the evolution and diversity of life on Earth.
- Demonstrate competency in learning and scientific skills.
- Demonstrate the mechanisms of inheritance in terms of basic genetic principles.
- Describe the origins of life on earth and the cellular basis of life.
- Outline the molecular basis of inheritance.
Unit Content
- Evolution and diversity of life on earth.The gene pool; Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium; natural selection; population and species concepts; speciation; rates of evolution; micro- and macroevolution; diversity and taxonomy.
- Inheritance.Chromosome organisation; homologous chromosomes; cell division - mitosis and meiosis; alleles; genotype and phenotype; regulation of gene expression.
- Learning and scientific skills Interpretation of microscope images; use of biological keys; interpretation of experimental data including statistical analysis.
- The molecular basis of inheritance.The structure of nucleic acids, DNA and RNA; DNA replication; protein synthesis, transcription and translation; recombinant DNA.
- The origins of life on earth and the cellular basis of life Theories on the origin of life on earth, biological molecules and self-replication. The primordial soup; abiotic evolution and the chemical basis of life; structure and function of biomolecules; prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells; structure and function of the plasma membrane, ribosome, nucleus, endomembrane system, mitochondrion, chloroplast, peroxisome, cytoskeleton and cytosol.
Additional Learning Experience Information
Lectures, hands-on and/or online laboratory experiments, online activities and directed reading.
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| Type | Description | Value |
|---|
| Assignment | Report | 20% |
| Laboratory Work | Hands on & virtual laboratory experiments | 30% |
| Test | Mid-Semester Test | 10% |
| Examination | End of semester examination | 40% |
Text References
- ^ Students may choose between a hardcopy text (includes access to Mastering Biology website) or etext with Mastering Biology subscription.
- ^ Reece, J.B., Meyers, N., Urry, L.A., Cain, M.L., Wasserman, S.A., Minorsky, P.V., Jackson, R.B., & Cooke, B.N. (2014). Campbell biology: Australian and New Zealand edition (10th ed.). San Francisco: Pearson. ISBN 9781486007042 Note: Students may choose between a hardcopy text or etext.
- Knox, B., Ladiges, P., Saint, R., & Evans B. (2010). Biology: an Australian focus (4th ed.). Noth Ryde, Australia: McGraw Hill.
- Thornton, R.M. The chemistry of life CD-ROM (2nd ed.). French's Forest, Australia: Pearson Education.
- Calver, M., Lymbery, A., McComb, J., & Bamford, M. (2009). Environmental biology. Melbourne, Australia: Cambridge University Press. Note: Students may choose between a hardcopy text (includes access to Mastering Biology website) or etext with Mastering Biology subscription.
- Knisely, K. (2013). A student handbook for writing in biology (4th ed.). Gordonsville, VA : W.H. Freeman.
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.
SCI1183|2|2
