BIOMENG 261 : Tissue and Biomolecular Engineering
Engineering
2024 Semester Two (1245) (15 POINTS)
Course Prescription
Course Overview
This course is divided into 3 modules. The first module is four weeks long and covers mathematical modelling of biochemical kinetics and gene regulation. The second module is six weeks long and covers experimental techniques in biochemistry, microbiology and gene/protein analysis. The third module is two weeks long and covers ethical practices in biomedical research.
Capabilities Developed in this Course
| Capability 3: | Knowledge and Practice |
| Capability 4: | Critical Thinking |
| Capability 5: | Solution Seeking |
| Capability 6: | Communication |
| Capability 8: | Ethics and Professionalism |
Learning Outcomes
- Convert chemical equation to mathematical model and derive differential equation models of biochemical reactions. (Capability 3.1 and 4.1)
- Derive Michaelis-Menten equations for enzyme reactions, competitive and non-competitive inhibition, allosteric regulation and cooperativity using appropriate assumptions. (Capability 3.1)
- Develop mathematical models to describe the regulation of gene expression and biochemical networks. (Capability 3.1 and 4.2)
- Relate enzyme inhibition mechanisms to data using double reciprocal plots and infer Michaelis-Menten model parameters. (Capability 4.2 and 5.1)
- Understand and explain the theory of spectrophotometry, perform spectrophotmetric measurements, and analyse the data based on the theory. (Capability 3.1 and 4.1)
- Understand and explain the theoretical basis of recombinant DNA techniques and apply the techniques in the laboratory to genetically modify bacteria. (Capability 3.2 and 5.1)
- Use online databases and laboratory experimentation to analyse gene expression in cells and tissues. (Capability 3.2 and 4.2)
- Document experimental procedures, reagents, data and thought processes in a lab notebook following standard procedures. (Capability 4.2 and 6.1)
- Communicate the background, procedures and results of scientific experiments in written reports. (Capability 6.1)
- Use and apply the framework of theories of ethics to identify ethical issues in the design of research studies, suggest ways to deal with them, discuss ethically ambiguous scenarios and justify ethical stance. (Capability 5.1 and 8.1)
Assessments
| Assessment Type | Percentage | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| Computer labs | 5% | Individual Coursework |
| Test | 20% | Individual Test |
| Assignments | 5% | Individual Coursework |
| Laboratories | 30% | Individual Coursework |
| Final Exam | 40% | Individual Examination |
| 5 types | 100% |
| Assessment Type | Learning Outcome Addressed | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | |
| Computer labs | ||||||||||
| Test | ||||||||||
| Assignments | ||||||||||
| Laboratories | ||||||||||
| Final Exam | ||||||||||
Students must sit the exam to pass the course. Otherwise, a DNS (did not sit) result will be returned.
Workload Expectations
This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.
For this course, you can expect 3 hours of lectures, a 1 hour tutorial, 3 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 3 hours of work on assignments, laboratory practice and/or test preparation.
Delivery Mode
Campus Experience
Attendance is expected at scheduled activities to complete components of the course.
Lectures will be available as recordings.
The course will not include live online events.
Attendance on campus is required for the tests.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.
Learning Resources
Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).
Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.
Learning resources (notes, lecture slides, laboratory manual and readings) will be made available via Canvas.
Health & Safety
Relevant measures for laboratory safety will be made available during the course. Students are expected to adhere to the guidelines outlined in the Health and Safety section of the Engineering Undergraduate Handbook.
Student Feedback
At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.
Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.
Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.
The lab manual will be made available at the start of the course.
Academic Integrity
The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.
Class Representatives
Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.
Inclusive Learning
All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.
Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz
Special Circumstances
If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.
If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.
This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.
Learning Continuity
In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.
Student Charter and Responsibilities
The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.
Disclaimer
Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.
In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.