| Credit |
12 points |
| Availability |
Semester 2 |
| Old unit code |
139.325 |
| Outcomes |
Students gain an understanding of both theoretical and practical molecular biology and acquire central laboratory skills. |
| Content |
This unit provides an advanced course in molecular biology. It stresses the use of molecular approaches and how they are applied to solve and investigate biological problems. Lectures are given on how molecular biology has been used to advance understanding in a number of areas.
The subject areas covered include a selection from the following topics: allergens; cloning vectors; database searching; differentiation; gene regulation; interferons; molecular basis of cancer; molecular biology of bacterial and viral pathogens; molecular biology of nitrogen fixation; plant molecular biology; protein targeting; and the organisation of genes in different genomes (nuclear, organelle, bacterial and viral). The techniques covered range from protein/DNA sequencing to site-directed mutagenesis, message level analysis, protein expression, plant and animal transgenics, in situ hybridisation and PCR. The relevance of these studies to microbial plant and animal sciences in a wide variety of fields is stressed. |
| Assessment |
This comprises a final examination (60 per cent), a mid-semester test on lecture material (10 per cent) and laboratory tests and laboratory report assessments (30 per cent).
Supplementary assessment is not available in this unit except in the case of a bachelor's pass degree student who has obtained a mark of 45 to 49 and is currently enrolled in this unit, and it is the only remaining unit that the student must pass in order to complete their course. |
| Unit Co-ordinator(s) |
Associate Professor Thomas Martin (Co-ordinator) and Associate Professor Manfred Beilharz (Deputy Co-ordinator) |
| Location |
UWA (Crawley) |
| Mode |
on-campus |
| Unit Rules |
| Prerequisites: SCIE2225 Molecular Biology |
| Advisable prior study: (MICR2204 Introductory Microbiology and MICR2205 General and Applied Microbiology) or MICR2207 Agricultural Microbiology; BIOC2201 Biochemistry of the Cell and BIOC2202 Biochemical Regulation of Cell Function are recommended but not essential. Students with insufficient background are required to do extra reading. |
Contact hours—lectures: 3 hrs per week; labs: 9 hrs per week for 9 weeks (weeks 2–5 and weeks 8–12); tutorials: 2 x 2 hrs; home exercise discussion. For details see handout in the lab manual and first lecture.
|
|
| Unit web page |
http://webct.uwa.edu.au/ (only for enrolled students)
[Some unit web pages are still under construction and will be available in 2010.]
|
| Note |
This unit is offered offshore in two parts, i.e. SCIE3326/SCIE3327 Molecular Biology Part 1/Part 2. |
Recommended
reading | Lodish, H. et al. Molecular Cell Biology, 5th edn: W. H. Freeman & Co 2004 Watson, J. D. et al. Molecular Biology of the Gene, 6th edn: CSHL Press 2008 Weaver, R. F. Molecular Biology, 4th edn: McGraw Hill 2007 |
Suggested
alternate text | Lewin, B. Genes IX: Jones and Bartlett Publishers 2008
|
|
|
- The availability of units in Semester 1, 2, etc. was correct at the time of going to press but may be subject to change.
- Assistance with study skills, including English language skills, is available free of charge from Student Services for all enrolled students (see http://www.studentservices.uwa.edu.au/ss/learning). Student Services location: Second Floor, South Wing, Guild Village; telephone: 6488 2423.
- Books and other materials wherever listed may be subject to change. Book lists relating to 'Preliminary Reading', 'Recommended Reading' and 'Textbooks' are, in most cases, available at the University Co-operative Bookshop (from early January) and appropriate administrative offices for students to consult. For first-year units the Bookshop will endeavour to make available photocopies of book lists for individual units. Books marked with an asterisk (*) are available in paperback.
|
