Course Title: Genetics and Molecular Biology

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Genetics and Molecular Biology

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code	Campus	Career	School	Learning Mode	Teaching Period(s)
BIOL2262	City Campus	Undergraduate	135H Applied Sciences	Face-to-Face	Sem 1 2006, Sem 1 2007, Sem 1 2008, Sem 1 2009, Sem 1 2011, Sem 1 2012, Sem 1 2013, Sem 1 2015, Sem 2 2015, Sem 2 2016
BIOL2262	City Campus	Undergraduate	171H School of Science	Face-to-Face	Sem 2 2017, Sem 2 2018, Sem 2 2019, Sem 2 2020, Sem 2 2021, Sem 2 2022, Sem 2 2023, Sem 1 2024
BIOL2263	Bundoora Campus	Undergraduate	135H Applied Sciences	Face-to-Face	Sem 2 2006, Sem 2 2007, Sem 2 2009
BIOL2263	Bundoora Campus	Undergraduate	171H School of Science	Face-to-Face	Sem 1 2024
BIOL2343	Open Learning Australia	Non Award	171H School of Science	Distance / Correspondence	OUASP2UG22

Course Coordinator: Dr Alexis Marshall

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925

Course Coordinator Email: alexis.marshall@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Availability: by appointment

Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

None

Course Description

This course focuses on developing your understanding of several selected molecular aspects of topics relevant to modern genetics. This course employs a problem-based approach applied to real life examples.

The course aims to build on your basic knowledge in biology and cell biology and will help you develop the skills that professional scientists require during their career - advanced level critical thinking, communication and problem solving in classical and molecular genetics and developmental processes.

Learning materials will cover theory in molecular biology and recombinant DNA technology, genomics, prokaryotic genetics and gene regulation, classical genetics and recombination mapping in higher eukaryotes, eukaryotic gene regulation and developmental genetics, mutations, chromosome abnormalities and an introduction to population and quantitative genetics. This should provide you with detailed understanding and the necessary skills to analyse complex genetic systems encountered in the professional practice of biology or biotechnology, either in industry or in a research environment.

Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

This course contributes to the following Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs) for BP226P7 Bachelor of Science (Biotechnology):

2.1 You will exhibit depth and breadth of knowledge by demonstrating a well-developed understanding of biology sciences.
3.3 You will be able to critically analyse and solve problems in biotechnology by selecting and applying practical and/or theoretical techniques with technical competence in conducting field, laboratory-based, or virtual experiments.
4.1 You will be an effective communicator of biological sciences by effectively communicating scientific results, information or arguments using a range of modes (oral, written, visual) for a variety of purposes and audiences.
5.2 You will be accountable for individual learning and scientific work by working effectively, responsibly, ethically and safety in an individual or team context.

On successful completion of this course you should be able to:

1. Plan, conduct and interpret data generated in introductory experiments to demonstrate understanding of genetics and relate these results to current theories and models.
2. Explain and communicate to others current understanding of the roles of molecular genetics underpinning aspects of bacterial life metabolic processes and gene regulation, eukaryote genetics and gene regulation, eukaryote developmental processes and basic principles of population and quantitative genetics.
3. Report, defend and disseminate experimental findings according to conventions appropriate to scientific and non-scientific audiences.

Overview of Learning Activities

You will learn in this course by:

• attendance at on-campus and/or online lectures , tutorials and practicals where syllabus material will be presented and explained, and the subject will be illustrated with demonstrations and examples;
• completion of tutorial questions and laboratory projects designed to give further practice in the application of theory and procedures, and to give feedback on your progress and understanding;
• completion of written assignments consisting of numerical and other problems requiring an integrated understanding of the subject matter; and
• private study, working through the course as presented in classes and learning materials, and gaining practice at solving conceptual and numerical problems.

Overview of Learning Resources

RMIT will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through myRMIT Studies Course. 

There are services available to support your learning through the University Library. The Library provides guides on academic referencing and subject specialist help as well as a range of study support services. For further information, please visit the Library page on the RMIT University website and the myRMIT student portal.

Overview of Assessment

The assessment will be a combination of problem sheet assignments, quizzes and practical reports, and will assess your knowledge and your ability to solve high level problems in genetics.

Assessment Task 1: Worksheet Assignments
Weighting 40%
This assessment task supports CLO-1-3

Assessment Task 2: Quizzes
Weighting 20%
This assessment task supports CLO-1-2

Assessment Task 3: Practical Reports
Weighting 20%
This assessment task supports CLO-1-3

Assessment Task 4: Practical Assignment
Weighting 20%
This assessment task supports CLO-1-3

If you have a long-term medical condition and/or disability it may be possible to negotiate to vary aspects of the learning or assessment methods. You can contact the program coordinator or Equitable Learning Services if you would like to find out more.