01. After successfully completing this subject, students will be able to: Use the basic vocabulary of biochemistry and molecular biology to describe the structures and functions of biological macromolecules, in order to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of the concepts underlying structure-function relationships in cell function, health and disease.

Activities:

In lectures, students will be instructed in molecular interactions, information transfer and the synthesis and structure/function relationships of nucleic acids and proteins, the implications of thermodynamics and energetics on biological systems, and techniques in molecular biology. These concepts will be reinforced by small-group discussions in lectorial (large-scale tutorial) sessions. The students' understanding of these concepts will be assessed by short-answer and/or multiple-choice questions in lectorial quizzes, and by short-answer questions in formal examinations.

Related graduate capabilities and elements:

Discipline-specific GCs(Discipline-specific GCs)

Critical Thinking(Critical Thinking)

02. Apply biochemical and molecular biology techniques, principles and methodologies in addressing research problems.

Activities:

In laboratory classes, students will be instructed in basic laboratory skills (micropipetting, spectrophotometry, data analysis and critique) and will gain hands-on experience in a range of protein-chemistry and molecular biology techniques. The students' ability to carry out these techniques will be assessed on the basis of the quality of their experimental results, and this will contribute to their 'laboratory performance' mark. The students' understanding of the underlying principles will be assessed through prac reports and/or by their responses to questions posed in weekly worksheets.

Related graduate capabilities and elements:

Creative Problem-solving(Creative Problem-solving)

Discipline-specific GCs(Discipline-specific GCs)

03. Write scientific reports that present coherent evidence-based explanations to communicate to peers.

Activities:

Students will be instructed on aspects of scientific writing in a workshop which will address their prac-report writing and the preparation of their written report on the research assignment. Scientific wrtiting will be assessed in prac reports/worksheets and in the research assignment.

Related graduate capabilities and elements:

Writing(Writing)

04. Employ laboratory practice to acceptable standards in terms of safety, professional conduct and keeping accurate records of experimental data.

Activities:

Students will complete an induction exercise (not formally assessed)where they are introduced to various aspects of biochemical laboratory practice: appropriate behaviour, safe handling of equipment and reagents, principles of risk assessment, appropriate record keeping. These factors will be assessed during all subsequent prac sessions as a component of the laboratory performance mark.

Related graduate capabilities and elements:

Ethical Awareness(Ethical Awareness)

05. Compute basic mathematical calculations and prepare graphic representations to aid in the interpretation of biochemical data consistent with scientific standards.

Activities:

Calculations and graphical analyses will be commonly performed as part of laboratory practicals, and instruction will be provided during pre-prac talks, in the laboratory manual and/or by demonstrators during prac sessions. Calculations and graphic representations will be assessed as an integral component of practical report/worksheet marking.

Related graduate capabilities and elements:

Quantitative Literacy/ Numeracy(Quantitative Literacy/ Numeracy)

06. Demonstrate independent learning and research skills by locating, interrogating and evaluating relevant scientific information.

Activities:

Students will be instructed on the importance of accessing multiple sources of information (wherever possible), and on selecting appropriate and reliable sources of information, during the workshop on scientific writing. The gathering and critical analysis of information derived from from multiple literature-based sources will be assessed as a component of the research assignment. The prac course will include an experimental design component which will be assessed partly on the basis of inclusion of appropriate controls in student-designed experiments and the use of relevant information sources.

Related graduate capabilities and elements:

Inquiry/ Research(Inquiry/ Research)

07. Participate as an effective team member in a laboratory environment and collaborate effectively on research projects.

Activities:

In lectorial sessions, small groups of 3 or 4 students will engage in discussions, to which all members of the group will be expected to contribute. Each student will also be encouraged to volunteer as a spokesperson (to convey the outcome of the group's discussion to the rest of the class) at least once during the semester. In practical sessions, students will usually work in pairs but will sometimes collaborate in larger groups of 12-14. They will be instructed on aspects of team-work (eg. fair sharing of workload, delegation of tasks, respect for the opinions and consideration for the well-being of others) by demonstrators. The ability of students to work effectively as team-members in pracs will be assessed as a component of the laboratory performance mark.

Related graduate capabilities and elements:

Inquiry/ Research(Inquiry/ Research)