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Cell Signalling and Neurochemistry (BCMB30004)
Undergraduate level 3Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
For information about the University’s phased return to campus and in-person activity in Winter and Semester 2, please refer to the on-campus subjects page.
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
Semester 2
Subject Co-ordinator
Professor Paul Gooley
Administrative Coordination
Please refer to the LMS for up-to-date subject information, including assessment and participation requirements, for subjects being offered in 2020.
Overview
Availability | Semester 2 |
---|---|
Fees | Look up fees |
Aberrations in the structure and expression of hormones, growth factors, neurotransmitters and their receptors can give rise to diseases such as cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. To understand the molecular basis of these diseases, it is essential to know how hormones, growth factors and neurotransmitters are synthesised, and how their signals are recognised, amplified and transmitted by intracellular signalling pathways in the target cells.
Topics covered include structures of hormone and neurotransmitter receptors, mechanisms of intracellular signal transduction, second messengers, post-translational modifications such as protein phosphorylation-dephosphorylation, ubiquitination and S-nitrosylation; mechanism of apoptosis, necrosis and autophagy, molecular basis of neurodegenerative disease, innate immune signalling, molecular basis of cancer formation and progression, and the use and design of protein kinase inhibitors as therapeutics for treatment of cancer and neurodegenerative diseases.
Intended learning outcomes
On completion of the subject, the student should be able to:
- Describe the molecular basis of signal generation by cell surface receptors and intracellular receptors of hormones and neurotransmitters
- Describe the structural basis underpinning how cell signalling mediators recognise their substrates and catalyse post-translational modifications of their target proteins
- Devise experiments to investigate how dys-regulation of key cell signalling proteins contributes to diseases
- Perform computational analysis of the sequence and structure of signalling proteins
- Critically analyse of the current scientific literature on cell signalling and neuroscience research
Generic skills
On completion of this subject, students should have developed the following generic skills:
- the ability to interpret scientific literature and interpret data from electronic databases.
- the capacity to integrate knowledge across disciplines.
- the ability to comprehend a question, evaluate the relevant information and communicate an answer.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
BCMB20002 | Biochemistry and Molecular Biology |
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
or
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
BIOM20001 | Molecular and Cellular Biomedicine | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
25 |
Other combinations that provide similar background will be considered by the coordinator.
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Assessment
Due to the impact of COVID-19, assessment may differ from that published in the Handbook. Students are reminded to check the subject assessment requirements published in the subject outline on the LMS
Description | Timing | Percentage |
---|---|---|
Exam
| During the examination period | 55% |
Computer-based tutorial using bioinformatics and molecular graphics (during computer practical in weeks 1-4)
| Mid semester | 5% |
Mid Semester Test 2
| Week 10 | 10% |
Written assignment
| Week 9 | 20% |
Mid Semester Test 1
| Week 5 | 10% |
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Dates & times
- Semester 2
Coordinator Paul Gooley Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours One 2-hour face-to-face workshop per week and online videos equivalent to two 1-hour lectures. Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 3 August 2020 to 1 November 2020 Last self-enrol date 14 August 2020 Census date 21 September 2020 Last date to withdraw without fail 16 October 2020 Assessment period ends 27 November 2020 Semester 2 contact information
Subject Co-ordinator
Professor Paul Gooley
Administrative Coordination
Time commitment details
22 contact hours with an estimated total time commitment of 170 hours.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
There are no specifically prescribed or recommended texts for this subject.
- Subject notes
Students enrolled in the BSc (pre-2008 BSc), BASc or a combined BSc course will receive science credit for the completion of this subject.
Students undertaking this subject will be expected to regularly access an Internet-enabled computer.
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Informal specialisation Science-credited subjects - new generation B-SCI Major Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Major Neuroscience Major Neuroscience Informal specialisation Selective subjects for B-BMED Major Biochemistry and Molecular Biology - Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
This subject is available to students studying at the University from eligible overseas institutions on exchange and study abroad. Students are required to satisfy any listed requirements, such as pre- and co-requisites, for enrolment in the subject.
Last updated: 3 November 2022