Course Title: Perform molecular biology tests and procedures

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term2 2020

Course Code: BIOL5253C

Course Title: Perform molecular biology tests and procedures

School: 174T School of VE Engineering, Health & Science

Campus: City Campus

Program: C5388 - Diploma of Laboratory Technology

Course Contact: Kirsten Balding

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4283

Course Contact Email: kirsten.balding@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Rowena.Lavery@rmit.edu.au

Nominal Hours: 150

Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites

MSL973016  Perform aseptic techniques

MSL974021  Perform biological procedures

Course Description

This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge to isolate, purify, verify and manipulate biomolecules and their products. This work requires close attention to working with small volumes, multiple-step procedures and prevention of contamination. Personnel are required to apply a wide range of molecular biology tests and procedures.


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

MSL975034 Perform molecular biology tests and procedures

Element:

1. Interpret and schedule test requirements

Performance Criteria:

1.1 Review test request to identify samples to be tested, test method and equipment/instruments involved 1.2 Identify hazards and workplace control measures associated with the sample, preparation methods, reagents and/or equipment

Element:

2. Receive and handle samples

Performance Criteria:

2.1 Log and label samples according to workplace procedures 2.2 Record sample description, compare with specification and note and report discrepancies 2.3 Store samples in accordance with workplace and test method requirements 2.4 Maintain chain of custody, traceable to the worker, for all samples

Element:

3. Prepare equipment and reagents

Performance Criteria:

3.1 Set up equipment/instrumentation in accordance with test method requirements and perform pre-use and safety checks 3.2 Select and collect reagents in accordance with test method requirements 3.3 Prepare and label reagents in accordance with test method requirements 3.4 Clean, care for and store equipment and reagents

Element:

4. Extract, verify and manipulate biomolecules

Performance Criteria:

4.1 Produce/extract biomolecules from samples using appropriate isolation methods 4.2 Prevent contamination of samples by unwanted biomolecules 4.3 Recognise the presence of common inhibitors of biomolecular reactions and take corrective action 4.4 Quantify and qualify biomolecular yields from purified extractions 4.5 Use appropriate techniques to prepare and test a range of biomolecular samples 4.6 Use controls and reference standards to confirm the integrity of biomolecular sample preparation and procedures 4.7 Troubleshoot basic procedure, reagent or equipment problems which have led to atypical data or results

Element:

5. Report and communicate results

Performance Criteria:

5.1 Record entries on report forms or into a laboratory information management system accurately calculating, recording or transcribing data as required 5.2 Ensure traceability of sample from receipt to reporting of results


Learning Outcomes



Details of Learning Activities

Your primary learning mode will be online and face-to-face and learning activities will include a combination of tutorials, classroom activities, analysis of simulated results and practical demonstrations.


Teaching Schedule

Schedule

Session

Week beginning

Topic/Activity/Assessment

SEMESTER 1

Week 1

 

6/07/2020

Tutorial: Cell structure, DNA Structure, Cell Cycle, Cell Division, Mitosis

 

Online practical: Mitosis

Week 2

 

13/07/2020

Tutorial: DNA replication

 

Online practical: Kiwifruit DNA extraction

Week 3

 

20/07/2020

Tutorial: Transcription and Translation

 

Online practical: Wheat germ DNA extraction and analysis

AT2. EXPERIMENTAL CONTROLS ASSIGNMENT

due Sunday 26th July by 23.59

Week 4

 

27/07/2020

Tutorial:

- Molecular biology techniques and applications to forensics (VNTRs, STRs, VNTR Electrophoresis and real-time PCR)

Online practical: VNTR PCR and VNTR Electrophoresis

Week 5

 

3/08/2020

Tutorial: Cancer and Nucleic acids  

 

Online practical: real-time PCR

Week 6

 

10/08/2020

 Tutorial: Conjugation and Transformation

 

No practical this week

 

Week 7

17/08/2020

AT3. MID-SEMESTER THEORY quiz (B)

 

TOPICS on the AT3 quiz – cell cycle, DNA extraction, mitosis, controls, DNA replication, transcription and translation, PCR, DNA profiling. STRS, conjugation & viral transduction- lytic and lysogenic, structure of a gene, start and stop codons, difference between codon and anticodon, RNA and DNA structural difference. GC versus AT bonds and bases, cause of cancerous tumour.

Week 8

 

24/08/2020

AT3.MID-SEMESTER 1 THEORY EXAM (B) & Resits

 

 

 

Mid-semester break

Week 9

07/09/2020

Tutorial: Mitosis and Meiosis review, Mendelian genetics, Monohybrid crosses,  Dihybrid crosses

 

Group A only this week:

First practical: pGLO Transformation

Second practical: pGFP plasmid mini prep

Week 10

 

14/09/2020

Tutorial: Karyotypes Sex linked, codominant and incomplete dominant crosses

 

Group B only this week:

First practical: pGLO Transformation

Second practical: pGFP plasmid mini prep

Week 11

 

21/09/2020

Tutorial: More sex-linked examples, Pedigree analysis

 

Group A only this week:

First practical: Biorad minprep

Second Practical: Microarrays

Analysis of last week’s pGLO results

AT4. THEORY quiz (B)

TOPICS on the AT4 quiz– human genetics, dihybrid crosses and monohybrid, codominant and incomplete, blood typing, pedigrees,

Week 12

 

 

28/09/2020

Tutorial: Host cells, plasmids and vectors-viruses, protoplasts, biolistics, restriction enzymes

Group B only this week:

First practical: Biorad minprep

Second Practical: Microarrays

Analysis of last week’s pGLO results

Week 13

 

 

5/10/2020

Tutorial: GMO introduction & examination of GMO PCR results.

 

Group A only this week:

Practical: Blue/White Cloning of a DNA Fragment

Practical: Plasmid digestion and electrophoresis practical.

 

AT5. PRAC REPORT – MICROARRAYS due Sunday 11th October 23.59

Week 14

 

12/10/2020

Tutorial: Human Genome Project and Gene libraries and microarrays

 

Group B only this week:

Practical: Blue/White Cloning of a DNA Fragment

Practical: Plasmid digestion and electrophoresis practical

Week 15

 

19/10/2020

Tutorial: Gene Therapy

 

 

Group A- 11.30 -1.30 pm:

Catch up practical –real-time PCR

Analysis of results and transformation efficiency for Blue/White Cloning of a DNA Fragment experiment

 

Catch up practical –real-time PCR

Group B- 2 pm -3.30 pm: Analysis of results and transformation efficiency for Blue/White Cloning of a DNA Fragment experiment

 

SUBMIT and finalise logbooks:

AT1. WEEKLY PRACTICAL LOG BOOK ENTRIES (A) (B) (D)(H)

Week 16

 

26/10/2020

Exam week

 

AT6. END OF SEMESTER 2 THEORY quiz (B)

TOPIC on the AT6 quiz- human genome, mitochondrial DNA, cDNA libraries,  GMO, microarray, agrobacterium tumefaciens, vectors -virus, gene gun, liposomes etc. ethical issue associated with therapeutic and reproductive cloning.

Week 17

2/11/2020

Semester break


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts


References


Other Resources

Many molecular biology textbooks available online at RMIT Library e.g. Essentials of Medical Genomics by Sturt Brown and Plant Molecular Biology Manual by Stanton B Gelvin. Go to course resources module on canvas for links.

Also useful Tortora, Funke & Case. (2015) Microbiology: An Introduction, latest edition, Pearson/ Benjamin Cummings

Prescribed text: Human Heredity: Principles & Issues 8th Ed Cummings, M.R. Brookes/Cole 


Overview of Assessment

Assessments may include

reports

observation of laboratory skills

logbook

knowledge tests


Assessment Tasks

Assessment details

 

Assessment task

Each task must be completed satisfactorily before Competence is achieved for the full subject/unit.

Due Date

Result
S (satisfactory)
NS (Not satisfactory)

Methods of Assessment include:

 

A. Direct Observation/
    Simulation Activities

B. Written/Verbal
    Questioning

C. Third Party
     Evidence

D. Portfolio/
     Product

E. Project/
    Report

 

F. Presentation

G. Role Plays

H. Practical  Demonstration

I. Other

 

AT1. LOG BOOK ENTRIES (A) (B) (D) (H)

Week 1-15

S/NS

AT2. EXPERIMENTAL CONTROLS ASSIGNMENT (B) (E)

26/07/2020

S/NS

AT3. MID-SEMESTER THEORY quiz (B)

Week 8

S/NS

AT4. THEORY quiz (B)

Week 11

S/NS

AT5. PRAC REPORT - MICROARRAYS (E)

11/10/2020

S/NS

AT6. END OF SEMESTER 2 THEORY quiz (B)

Week 16

S/NS


Assessment Matrix

Can be found on canvas LMS system.

Other Information

Decision making rules

Every task must be completed satisfactorily for competence to be achieved.

 

Assessment Information

 

CA = Competency Achieved

NYC = Not yet Competent

DNS = Did Not submit (1 or more assessments)

 

 

Late work that is submitted without an application for an extension (see below) will not be corrected.

 

APPLICATION FOR EXTENSION OF TIME FOR SUBMISSION OF ASSESSABLE WORK - A student may apply for an extension of up to 7 days from the original due date. They must lodge the application form (available online http://www1.rmit.edu.au/students/assessment/extension) at least 24 hours before the due date. The application is lodged with the School Admin Office on Level 6, Bdg 51. Students requiring longer extensions must apply for SPECIAL CONSIDERATION.

 

For missed assessments such as exams- you (& your doctor if you are sick) must fill out a special consideration form. This form must be lodged online with supporting evidence prior to, or within, 48 hours of the scheduled time of examination http://www1.rmit.edu.au/students/specialconsideration

 

A minimum of 80% attendance at practical classes is required to pass this course. If you are sick you should submit a medical certificate to 6th floor office addressed to the Program Coordinator. If you miss a practical class that is a prac report write up you need to provide a medical certificate (or other evidence) and arrange an alternative report with your teacher

 

Plagiarism is the presentation of the work, idea or creation of another person as though it is your own. It is a form of cheating and is a very serious academic offence that may lead to expulsion from the University. Plagiarised material can be drawn from, and presented in, written, graphic and visual form, including electronic data and oral presentation. Plagiarism occurs when the origin of the material used is not appropriately cited. It also occurs through enabling plagiarism, which is the act of assisting or allowing another person to plagiarise or to copy your own work. Please make sure you consider this carefully in completing all your work and assessments in this course and if you are unsure about whether you might have plagiarised, seek help from your teacher.

 

Reasonable adjustment

Reasonable adjustment is an individualised modification made to the training delivery or assessment methods to enable a student with specific needs to access and participate. Reasonable adjustment may include changed assessment conditions, flexibility in assessments, other academic support, provision of adaptive equipment and in class support.

Reasonable adjustment is applied within the start date and end date for the subject/unit being undertaken.

 

 

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