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Animal Structure and Function (ZOOL20005)
Undergraduate level 2Points: 12.5Dual-Delivery (Parkville)
Please refer to the return to campus page for more information on these delivery modes and students who can enrol in each mode based on their location.
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
Semester 1
Overview
Availability | Semester 1 - Dual-Delivery |
---|---|
Fees | Look up fees |
Animals are faced with innumerable challenges across their lifetime that must be overcome if individuals are to survive and reproduce, and ultimately for species to persist. Many of these challenges, such as how to move, how to respire, how to sense your environment, how to feed, and how to reproduce, are ubiquitous across the animal kingdom, but have been solved in unique ways by different phyla.
Animal Structure and Function is a lecture and laboratory-based subject that explores the amazing morphological diversity of life and how this has evolved to meet essential biological functions. The course is structured around a series of key ‘biological challenges’ within which we will compare and contrast different ‘biological solutions’ to the same problem across animals ranging from corals through to apes. In the practicals, you will learn how to classify animals and interpret their features, and develop an integrated understanding of animal diversity and the evolutionary forces that drive this.
Intended learning outcomes
Upon completion of this subject, students should be able to:
- Explain similarities and differences in the morphology of animals dealing with the same 'life challenge', and place these in an evolutionary context;
- Demonstrate an understanding of the unique adaptations of animals that allow them to occupy diverse habitats;
- Identify common organisms to broad groups (e.g. Phyla) using key diagnostic features;
- Effectively communicate key scientific concepts through written work;
- Undertake intermediate-level practical laboratory tasks in handling and experimenting with animals and biological specimens.
Generic skills
On completion of this subject students should have developed the following generic skills:
- Ability to apply theories and principles to subject-specific content;
- Development of scientific writing and research skills, including how to evaluate the quality of evidence and use this to construct written and verbal arguments;
- Capacity to work constructively with colleagues to complete set tasks; and
- Competency in standard laboratory procedures for working with animals.
Last updated: 11 April 2024
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
One of
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
BIOL10002 | Biomolecules and Cells | Semester 1 (Online) |
12.5 |
BIOL10008 | Introductory Biology: Life's Machinery |
Summer Term (Online)
Semester 1 (Online)
|
12.5 |
BIOL10009 | Biology: Life's Machinery | Semester 1 (Online) |
12.5 |
BIOL10004 - Biology of Cells and Organisms
AND
One of
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
BIOL10010 | Introductory Biology: Life's Complexity | Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
BIOL10011 | Biology: Life's Complexity | Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
BIOM10002 | Exploring Biomedicine | Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
BIOL10003 - Genes and Environment
BIOL10005 - Genetics and the Evolution of Life
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: 11 April 2024
Assessment
Description | Timing | Percentage |
---|---|---|
Written tasks based on practical material, up to a total of approximately 800 words . Each of the five practicals will have an associated written task Students can choose which two of these they will complete. Each task is worth 15% and will be approximately four pages long.
| Due fortnightly throughout the semester | 30% |
A written essay on animal structure and function morphological adaptations in animals
| From Week 6 to Week 8 | 20% |
Multiple choice quiz via online polling in every lecture, 3-5 mins in each class (200 words equivalent)
| Throughout the semester | 10% |
A written examination, covering both lecture and practical material
| During the examination period | 40% |
Weekly attendance Hurdle requirement: Students must attend four of five practicals, and four of five workshops during semester | Throughout the semester | N/A |
Last updated: 11 April 2024
Dates & times
- Semester 1
Coordinators Theresa Jones and John Morrongiello Mode of delivery Dual-Delivery (Parkville) Contact hours 2 x one-hour lectures per week, and either a 1x three-hour practical or workshop conducted in the laboratory or collaborative learning space during weeks 2-11 (5 practicals + 5 workshops x 3hr) Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 1 March 2021 to 30 May 2021 Last self-enrol date 12 March 2021 Census date 31 March 2021 Last date to withdraw without fail 7 May 2021 Assessment period ends 25 June 2021 Semester 1 contact information
Additional delivery details
Lectures and laboratory based practical work.
This subject requires all students to actively and safely participate in laboratory activities.
Last updated: 11 April 2024
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
Hickman et al Integrated Principles of Zoology, McGraw Hill
- Subject notes
This subject is available for science credit to students enrolled in the BSc (both pre-2008 and new degrees), BASc or a combined BSc course.
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Informal specialisation Zoology Informal specialisation Elective subjects for B-BMED Major Zoology Informal specialisation Science Discipline subjects - new generation B-SCI - Breadth options
This subject is available as breadth in the following courses:
- Bachelor of Arts
- Bachelor of Commerce
- Bachelor of Design
- Bachelor of Environments
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Animation)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Film and Television)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Music Theatre)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Production)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Screenwriting)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Theatre)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Visual Art)
- Bachelor of Music
- 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: 11 April 2024