Foundational Biology: Life's Complexity (BIOL10010)

Undergraduate level 1Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)

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Overview

Availability
Semester 2
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The subject will focus on establishing foundational knowledge in biology and building on this to provide students with a thorough understanding of key concepts.

It will introduce and investigate five core concepts in biology: evolution, structure & function, regulation, transmission of information and interconnectedness. These concepts will be studied at the level of the individual, population, ecosystem and biome, assuming no prior knowledge of biology. Topics include evolution of the diversity of life, and evolution in response to natural and human-induced environmental changes (from antibiotic resistance to climate change); the structure, function and behaviour of organisms and how these change across environmental gradients; energy flow and material cycling through organisms and ecosystems; transmission of genetic, social and cultural information between organisms in a population or community; relationships between individuals, populations, species and their environment, and the processes that shape populations, ecological communities and ecosystems.

Intended learning outcomes

At the completion of this subject students should be able to:

  • use the foundational language of biology relevant to organisms, populations and ecosystems, and the classification of life's diversity;
  • demonstrate an understanding of evolution and the processes that have resulted in the diversity and complexity of life on earth;
  • describe the structural and functional complexity that results from the aggregation of cells into organised organs and systems;
  • explain metabolic and physiological regulation as it relates to the maintenance of homeostasis in individual organisms;
  • identify communication and information flows between organisms and within and between populations;
  • describe energy flow and material cycling through individual organisms, ecosystems and biome;
  • explain the interconnectedness in living systems including that between parents and offspring, and ecological interactions of organisms;
  • identify biology as an evolving science based on concepts developed from observations, experiments, and data analysis; and
  • write a report based on analysis of biological data.

Generic skills

Demonstrate an understanding and application of the scientific process in theoretical and practical settings;
Use appropriate protocols for making observations and recording data;
Competently use appropriate equipment;
Use quantitative reasoning and analysis;
Collaborate effectively in a team;

Demonstrate well developed information literacy and communication skills.

Last updated: 21 January 2025

Eligibility and requirements

Prerequisites

None

Corequisites

None

Non-allowed subjects

Code Name Teaching period Credit Points
BIOL10011 Biology: Life's Complexity No longer available

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: 21 January 2025

Assessment

DescriptionTimingPercentage

3 Tests Test 1 – 30 minutes (Week 4) 10% Test 2 – 60 minutes invigilated MST (Weeks 8 – 9) 20% Test 3 – 30 minutes (Weeks 11 – 12) 10%

  • 120 minutes (total)
Fortnightly across the semester  40%

Laboratory practical attendance and completion of in class activities

Hurdle requirement: Student participation in practical activities for at least 80% of the practical classes as demonstrated by submission of practical notes and activities completed before and during class. For the purposes of meeting this hurdle requirement, each submission must be submitted during or immediately after the scheduled practical class and constitute a genuine attempt to address the requirements of the task.		N/A

A written report

  • 800 words
From Week 10 to Week 1220%

Written examination

  • 2 hours
During the examination period40%

Last updated: 21 January 2025

Dates & times

  • Semester 2
    CoordinatorsAntanas Spokevicius and Simon Baxter
    Mode of deliveryOn Campus (Parkville)
    Contact hours24 hours of interactive seminars (2 x 1 hour per week across semester), 15 hours of practical classes (5 x 3 hours, approximately fortnightly across semester), 12 hours of workshops (6 x 2 hours, fortnightly across semester). Students are also expected to undertake up to 24 hours of independent online activities including watching videos and instant feedback activities (2 hr per week).
    Total time commitment175 hours
    Teaching period22 July 2024 to 20 October 2024
    Last self-enrol date 2 August 2024
    Census date 2 September 2024
    Last date to withdraw without fail20 September 2024
    Assessment period ends15 November 2024

    Semester 2 contact information

    BIOL10010-info@unimelb.edu.au

     

Time commitment details

Estimated total time commitment of 175 hours (100 hours assessment, 51 hours on-campus contact and 24 hours independent online study)

What do these dates mean

Visit this webpage to find out about these key dates, including how they impact on:

  • Your tuition fees, academic transcript and statements.
  • And for Commonwealth Supported students, your:
       -  Student Learning Entitlement. This applies to all students enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP).
     

    Subjects withdrawn after the census date (including up to the ‘last day to withdraw without fail’) count toward the Student Learning Entitlement.

Last updated: 21 January 2025

Further information

Last updated: 21 January 2025