Outline

Overview

This is an entry level unit of study designed to give students an overview of the biological and biochemical processes that are fundamental to life. Topics are not covered in the detail that is applicable to general chemistry or biochemistry units of study. Knowledge gained in this unit will enable students to understand the key principles of health and disease and the scientific basis for many of the professional practices they will undertake in their careers. Students who achieve a pass will have a basic working knowledge of the following topics: key concepts of body chemistry, important biological molecules, the structure and function of cells, the genetics of health and disease, growth and development, communication, metabolic processes, homeostasis, and the impacts of ageing. Students who achieve higher grades are better able to integrate various aspects of the unit and to apply their knowledge to the relevance of these fundamental principles to health care practices.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Department of Medical Sciences
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	None
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Damian Holsinger, damian.holsinger@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s)	Damian Holsinger, damian.holsinger@sydney.edu.au

Assessment

The census date for this unit availability is 2 April 2024

Details
Criteria

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Supervised exam ?	Final exam MCQs and SAQs	45%	Formal exam period	1.5 hours
Outcomes assessed:
Tutorial quiz	Tutorial Quizzes MCQs/Multiple answer questions	12%	Multiple weeks	15 minutes
Outcomes assessed:
Online task	Mastery quizzes MCQ	10%	Multiple weeks	20 minutes
Outcomes assessed:
Online task	Tutorial Quiz MCQ #earlyfeedbacktask	3%	Week 02	15 minutes
Outcomes assessed:
Supervised test ?	In-semester assessment MCQs and SAQs	30%	Week 05 Due date: 22 Mar 2024 at 08:00	1 hour
Outcomes assessed:

Early feedback task

This unit includes an early feedback task, designed to give you feedback prior to the census date for this unit. Details are provided in the Canvas site and your result will be recorded in your Marks page. It is important that you actively engage with this task so that the University can support you to be successful in this unit.

Assessment summary

Mastery quizzes: Mastery online quizzes are provided during the semester as preparation for the in-semester and end-semester exams, and consist of past exam questions.
Tutorial quizzes: Online, in-class quiz that will be delivered during the tutorial (includes lectures, tutorials and post-lecture activities) on topics relevant to that tutorial.
In-semester exam: The exam will cover all material (includes lectures, tutorials and post-lecture activities) on topics 1, 2, 3, 4.
End-semster exam: Questions will cover all material (includes lectures, tutorials and post-lecture activities) on topics 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name	Mark range	Description
High distinction	85 - 100	Mastery of topics showing extensive integration and ability to transfer knowledge to novel contexts; treatment of tasks shows an advanced synthesis of ideas; demonstration of initiative, complex understanding and analysis; work is very well presented; all criteria addressed and learning outcomes achieved to an outstanding level.
Distinction	75 - 84	Excellent achievement, consistent evidence of deep understanding and application of knowledge in medical science; treatment of tasks shows advanced understanding of topics; demonstration of initiative, complex understanding and analysis; work is well-presented; all criteria addressed and learning outcomes achieved to a superior level.
Credit	65 - 74	Confident in explaining medical science processes, with evidence of solid understanding and achievement; occasional lapses indicative of unresolved issues; treatment of tasks shows a good understanding of topic; work is well-presented with a minimum of errors; all criteria addressed and learning outcomes achieved to a high level.
Pass	50 - 64	Satisfactory level of engagement with and understanding of topic; some inconsistencies in understanding and knowledge of medical science; work is adequately presented, with some errors or omissions, most criteria addressed and learning outcomes achieved to an adequate level.
Fail	0 - 49	Unsatisfactory achievement and engagement with the medical science discipline; inadequate understanding or fundamental misunderstanding of topics; most criteria and learning outcomes not clearly or adequately addressed or achieved; lack of effort/involvement in the unit.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

Mastery quizzes not submitted by the due date and time will receive a mark of 0.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy 2023 reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy 2023. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	L1. Introduction to BIOS1167 and online module:key concepts of body chemistry; L2. Building blocks of the human body #1; L3. Solubility video worksheet session	Lecture (3 hr)
Week 02	L1. Building blocks of the human body #2; L2. Building blocks of the human body #3; L3. Building blocks of human the body #4	Lecture (3 hr)
Week 02	Membrane molecules	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 03	L1. Building blocks of the human body #5; L2. Cell #1; L3. Cell #2	Lecture (3 hr)
Week 04	L1. Cell transport #1; L2. Cell transport #2; L3. Cell transport #3	Lecture (3 hr)
Week 04	Cell membrane permeability	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 07	L1. Principles of inheritance #1; L2. Principles of inheritance #2; L3. Principles of inheritance #3	Lecture (3 hr)
Week 07	Inherited diseases	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 08	Energy & Metabolism 1; Energy & Metabolism 2	Lecture (3 hr)
Week 09	L1. Energy and metabolism #3; L2. Energy and metabolism #4	Lecture (3 hr)
Week 09	Metabolism	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 10	L1. Growth and development #1; L2. Growth and development #2; L3. Growth and development #3	Lecture (3 hr)
Week 11	L1. Homeostasis and control systems #1; L2. Homeostasis and control systems #2; L3. Homeostasis and control systems #3	Lecture (3 hr)
Week 11	Homeostatis	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 12	L1. Communication #1; ; L2. Communication #2; L3. Communication #3	Lecture (3 hr)
Week 13	L1. Impacts of ageing #1; L2. Impacts of ageing #2	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 13	L1. End-semester review	Lecture (1 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

LECTURES will be held on THURSDAY from 1-2pm, and FRIDAYS from 8-10am (please check the online timetable for details). Attendance at lectures is compulsory.
A total of five (5) TUTORIALS will be held during semester on either FRIDAYS or the following MONDAY. Please check your personal timetable to check what day, time and room you have been allocated for tutorials. Attendance at tutorials is compulsory.
Please regularly check your Timetable and Canvas and attend the tutorial classes that you have been allocated. Students may not swap tutorial groups for their own convenience. Each tutor will have a list of students in the tutorial group and regular attendance checks will be made.
The University of Sydney Coursework Policy 2014 states: 55 (2) A student enrolled in a unit of study must comply with the requirements set out in the faculty resolutions, award course resolutions or unit of study outline about undertaking the unit of study, including on matters such as: (a) attendance at and participation in lectures, seminars and tutorials; and (b) participation in practical work.
The Faculty of Medicine and Health resolutions states: 7(1) Students are required to attend at the correct time and place of any formal or informal examinations. Non-attendance on any grounds insufficient to claim special consideration or special arrangement will result in the forfeiture of marks associated with the assessment. Participation in a minimum number of assessment items may be included in the requirements specified for a unit of study.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

There are no prescribed readings for this unit.
Recommended readings can be accessed through the Library eReserve link which is available on the BIOS1167 Canvas homepage.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. Understand the basic concepts of body chemistry.
LO2. Understand the basic structure and function of the important biological molecules of the human body: water, carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and nucleic acids (DNA, RNA).
LO3. Be familiar with the general features of the cell and understand that it is the basic structural unit of all living organisms.
LO4. Understand the role of the cell membrane in regulating the composition of intra- and extracellular fluids and describe the mechanisms by which molecules, ions and water cross the plasma membrane.
LO5. Describe the basic principles of cell division and inheritance, including the relationship between phenotype and genotype, and the concept of transmission genetics.
LO6. Have a basic knowledge of the process of human development from embryo to childhood.
LO7. Understand the basic features of the metabolic process for extracting energy from our cells cellular respiration.
LO8. Have a basic knowledge and understanding of the components and organisation of the body’s communication systems: the nervous system and the endocrine system.
LO9. Understand the principles of body homeostasis and how feedback systems in cells, tissues and organs actively maintain a steady state in the body.
LO10. Understand the basic changes to cells as we age.
LO11. Be able to engage in small groups and work collaboratively.
LO12. Appreciate some important clinical applications relevant to different aspects of cell biology.
LO13. Engage with online learning activities to enhance understanding.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Alignment with Competency standards

Outcomes	Competency standards
	Professional capabilities for medical radiation practice - 1.1.a. Apply knowledge of anatomy and physiology of the human body to practice. 1.1.b. Apply knowledge of the scientific explanations underpinning disease and injuries affecting the human body to enable delivery of safe, high-quality examinations/treatment.
	Professional capabilities for medical radiation practice - 1.1.a. Apply knowledge of anatomy and physiology of the human body to practice. 1.1.b. Apply knowledge of the scientific explanations underpinning disease and injuries affecting the human body to enable delivery of safe, high-quality examinations/treatment.
	Professional capabilities for medical radiation practice - 1.1.a. Apply knowledge of anatomy and physiology of the human body to practice. 1.1.b. Apply knowledge of the scientific explanations underpinning disease and injuries affecting the human body to enable delivery of safe, high-quality examinations/treatment.
	Professional capabilities for medical radiation practice - 1.1.a. Apply knowledge of anatomy and physiology of the human body to practice. 1.1.b. Apply knowledge of the scientific explanations underpinning disease and injuries affecting the human body to enable delivery of safe, high-quality examinations/treatment.
	Professional capabilities for medical radiation practice - 1.1.b. Apply knowledge of the scientific explanations underpinning disease and injuries affecting the human body to enable delivery of safe, high-quality examinations/treatment.
	Professional capabilities for medical radiation practice - 1.5.c. Identify patients/clients most at risk, including pregnant women and the foetus, breastfeeding mothers and their children.
	Professional capabilities for medical radiation practice - 1.1.b. Apply knowledge of the scientific explanations underpinning disease and injuries affecting the human body to enable delivery of safe, high-quality examinations/treatment.
	Professional capabilities for medical radiation practice - 1.1.a. Apply knowledge of anatomy and physiology of the human body to practice. 1.5.a. Identify factors or conditions that may affect the patient’s/client’s behaviour and/or capacity to provide informed consent and undergo the procedure and triage patients/clients when needed.
	Professional capabilities for medical radiation practice - 1.1.b. Apply knowledge of the scientific explanations underpinning disease and injuries affecting the human body to enable delivery of safe, high-quality examinations/treatment.
	Professional capabilities for medical radiation practice - 1.1.a. Apply knowledge of anatomy and physiology of the human body to practice. 1.1.b. Apply knowledge of the scientific explanations underpinning disease and injuries affecting the human body to enable delivery of safe, high-quality examinations/treatment. 1.5.a. Identify factors or conditions that may affect the patient’s/client’s behaviour and/or capacity to provide informed consent and undergo the procedure and triage patients/clients when needed. 1.5.b. Identify patient/client preparation requirements. 1.5.c. Identify patients/clients most at risk, including pregnant women and the foetus, breastfeeding mothers and their children.
	Professional capabilities for medical radiation practice - 1.1.b. Apply knowledge of the scientific explanations underpinning disease and injuries affecting the human body to enable delivery of safe, high-quality examinations/treatment.
	Professional capabilities for medical radiation practice - 1.1.a. Apply knowledge of anatomy and physiology of the human body to practice. 1.1.b. Apply knowledge of the scientific explanations underpinning disease and injuries affecting the human body to enable delivery of safe, high-quality examinations/treatment. 1.5.c. Identify patients/clients most at risk, including pregnant women and the foetus, breastfeeding mothers and their children.
	Professional capabilities for medical radiation practice - 1.1.a. Apply knowledge of anatomy and physiology of the human body to practice. 1.1.b. Apply knowledge of the scientific explanations underpinning disease and injuries affecting the human body to enable delivery of safe, high-quality examinations/treatment.

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Learning outcomes have been updated. Assessment weighting has been changed. Tutorial content has been updated.

Additional information

More information will be provided in class and on the BIOS1167 Canvas site.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Early feedback task

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Alignment with Competency standards

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect

Current students

BIOS1167: Foundations of Biomedical Science

Semester 1, 2024 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Early feedback task

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Alignment with Competency standards

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect