Units
Cellular Basis of Life
Unit code: SCB112
Contact hours: 4 per week
Credit points: 12
Information about fees and unit costs
Scientists from all disciplines need an appreciation and a broad overview of the characteristics and functioning of the five groups of living organisms (bacteria, protists, fungi, plants and animals), and their interactions with the inanimate world. SCB112 Cellular Basis of Life is a first semester unit that is essential for many students undertaking courses requiring biological knowledge. Through integrated lecture and laboratory classes, this unit provides you with a foundation for later more advanced studies in your course or major (eg such as medical science, biomedical science, pharmacy, optometry, biochemistry, biotechnology, microbiology, geosciences, ecology, business and education among others). The aim of this unit is to introduce you to the wide diversity of living organisms while emphasising the unity of life processes at the cellular, biochemical and biophysical levels.
Availability
| Semester | Available |
|---|---|
| 2012 Semester 1 | Yes |
| 2012 Semester 2 | Yes |
Sample subject outline - Semester 1 2012
Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.
Rationale
Scientists from all disciplines need an appreciation and a broad overview of the characteristics and functioning of the five groups of living organisms (bacteria, protists, fungi, plants and animals), and their interactions with the inanimate world. SCB112 Cellular Basis of Life is a first semester unit that is essential for many students undertaking courses requiring biological knowledge. Through integrated lecture and laboratory classes, this unit provides you with a foundation for later more advanced studies in your course or major (eg such as medical science, biomedical science, pharmacy, optometry, biochemistry, biotechnology, microbiology, geosciences, ecology, business and education among others).
Aims
The aim of this unit is to introduce you to the wide diversity of living organisms while emphasising the unity of life processes at the cellular, biochemical and biophysical levels.
Objectives
On completion of this unit, you should be able to:
1. Understand the wide diversity of living organisms.
2. Describe the unity of life processes at the cellular, biochemical and biophysical levels.
3. Explain the dynamic nature of life processes, from the fluidity of membranes and the conformational changes of functioning proteins, to the fluctuations of populations adjusting to changing ecosystem/climate conditions.
4. Understand the basic vocabulary of biology.
5. Comprehend how experimental methodology relates to concepts introduced in lectures.
Content
The theory component of this unit includes:
The nature and central importance of sugars, fats, proteins and nucleic acids to life processes; membrane structure and function; cells and organelles; cell reproduction and the inheritance of genes; the powering of life processes through photosynthesis and respiration.
Taxonomy and phylogeny of viruses, bacteria, protists, fungi, plants, and animals; outline of the form and functioning of plants; outline of the form and functioning of animals.
Darwinian evolution; population and community ecology; ecosystems; biosphere.
The laboratory program in this unit includes:
Approaches to Teaching and Learning
The unit consists of 3 hours of lectures per week and a 3 hour practical session every second week. A prime objective of the practical sessions is to train students in correct experimental methodology at the laboratory bench with an emphasis on demonstrated and correct procedure for the analysis and recording of data. The content of the laboratory sessions is integrated with the lecture material at that time.
The emphasis on correct data recording begins to focus your attention on best professional practice.
Emphasis is placed on staff-student interaction and student feedback of staff teaching/lecturing performance. Staff with specialist teaching and research expertise are assigned to a particular set of lectures in order to present subject matter in an up-to date fashion.
Assessment
All assessment contributes to your grade.You receive feedback on two components of your assessment. Following the progress quiz, a feedback presentation is provided to take you through the quiz explaining the objectives, answers and reasoning. Additional feedback is provided during laboratories by teaching staff where practical work is reviewed and assessed.
Assessment name:
Laboratory/Practical
Description:
(Formative and summative) Progressive assessment of your laboratory work by demonstrators based on participation in and successful completion of laboratory exercises.
Relates to objectives:
1, 4 and 5.
Weight:
20%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
Continuous
Assessment name:
Quiz/Test
Description:
(Formative and summative) - Progress quiz of multiple-choice questions. A feedback session is conducted after this test.
Relates to objectives:
1, 2, 3 and 4.
Weight:
20%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
Mid Semester
Assessment name:
Examination (Theory)
Description:
(Summative) - End-semester examination of about 65 multiple-choice questions and 2 short essays.
Relates to objectives:
1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.
Weight:
60%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
Exam Period
Academic Honesty
Academic honesty means that you are expected to exhibit honesty and act responsibly when undertaking assessment. Any action or practice on your part which would defeat the purposes of assessment is regarded as academic dishonesty. The penalties for academic dishonesty are provided in the Student Rules. For more information you should consult the QUT Library resources for avoiding plagiarism.
Resource materials
1. Campbell NA, Reece JB & Meyers N (Current edition) Biology, Australian version, Benjamin Cummings
2. SCB112 Laboratory manual and Log book
Risk assessment statement
There are no out of the ordinary risks associated with this unit, consequently this unit raises no significant health and safety issues.
Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.
Last modified: 13-Feb-2012
