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Foundational Biology: Life's Machinery (BIOL10008)
Undergraduate level 1Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable (login required)(opens in new window)
Contact information
Summer Term
Semester 1
Overview
Availability | Summer Term Semester 1 |
---|---|
Fees | Look up fees |
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 explores the diversity and unity of life through the lens of five core concepts: evolution, cell theory, regulation, transmission of information and interconnectedness in biological systems. These concepts will be studied at the molecular, cellular, and individual level, including the evolution of life from the abiotic to the individual, the molecular and physical structure of the cell, cell replication and gene expression, homeostasis, photosynthesis and respiration, and interactions within and between organisms.
Intended learning outcomes
At the completion of this subject students should be able to:
- use the foundational language of biology to describe the parts of cells and organisms, biomolecules, key biological processes and biological classification;
- demonstrate an understanding of the evolution of life from the molecular level to the multicellular;
- recognize cells as the fundamental structural and functional unit of life with respect to their molecular machinery, cellular function and cellular interaction;
- explain the importance of information being conserved, or modified within, and transferred between, cells and organisms;
- describe the chemical nature of biological processes and the way cells and organisms regulate their (internal) environment;
- explain the interconnectedness and interacting nature of living systems by drawing on examples of networks at the molecular, cellular and individual levels;
- 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
On completion of this subject students should be able to:
- demonstrate an understanding of and apply the scientific process in a theoretical and practical setting;
- use appropriate protocols for making observations and recording data;
- competently use appropriate equipment;
- use quantitative reasoning and analysis;
- integrate biology with other disciplines;
- collaborate effectively in a team;
- understand the social, legal and ethical implications of studying and practising biology and of biological discoveries; and
- demonstrate well developed information literacy and communication skills.
Last updated: 11 April 2024
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
BIOL10009 | Biology: Life's Machinery | Not available in 2024 |
12.5 |
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
Semester 1
Description | Timing | Percentage |
---|---|---|
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 class, be complete and constitute a genuine attempt to address the requirements of the task. | N/A | |
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%
| Throughout the semester | 40% |
Written Report
| From Week 11 to Week 12 | 20% |
Written examination
| During the examination period | 40% |
Summer Term
Description | Timing | Percentage |
---|---|---|
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 class, be complete and constitute a genuine attempt to address the requirements of the task. | N/A | |
Test 1 – 30 minutes 10% Test 2 – 60 minutes invigilated MST 20% Test 3 – 30 minutes 10%
| Throughout the semester | 40% |
Written Report
| From Week 5 to Week 6 | 20% |
Written examination
| During the examination period | 40% |
Last updated: 11 April 2024
Dates & times
- Summer Term
Coordinator Alexander Idnurm Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 24 hours of interactive seminars (4 x 1 hour per week across semester), 15 hours of practical classes (5 x 3 hours, delivered weekly across semester), 12 hours of workshops (6 x 2 hours, delivered weekly across semester). Students are also expected to undertake up to 24 hours of independent online activities including watching videos and instant feedback activities (4 hr per week). Total time commitment 175 hours Teaching period 2 January 2024 to 11 February 2024 Last self-enrol date 10 January 2024 Census date 19 January 2024 Last date to withdraw without fail 2 February 2024 Assessment period ends 25 February 2024 Summer Term contact information
- Semester 1
Coordinator Alex Andrianopoulos Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 24 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 commitment 175 hours Teaching period 26 February 2024 to 26 May 2024 Last self-enrol date 8 March 2024 Census date 3 April 2024 Last date to withdraw without fail 3 May 2024 Assessment period ends 21 June 2024 Semester 1 contact information
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: 11 April 2024
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
Sadava DE, Hillis DM, Heller HC, Hacker SD, and Hall DW, Life: The Science of Biology 12th edition, Macmillan, 2020, ISBN 9781319315788
Recommended texts and other resources
Knox R B, Ladiges P Y, Evans B K and Saint R, Biology, An Australian Focus 5th Ed, McGraw-Hill, 2014
- 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