Outline

Overview

Without cells, life as we know it would not exist. These dynamic assemblies, packed with biological molecules are constantly in action. But how do cells work? Why is the food that you eat so important for cellular function? How is information transmitted from generation to generation? What happens as a result of disease or genetic mutation? In this unit of study you will learn how cells work at the molecular level, with an emphasis on human biochemistry and molecular biology. We will focus initially on cellular metabolism and how cells extract and store energy from fuels like fats and carbohydrates, how fuel use is modulated in response to exercise, starvation and disease, and how other key metabolites are processed. Then we will explore how genetic information is regulated in eukaryotes, including replication, transcription and translation, and molecular aspects of the cell cycle, mitosis and meiosis. Our practicals, along with other guided and online learning sessions will introduce you to widely applied and cutting-edge tools that are essential for modern biochemistry and molecular biology. By the end of this unit you will be equipped with foundational skills and knowledge to support your studies in the medical and life sciences.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Life and Environmental Sciences Academic Operations
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	6p from (BIOL1XX7 or MBLG1XX1) and 6cp of (CHEM1XX1 or CHEM1903)
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	BCHM2072 or BCHM2972 or MBLG2071 or MBLG2971 or BMED2405 or BCMB2001 or BCMB2901 or BMED2804
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	No

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Gareth Denyer, gareth.denyer@sydney.edu.au
Laboratory supervisor(s)	Alice Huang, alice.huang@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s)	Dale Hancock, dale.hancock@sydney.edu.au
	Gareth Denyer, gareth.denyer@sydney.edu.au
	Giselle Yeo, giselle.yeo@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Final exam	Take home exam for Theory Lecture 8-28 Canvas timed exam	30%	Formal exam period	2 hours
Outcomes assessed:
Skills-based evaluation	Electronic laboratory notebook (LabArchives) Data management, contextual narrative, data analysis and interpretation.	23%	Multiple weeks	As required
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	PeerWise tutorial assessment Exploration of theory concepts by question authoring	10%	Multiple weeks	As required
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Calculations assignment Basic laboratory calculations	12%	Week 09	As required
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Press Release Press release on current topic in medicine	5%	Week 10	As required
Outcomes assessed:
Skills-based evaluation	ELMA design assay Assessment of practical and problem solving skills	10%	Week 13	As required
Outcomes assessed:
In-semester test	Take home exam for Theory Lecture 1-7 Take home test/CANVAS timed open book	10%	Week 13	1 hour
Outcomes assessed:

Assessment summary

Detailed information of the contribution of each assessment task to the final mark can be found on Canvas.

It should be appreciated that a pass mark in both the theory and the practical components of the course are required to achieve a passing grade overall.

Assessment criteria

Result name	Mark range	Description
High distinction	85 - 100	At HD level, a student demonstrates a flair for the subject as well as a detailed and comprehensive understanding of the unit material. A ‘High Distinction’ reflects exceptional achievement and is awarded to a student who demonstrates the ability to apply their subject knowledge and understanding to produce original solutions for novel or highly complex problems and/or comprehensive critical discussions of theoretical concepts.
Distinction	75 - 84	At DI level, a student demonstrates an aptitude for the subject and a well-developed understanding of the unit material. A ‘Distinction’ reflects excellent achievement and is awarded to a student who demonstrates an ability to apply their subject knowledge and understanding of the subject to produce good solutions for challenging problems and/or a reasonably well-developed critical analysis of theoretical concepts.
Credit	65 - 74	At CR level, a student demonstrates a good command and knowledge of the unit material. A ‘Credit’ reflects solid achievement and is awarded to a student who has a broad general understanding of the unit material and can solve routine problems and/or identify and superficially discuss theoretical concepts.
Pass	50 - 64	At PS level, a student demonstrates proficiency in the unit material. A ‘Pass’ reflects satisfactory achievement and is awarded to a student who has threshold knowledge.
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	1. Introduction; 2. Nucleic acid structure; 3. Prokaryotic replication	Lecture (3 hr)
Week 02	1. Applications to Molecular Biology; 2. The eukaryotic genome; 3. Prokaryotic replication	Lecture (3 hr)
Week 02	Laboratory calculations and data management	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 03	1. Eukaryotic replication; 2. Prokaryotic transcription; 3. Eukaryotic transcription	Lecture (3 hr)
Week 03	Introductory techniques	Practical (4 hr)
Week 04	1. Post-transcriptional processing; 2. Translation in prokaryotes; 3. Translation in eukaryotes	Lecture (3 hr)
Week 04	Tutorial	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 05	1. Translational regulation; 2. Molecular Biology techniques	Lecture (3 hr)
Week 05	DNA fingerprinting I	Practical (4 hr)
Week 06	1. Training for MEDS assessment; 2. Principles of energy balance and fuel oxidation; 3. Oxidative phosphorylation	Lecture (3 hr)
Week 06	Tutorial	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 07	1. Oxidative phosphorylation; 2. Central catabolic pathways	Lecture (3 hr)
Week 07	DNA fingerprinting II & plasmid isolation	Practical (4 hr)
Week 08	1. Central catabolic pathways; 2. Integration of catabolism: fuel selection in exercise	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 08	Tutorial	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 09	1. Integration of catabolism: fuel selection in starvation; 2. Integration of catabolism: fuel selection in exercise	Lecture (3 hr)
Week 09	Plasmid identification & enzyme kinetics	Practical (4 hr)
Week 10	Anabolic strategies: disposal of dietary carbohydrate	Lecture (3 hr)
Week 10	Tutorial	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 11	Anabolic strategies: disposal of dietary fat and storage	Lecture (3 hr)
Week 11	Enzyme-linked Metabolite Assay (ELMA).	Practical (4 hr)
Week 12	1. Protein and nucleotide metabolism; 2. Extrapolations: Type 1 diabetes	Lecture (3 hr)
Week 12	Tutorial	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 13	Design assay	Practical (3 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Due to the exceptional circumstances caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, attendance requirements for this unit of study have been amended. Where online tutorials/workshops/virtual laboratories have been scheduled, students should make every effort to attend and participate at the scheduled time. Penalties will not be applied if technical issues, etc. prevent attendance at a specific online class. In that case, students should discuss the problem with the coordinator, and attend another session, if available.

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

All readings for this unit can be accessed through the Library eReserve, available on Canvas.

Biochemistry by Berg, Tymoczko, Gatto and Stryer, 8th Edition. Typically known as “Stryer”.

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. describe in detail the main anabolic and catabolic processes in the cell and discuss how variations in energy demand and supply affect these processes
LO2. compare and contrast the integration of anabolic and catabolic processes in the cells and predict how perturbations to these processes, including fuel selection and genetic mutation, affect the cell and whole organism
LO3. summarise the catabolic and anabolic fates of dietary nitrogen and predict how the synthesis and degradation of nitrogenous biopolymers are affected in contexts such as starvation, diabetes and cancer
LO4. describe the complexity of the eukaryotic genome and its structure in detail and identify the key constituent elements
LO5. outline the specific processes by which genetic information is transmitted from one generation to the next and analyse the flow of this information within the cell
LO6. describe and evaluate the steps involved in gene transcription and translation and evaluate the different ways by which gene expression can be regulated
LO7. evaluate the main concepts and power of modern molecular biology techniques and select the appropriate technique for specific applications in life science and medical research
LO8. explain, with examples, the difference between qualitative and quantitative measurements; obtain quantitative measurements of metabolite concentrations and enzyme activities, in an accurate and reproducible manner
LO9. adapt, develop and trouble-shoot recognised procedures for novel contexts and requirements
LO10. assess the quality of, interpret and draw conclusions from data obtained in the laboratory
LO11. summarise and identify the key points from topical biochemical data from a number of published sources; synthesise and communicate the findings.

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 changes have been made since this unit was last offered.

Additional information

Work, health and safety

We are governed by the Work Health and Safety Act 2011, Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 and Codes of Practice. Penalties for non-compliance have increased. Everyone has a responsibility for health and safety at work. The University’s Work Health and Safety policy explains the responsibilities and expectations of workers and others, and the procedures for managing WHS risks associated with University activities.

General Laboratory Safety Rules

No eating or drinking is allowed in any laboratory under any circumstances
A laboratory coat and closed-toe shoes are mandatory
Follow safety instructions in your manual and posted in laboratories
In case of fire, follow instructions posted outside the laboratory door
First aid kits, eye wash and fire extinguishers are located in or immediately outside each laboratory
As a precautionary measure, it is recommended that you have a current tetanus immunisation. This can be obtained from University Health Service: unihealth.usyd.edu.au/

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

Additional information

Additional information

Work, health and safety

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect

Current students

MEDS2003: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Semester 1, 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

Additional information

Additional information

Work, health and safety

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect