LQB481 Biochemical Pathways and Metabolism

Unit Outline: Semester 2 2024, Gardens Point, Internal

Overview

The study of biochemistry, along with cell and molecular biology, provides you with the knowledge required for an effective understanding of the structure and function of living organisms at the molecular level. This unit advances the studies begun in LQB381 Biochemistry and further develops your knowledge and understanding of biochemical and molecular studies into metabolic pathways and processes occurring in living cells with a focus on human metabolism in health and disease. This unit provides you with a knowledge base and skills for advanced studies in biochemistry, as well as support for higher level units in life science and allied health courses.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:

1. Describe the important aspects of the chemical interconversions and molecular pathways of metabolism that are essential for the maintenance of living cells.
2. Demonstrate an understanding and explain the central mechanisms of molecular regulation and control in normal metabolism and abnormal metabolism that leads to important metabolic diseases
3. Analyse metabolic pathways and their regulation, as well as describe the relationships between these concepts and disease diagnosis and treatment.
4. Be able to apply practical competency in the biochemical laboratory, demonstrate scientific writing skills through maintenance of a laboratory practical book and develop a technical understanding of health and safety procedures associated with the handling of potentially hazardous materials and equipment.

Content

Learning Approaches

The unit is presented as 2 hours of tutorials or workshops and a 2 hour practical laboratory session per week. Weekly content is primarily delivered in online learning modules and the tutorials/workshops will be used to break down important concepts and support learning of the weekly content. There are weekly formative quizzes available on the unit learning management website to support the practical and theoretical program. In addition, a range of multimedia delivery platforms will run to complement the practical tasks and strengthen understanding of fundamental biochemical concepts. The practical exercises are used to develop your skills in laboratory practice, data collation, data analysis, and calculation of results, with an emphasis on the proper use of equipment used in a modern biochemistry laboratory. In addition, you will continue to be guided in the development of proper work practices consistent with maintaining a safe workplace.

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

Additional advice and feedback on specific matters or items of assessment is available directly from the Unit Coordinator by arranging an appointment.

Assessment

Overview

1. Formative assessment is through multiple choice question quizzes and short answer question problems set on a unit Web page, where you can receive feedback on your performance to assist your learning in both biochemical knowledge and laboratory practice.
2. Summative assessment of the unit is by a mixture of continuous assessment and examination.
3. Successful completion of the unit requires that all assessable components are satisfactorily completed and an overall pass of at least 50% is achieved.

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Laboratory/Practical

Continuous assessment based on practical competencies and work, maintenance of practical laboratory books, and pre-practical quizzes testing weekly content.

Assessment: Examination (written)

Final examination consisting of multiple-choice question, short-answer question and essay questions.

Assessment: Problem Solving Task

One written problem solving task that evaluates quantitative, analytical and interpretive skills. Formative and summative.

This is an assignment for the purposes of an extension.

Academic Integrity

Students are expected to engage in learning and assessment at QUT with honesty, transparency and fairness. Maintaining academic integrity means upholding these principles and demonstrating valuable professional capabilities based on ethical foundations.

Failure to maintain academic integrity can take many forms. It includes cheating in examinations, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, and submitting an assessment item completed by another person (e.g. contract cheating). It can also include providing your assessment to another entity, such as to a person or website.

You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.

Further details of QUT’s approach to academic integrity are outlined in the Academic integrity policy and the Student Code of Conduct. Breaching QUT’s Academic integrity policy is regarded as student misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.

Requirements to Study

Costs

Cost of lab gowns and safety protection glasses are the students responsibility.

Resources

Resource Materials

Recommended text(s)

Berg JM, Tymoczko JL & Stryer L. Biochemistry, Most recent edition, WH Freeman & Co. [Available online at NCBI Bookshelf - Online Books: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK21154/

Biochemistry Free for All OR Biochemistry Free and Easy, Kevin Ahern and Indira Rajagopal, Most recent edition. http://biochem.science.oregonstate.edu/content/biochemistry-free-and-easy

Metabolism Lecture Notes (Dr Michael Palmer, University of Waterloo, Canada) http://watcut.uwaterloo.ca/webnotes/Metabolism/

Nelson, DL & Cox, MM, Lehninger, A. Principles of Biochemistry. Most recent edition. W.H. Freeman Publ. ISBN               9780-7167-7108-1

Voet D, Voet JG & Pratt CW. Fundamentals of Biochemistry. 4th edition (2012) or 5th edition (2017). John Wiley & Sons Publ. ISBN 0-4701-2930-1.

Safety and protective equipment

Practicals will require personal protective equipment supplied by each student:
1. Laboratory coat - 100% cotton or polyester/cotton mix
2. Safety eye protection glasses - selected and used in accordance with Australian Safety Standards
3. Fully enclosed non-slip shoes

Risk Assessment Statement

This unit includes a laboratory component. In order that you become proficient in necessary practical skills, you will be trained in the handling of equipment, materials and specimens normally associated with this discipline. You are required to view a Health & Safety Induction video and complete an online health and safety quiz prior to being permitted into the laboratory, to access please follow this link Health & Safety Induction. A passing score of 10/10 is required and will be checked prior to entry to the first laboratory session. You may repeat the quiz until this score is achieved. You are also referred to the Faculty of Health's Health & Safety Web Site for further information.

If you have an underlying health condition you are encouraged to consult the lecturer in charge of the unit, as you may be required to take additional precautions on occasions.

Course Learning Outcomes

LS40 Bachelor of Biomedical Science

1. Critically review, analyse and synthesise foundational knowledge in a broad range of biomedical discipline areas and in depth theoretical, technical and practical knowledge in specialised discipline areas.
   Relates to: Examination (written), Problem Solving Task
2. Demonstrate the technical skills required to solve multi-disciplinary problems in biomedical research, industry and clinical settings and do so in an ethical, safe and responsible manner.
   Relates to: Laboratory/Practical
3. Demonstrate the cognitive skills required to find solutions to scientific problems.
   Relates to: Laboratory/Practical, Examination (written), Problem Solving Task
4. Contribute effectively to biomedical projects, either as an individual or as a member of a team, by demonstrating professional behaviour and participating in continuous learning.
   Relates to: Laboratory/Practical