BIOSCI 759 : Cell and Molecular Biomedicine

Science

2021 Semester One (1213) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Explores recent advances in cell biology that have led to a greater understanding of a variety of cellular processes at the molecular level. Emphasis will be placed on biochemical and genetic approaches to understand disease mechanisms at the cellular level. A sound understanding of either BIOSCI 349 or 353 or MEDSCI 314 or equivalent is assumed.

Course Overview

This course will provide insight into current Biomedical Research by examining four distinct topics. The topics offered span the Biomedical Research Field. Each topic will discuss the background to the fields, issues currently confronting investigators and the experimental approaches that have been developed to tackle specific research problems. This course will facilitate your development of skills in science communication and interpretation and critical evaluation the scientific literature.
This course is designed for students to develop skills relevant to research in the Biomedical Sciences. This will be particularly useful for students interested in Biomedical Research and those pursuing postgraduate studies in Biomedical Science, Biotechnology or the wider biological and medical fields. A sound understanding of BIOSCI 349 or 353 or MEDSCI 314 or equivalent course is assumed.

Course Requirements

No pre-requisites or restrictions

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 3: Solution Seeking
Capability 4: Communication and Engagement
Capability 5: Independence and Integrity

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Demonstrate an understanding of the Biomedical Research topics covered in this course through assessments. (Capability 1)
  2. Identify and critically evaluate Biomedical Research from the literature. (Capability 1 and 2)
  3. Use discipline specific knowledge to interpret data and create new ideas. (Capability 1, 2, 3 and 5)
  4. Be able to recognize standards of academic integrity and apply these in course work. (Capability 1 and 5)
  5. Communicate Biomedical Science effectively and appropriately. (Capability 1, 4 and 5)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Essay 40% Individual Coursework
Seminar 10% Individual Coursework
Final Exam 50% Individual Examination
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5
Essay
Seminar
Final Exam

Tuākana

For more information and to find contact details for the Tuākana coordinator, please see https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/science/study-with-us/maori-and-pacific-at-the-faculty/tuakana-programme.html

Key Topics

The specific topics covered are subject to change based on lecturer availability.

Current topics include:

1. Cancer Immunotherapy.

2. Metabolic Signaling.

3. Tissue Engineering.

4. Neuropeptides.

Special Requirements

Class attendance is compulsory. Students who are approved to take this course remotely will have alternative
arrangements made.

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 10 hours of lectures, 8-12 hours of seminars 30 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 60 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is required at scheduled activities including lectures and seminars to complete components of the course.
Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including seminars will not be available as recordings.
The course will not include live online events including group discussions.
Attendance on campus is required for the exam.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

A remote version of the course can be made available to students located overseas because of border restrictions, or those with an exemption to study remotely.

Learning Resources

Course materials, including review and research articles and lecture recordings (where available), required for this course will be  detailed in Canvas.

Student Feedback

During the course Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the staff responsible for the course and staff-student consultative committees.

At the end of the course 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.

Your feedback helps to improve the course and its delivery for all students.

Digital 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.

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 against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

Copyright

The content and delivery of content in this course are protected by copyright. Material belonging to others may have been used in this course and copied by and solely for the educational purposes of the University under license.

You may copy the course content for the purposes of private study or research, but you may not upload onto any third party site, make a further copy or sell, alter or further reproduce or distribute any part of the course content to another person.

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 your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.

The following is currently in place for teaching under the specified alert levels during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Level 1: Delivered normally as specified in delivery mode .
Level 2: You will not be required to attend in person. All teaching and assessment will have a remote option. The following activities may also have an on campus / in person option: Lectures and seminars.
Level 3 / 4: All teaching activities and assessments are delivered remotely .

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 you may be asked to submit your 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. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.

Published on 16/12/2020 02:03 p.m.