Outline

Overview

This biomedical engineering core junior unit of study provides an introduction to the relatively recent, and rapidly growing, biotechnology industry, with a focus on the current key commercial applications. In the 1990s, the word 'biotech' entered our lexicon as a synonym for overnight investment wealth. The biotechnology acronym GM (genetically modified) also entered our lexicon in the 1990s. Biotechnology can be broadly defined as the commercial exploitation of biological processes for industrial and other purposes. A significant focus for commercial activities has been GM technology: GM microorganisms, plants, animals, and even humans (gene therapy). The 'biotech industry' arose rapidly in the late 20th century, and is now one of the largest industries in the world, and is one of the cornerstones of the global biomedical industry which comprises three main sectors: Medical Devices, Pharmaceuticals, and Biotechnology. Significant global commercial biotechnology activity concerns the manufacture of therapeutic compounds from GM microorganisms using bioreactors, for example insulin. Another significant sector is agricultural: 'agri-biotech' which concerns GM higher lifeforms (plants and animals) primarily for the food industry, and also other industries such as the energy industry (biofuels). The third sector concerns therapeutic GM of humans, known as 'gene-therapy'. Some other important biotechnologies will also be explored including monoclonal antibodies, genome sequencing and personalised medicine, and RNA-interference technology (RNAi).

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Biomedical Engineering
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	None
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	AMME1961
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	No

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Yogambha Ramaswamy, yogambha.ramaswamy@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Final exam (Open book)	Final exam	30%	Formal exam period	1.5 hours
Outcomes assessed:
Skills-based evaluation	Laboratory (Pre-prac) assessment Four theory of practicals assessment (2.5% each)	10%	Multiple weeks	30 min
Outcomes assessed:
Skills-based evaluation	Laboratory report Report of the laboratory activity, observations, and data analysis	10%	Multiple weeks	Multiple weeks
Outcomes assessed:
Tutorial quiz	Quiz 1 MCQ and short answer type questions (Canvas)	5%	Week 03	20 min
Outcomes assessed:
Tutorial quiz	Quiz 2 MCQ and short answer type questions (Canvas)	5%	Week 05	20 min
Outcomes assessed:
Tutorial quiz	Quiz 3 MCQ and short answer type questions (Canvas)	5%	Week 07	20 min
Outcomes assessed:
Tutorial quiz	Quiz 4 MCQ and short answer type questions (Canvas)	5%	Week 09	20 min
Outcomes assessed:
Presentation	Presentation Presentation and a brief research report on the assigned topic	30%	Week 11	15 minutes
Outcomes assessed:
= group assignment ? = Type C final exam ?

Assessment summary

Team seminar: Topics will be allocated in week 2.
Final exam: The exam will be a 1.5 hour open-book exam which will assess all of the lecture content.

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
Distinction	75 - 84
Credit	65 - 74
Pass	50 - 64
Fail	0 - 49	When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

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.

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.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Introduction to course and biology for biomedical engineers	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)
Week 02	Nucleic acids: Introduction, analytical methods, and application	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)
Week 03	Proteins and carbohydrates: Introduction, analytical methods, and application	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)
Week 04	Stem Cell Technology	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)
Week 05	Gene Therapy	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)
Week 06	Personalized Medicine	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)
Week 07	Bioethics	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)
Week 08	Bioreactors	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)
Week 09	Additive Manufacturing in Biomedical Engineering	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)
Week 10	Imaging and computational techniques in biomedical engineering	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)
Week 11	Biomedical Nanotechnology	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)
Week 12	Revision and exam preparation	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Student attendance (online/face to face attendance is required for the laboratory classes)

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

Information to reading resources related to each lecture will be provided on Canvas

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.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

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

LO1. demonstrate scientific oral, and written communication skills, ethics in scientific research, and application of engineering technology in biomedical applications
LO2. demonstrate a general understanding of the cell biology, the functions of their inbuilt cellular components, integrating engineering principles to life sciences and their applications in biomedical engineering.
LO3. demonstrate a practical understanding of gene therapy and personalised medicine, medical imaging techniques and their applications in the field of biomedical engineering
LO4. Demonstrate a general understanding of the bioreactors, process analysis and automation, and computation. Demonstrate a fundamental understanding of Additive manufacturing nanotechnology concepts and their applications in biomedical engineering.
LO5. Demonstrate procedure for working safely, correctly and effectively in a molecular biology laboratory. Learn and demonstrate a range of practical techniques in molecular biology. Demonstrate a collaborative experimental work, effective data acquisition, analysis, data recording and experimental report writing

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

Responding to student feedback

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

No significant changes made since this unit was last offered

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

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect

Current students

BMET1961: Biomedical Engineering 1B

Semester 2, 2020 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect