BIOCHEM 3001 - Cancer, Stem Cells & Development III

North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2021

This Capstone course combines lectures and tutorials with cutting edge research-based practical exercises. The lecture material covers major conceptual and technical advances in this field, focussing on two principle themes: 1. Molecular Basis of Cancer: topics include the molecular mechanisms of cell-cell communication, signal transduction pathways, genetic mutations, oncogenes and tumour suppressor genes, clonal selection, the hallmarks of cancer and metastasis, dysregulation of cell cycle checkpoints, DNA damage, replicative senescence, telomere shortening and genomic instability, control of cell proliferation and apoptosis, cancer-specific metabolism and oncometabolites. Specific examples are included of current of diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for cancer. 2. Stem Cells and Development: topics include the embryonic and adult stem cells, cellular reprogramming and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS), generation of transgenic/knock-out mice using CRISPR/Cas9 and other techniques, with medical and other applications. Finally, the topics of cell differentiation, neurogenesis and exploring neural circuits will be covered. The practical component involves a research-based practical project using CRISPR/Cas9 technology in the first seven weeks of the semester to complement the lecture material, with an individually written essay on a specific research topic in the final five weeks of the semester.

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Course Details

Course Code	BIOCHEM 3001
Course	Cancer, Stem Cells & Development III
Coordinating Unit	School of Biological Sciences
Term	Semester 2
Level	Undergraduate
Location/s	North Terrace Campus
Units	6
Contact	3 x 1 hour lectures per week, 1 x 1 hour tutorial per week, 3 x 5 hour practical per fortnight for the semester (total 11.5 hrs/week)
Available for Study Abroad and Exchange	Y
Prerequisites	BIOCHEM 2500 & BIOCHEM 2501 or BIOCHEM 2502 & BIOCHEM 2503
Incompatible	BIOCHEM 3520, BIOCHEM 3235
Assessment	Exam on lecture material, practical component and written test

Course Staff

Course Coordinator: Associate Professor Dan Peet

Course Timetable

The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

Course Learning Outcomes

1	Understand key theoretical aspects of the regulation of cellular signalling, proliferation and differentiation in the context of embryonic development, stem cells and diseases such as cancer.
2	Understand and apply advanced experimental techniques required to solve specific biochemical problems, and understand of the ethical implications of this research.
3	Plan, perform, interpret, and quantitatively analyse biochemical research using a variety of modern experimental techniques
4	Find, interpret and critically analyse relevant scientific literature and apply it to specific problems in biochemical research.
5	Work in teams and communicate scientific outcomes

University Graduate Attributes

This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

University Graduate Attribute	Course Learning Outcome(s)
Deep discipline knowledge informed and infused by cutting edge research, scaffolded throughout their program of studies acquired from personal interaction with research active educators, from year 1 accredited or validated against national or international standards (for relevant programs)	1, 2, 3
Critical thinking and problem solving steeped in research methods and rigor based on empirical evidence and the scientific approach to knowledge development demonstrated through appropriate and relevant assessment	3, 4, 5
Teamwork and communication skills developed from, with, and via the SGDE honed through assessment and practice throughout the program of studies encouraged and valued in all aspects of learning	4, 5, 6
Career and leadership readiness technology savvy professional and, where relevant, fully accredited forward thinking and well informed tested and validated by work based experiences	5, 6
Intercultural and ethical competency adept at operating in other cultures comfortable with different nationalities and social contexts able to determine and contribute to desirable social outcomes demonstrated by study abroad or with an understanding of indigenous knowledges	6
Self-awareness and emotional intelligence a capacity for self-reflection and a willingness to engage in self-appraisal open to objective and constructive feedback from supervisors and peers able to negotiate difficult social situations, defuse conflict and engage positively in purposeful debate	4, 6

Learning Resources

Required Resources

Laboratory coat, safety glasses and closed shoes.

Recommended Resources

Text book: Molecular Biology of the Cell (5th Edn) by Alberts et al., 2008, Published by Garland Science

Online Learning

Resource material such as lecture, tutorial, practical and past exams will be available on Myuni.Online assessment will be conducted via Myuni.

Learning & Teaching Modes

This course will be delivered by the following means:

3 Lectures of 1 hour each per week by the Academic research staff.

1 Tutorial of 1 hour per week developing material covered in lectures.

1 Practical of 15 hours per fortnight. (Odd weeks = 5 hours & Even weeks = 10 hour duration) during the first seven weeks of the semester.

1 essay topic: 7 regular practical sessions are set aside for students to research and prepare a specific essay topic.

3 online multiple choice tests of 1 hour duration per semester.

Workload

The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

A student enrolled in a 6 unit course, such as this, should expect to spend, on average 24 hours per week on the studies required. This includes both the formal contact time required to the course (e.g., lectures and practicals), as well as non-contact time (e.g., reading and revision).

Learning Activities Summary

Schedule
Week 1	Mechanisms of epigenetic cell memory	Lecture
Week 2	Signalling domains: structure and function	Lecture
Week 3	Signalling domains: structure and function	Lecture
Week 4	Cell signalling pathways	Lecture
Week 5	Cancer molecular biology	Lecture
Week 6	Cancer molecular biology	Lecture
Week 7	Cancer and metabolism	Lecture
Week 8	mTOR signalling in cancer	Lecture
Week 9	Stem cells/CRISPR technology	Lecture
Week 10	Bowel cancer, stem cells & the tumour microenvironment	Lecture
Week 11	Neurogenesis, and exploring neuronal circuits	Lecture
Week 12	Neurogenesis, and exploring neuronal circuits	Lecture

The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
Assessment must maintain academic standards.

Assessment Summary

Assessment Task	Task Type	Due	Weighting	Learning Outcome
Online practical exercise	Summative	Week 4	6%	3, 4, 5
Written test on lecture material	Summative	Week 6	20%	1, 2, 3
Online MCQ	Summative	Week 5	1.7%	1, 2
Practical report	Summative	Week 7	12%	3, 4, 5
Essay research topic	Summative	end of week 12	12%	1, 4, 5
Online MCQ	Summative	Week 9	1.7%	1, 2
Online MCQ	Summative	Week 12	1.6%	1, 2
Written exam on lecture material	Summative	Week 12	45%	1, 2, 3

Assessment Related Requirements

Attendance and active participation at all practicals is mandatory.

Assessment Detail

End of semester written Exam (65% of total course grade) – 3 hour examination covering the lecture material. It is made up of a mixture of short and long answer type questions.

Practical write up (15% of total course grade). The six week long practical exercise will include experimental work, keeping an up to date laboratory notebook, 1 oral presentation and the

submission of a final practical report. The oral presentation is 10-15 minutes, cover the research performed in the practical, and performed in small groups in week 6. Students receive feedback throughout the semester on laboratory performance and keeping of laboratory notebooks, immediately after the oral presentation, and on the final report.

Outstanding students may have the option of a laboratory-based research project in place of the practical exercise.

Essay write up and presentation (15% of total course grade). Students (working in groups of 6 - 8 with an essay advisor) will be given the opportunity to write an individual essay of approximately 2000 words on a current area of biochemical research and then present their topic, as part of a small group, to the Discipline of Biochemistry academic staff members and the essay advisors. Students receive detailed written feedback on the assessment of their essay.

Online exercises: Three multiple choice tests in weeks 4, 8 and 12 (5% of total course grade). Encourages revision of the material soon after the relevant lectures, and immediate feedback provided to students.

Submission

If an extension is not applied for, or not granted,then a penalty for late submission
will apply. A penalty of 10% of the value of the assignment for each calendar day that the assignment is late (i.e. weekends count as 2 days), up to a maximum of 50% of the available marks will be applied. This means that an assignment that is 5 days late or more without an approved extension can only receive a maximum of 50% of the marks available for that assignment.

Course Grading

Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
Grade	Mark	Description
FNS		Fail No Submission
F	1-49	Fail
P	50-64	Pass
C	65-74	Credit
D	75-84	Distinction
HD	85-100	High Distinction
CN		Continuing
NFE		No Formal Examination
RP		Result Pending

Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

Student Feedback

The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

Provision of Feedback to Students
The assessor usually provides appropriate feedback of assessment tasks to the student by means of

written comments. The student has the opportunity to directly liaise with the assessor to obtain additional feedback and clarification if required.
Student Support
Policies & Guidelines
This section contains links to relevant assessment-related policies and guidelines - all university policies.
Fraud Awareness

Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

The University of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The University of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.

Authorised by:	Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Academic)
Maintained by:	Course Outlines Administrator