01. 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 that affect cellular processes in health and disease.

Activities:

Students will receive on-line teaching materials covering foundations of biochemistry, molecular interactions and information transfer, synthesis and structure/function relationships of nucleic acids & proteins (including enzyme catalysis/kinetics), implications of thermodynamics/energetics on biological systems, and techniques used in molecular biology and protein chemistry. These concepts will be reinforced through additional on-line resources, collaborations between students and interactions with staff through synchronous and asynchronous discussion forums. Student understanding of these concepts will be assessed by formative and summative on-line quizzes using short answer, fill-in-the-blank, multiple-choice, drag-and-drop/association, diagrammatic or other question styles.

Related graduate capabilities and elements:

Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)

Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)

Discipline -Specific Knowledge and Skills(Discipline-Specific Knowledge and Skills)

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

Activities:

Students will be provided with on-line teaching materials to familiarise them with some of the basic laboratory techniques used in biochemistry, protein chemistry, enzyme kinetics and molecular biology to examine processes in biological systems (eg. spectrophotometric methods, standard curves, enzyme assays, SDS-PAGE, DNA purification, restriction endonuclease digestion, DNA sequencing, PCR, agarose gel electrophoresis). Student understanding of these techniques, their underlying concepts and their further applications will be reinforced and assessed by formative and summative on-line quizzes (as described above), by a group-based video presentation on molecular biology techniques and by a written assignment on protein-ligand interactions

Related graduate capabilities and elements:

Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)

Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)

Discipline -Specific Knowledge and Skills(Discipline-Specific Knowledge and Skills)

03. Prepare scientific reports that present coherent, concise and evidence-based explanations to communicate to peers, using a variety of presentation modes.

Activities:

Students will be instructed on core aspects of scientific writing and oral presentations skills in preparation for their group-based video presentations on molecular biology techniques and their written assignments on protein-ligand interactions. The quality of their scientific writing and oral presentation skills will be directly assessed in those assessment tasks.

Related graduate capabilities and elements:

Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Speaking,Quantitative Literacy)

Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Speaking,Quantitative Literacy)

04. Compute basic mathematical calculations and prepare graphical representations of information, to aid in the interpretation of biochemical data consistent with scientific standards.

Activities:

Calculations and graphical analyses of data will be referred to commonly in teaching materials, and students will often be required to carry out calculations and to create or interpret graphical information in quizzes and other exercises. Instructions and guidelines will be provided where appropriate, and students# calculations and graphical presentations will be assessed as an integral component of many assessment tasks

Related graduate capabilities and elements:

Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Speaking,Quantitative Literacy)

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

Activities:

Students will be instructed on the importance of accessing multiple sources of information (wherever possible), and selecting relevant/appropriate and reliable sources of information, prior to commencing work on their written assignments on protein-ligand interactions and their group-based video presentations on molecular biology techniques. The gathering and critical analysis of information derived from multiple literature-based sources will be assessed as a component of both of these assessment tasks.

Related graduate capabilities and elements:

Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)

06. Participate as an effective team member and collaborate on selected learning exercises.

Activities:

For the group-based video presentation on molecular biology techniques, students will be instructed on aspects of collaborative learning and team-work (eg. delegation of tasks and the fair sharing of workload, respect for the opinions and consideration for the well-being of others). Their effectiveness in working as a member of a team will be formally peer-assessed as part of this exercise. In a less formal sense, students will also be encouraged to work collaboratively and to help each other understand the concepts presented in all teaching materials by engaging in on-line discussions with their colleagues.

Related graduate capabilities and elements:

Personal and Professional Skills(Teamwork including leadership and working in groups)