LQB485 Cell Biology

Unit Outline: Semester 2 2024, Gardens Point, Internal

Overview

Understanding the role of cells and how their cellular components are fundamental to a healthy life is crucial for your understanding of how they become disregulated in disease and how individual components might be targeted to treat diseases. This unit builds on your knowledge of cellular components to examine how these come together structurally and functionally to build cells and tissues that function as part of a whole organism capable of surviving and protecting itself from disease and trauma. It will provide a platform for students undertaking the final year cell and molecular biotechnology units. This unit will provide hands on laboratory experience working with cells and will enhance skills in assessing, summarising and placing biomedical research in the context of health and disease.

Learning Outcomes

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

1. Demonstrate an understanding of the complexity of cells and the organelles and proteins that regulate their functions in the human body;
2. Demonstrate how mutation or loss of key cellular and extracellular proteins leads to disease;
3. Critically search, retrieve, evaluate and communicate core principles and processes as they relate to cell biology and disease from scientific literature;
4. Collect, analyse, interpret and communicate experimental data.

Content

Learning Approaches

You will develop your critical knowledge in cell biology through engagement with weekly lectures that include question and answer sessions that will help you assess your knowledge throughout the semester. You will have the opportunity to apply the theory from lectures using real world problem-based examples during supervised practicals and workshops. Content will be delivered by active researchers in relevant fields to enhance your learning and support your development of critical thinking and the specific knowledge and skills relevant to the aims of the unit. Both content and organisation is designed for you to assess your progress in the unit and for you to gather evidence of meeting unit and course outcomes.

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

Assessment for this unit consists of a infographic, problem solving tasks and a laboratory report.

You will receive formative feedback on your learning at weekly class discussions and during problem-based learning workshops and laboratory exercises. After completing the practical classes you will be required to submit a laboratory report using Turnitin which assist with plagiarism awareness. Feedback on your report will be provided via Turnitin in addition to criteria worksheets. Refer to Canvas for specific assessment instructions and criteria.

Assessment

Overview

Progressive assessment, conducted in workshops, will provide a mechanism for you to regularly evaluate your understanding of the subject matter presented throughout the semester. Feedback session will be held to provide you with correct answers, examples of common errors and suggestions for improved performance. Summative assessment will take the form of a written laboratory report.

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Report

Assessment of laboratory work based upon completion of a written laboratory report using data from experiments.

This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.

Assessment: Problem Solving Task

In these problem solving tasks you will use your critical thinking skills to answer questions related to healthy and disease states.

Assessment: Infographic

You will produce infographics based on the learning content.

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

Safety and protective equipment

Practicals will require personal protective equipment supplied by each student:

1. Laboratory Gown - Rear fastening 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: Report, Problem Solving Task, Infographic
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: Report
3. Demonstrate the cognitive skills required to find solutions to scientific problems.
   Relates to: Report, 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: Infographic
5. Apply knowledge and skills to rapidly source, critically analyse and communicate biomedical science information using appropriate technologies.
   Relates to: Infographic