| Semester 1, 2023 External | |
| Units : | 1 |
| School or Department : | School of Agriculture and Environmental Science |
| Grading basis : | Graded |
| Course fee schedule : | /current-students/administration/fees/fee-schedules |
Staffing
Course Coordinator:
Overview
This course aims at providing students with a basic grounding in the fundamental concepts of biology and the application of scientific method in solving problems. It provides a theoretical and practical foundation for science and non-science students.
This course provides a brief history to life on earth, introduces the characteristics and diversity of organisms and provides a comprehensive foundation in cell structure and function, energy transformations (photosynthesis and respiration), genetics and an introduction to the principles of ecology. The course concludes with an exploration of evolution - the process by which organisms change over time. The scientific method is used to design, perform and interpret the results of experiments in biology. This course contains a highly recommended residential school for external students and highly recommended on-campus laboratories or practical classes for on-campus students (non-attendance will mean the student misses both an element for assessment preparation and an element of assessment).
Course learning outcomes
On completion of this course students should be able to:
- outline the principles of the scientific method as applied to biology;
- explain the principles of biological classification and biodiversity;
- examine and describe the structure and function of cells and their organelles including membrane structure and function;
- discuss the laws governing energy transformations including the processes of photosynthesis, glycolysis, aerobic and anaerobic respiration and the role of enzymes in biological systems;
- discuss ecological principles and processes at the ecosystem level including the impact of humans and their activities on the environment;
- describe the processes of cell reproduction and the directional flow of genetic information from DNA to proteins;
- apply principles of Mendelian genetics to predict inheritance of simple traits;
- describe the mechanics of evolution;
- plan, conduct and report simple scientific experiments in biology.
Topics
| Description | Weighting(%) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Biodiversity and Classification: Unity and diversity of life: biological organization, basic life processes, origins and diversity of life; Classification and Naming Organisms: principles and problems of classification, taxonomic hierarchy, species concept, binomial nomenclature system of classification. | 15.40 |
| 2. | Cell Structure and Function: Cell Structure and Function - An Overview: cell theory, basic cell structure and function, procaryotic and eucaryotic cells, cell organelles; Membrane Structure and Function: basic models of membrane structure, diffusion, osmosis, dialysis, membrane transport: facilitated diffusion, active transport, endocytosis, exocytosis. | 15.40 |
| 3. | Energy Transformations: Metabolism: Ground Rules and Main Principles: laws governing energy transformations, metabolic reactions and pathways, enzymes, coupling and ATP; Energy - Acquiring Metabolism: photosynthesis and chemosynthesis; Energy - Releasing Metabolism: glycolysis, aerobic and anaerobic pathways, energy yields. | 15.40 |
| 4. | Introductory Ecology - what is ecology? ecosystem components, flow of energy, biogeochemical cycles, systems ecology, human impact on the environment | 15.40 |
| 5. | Cell Reproduction and Genetics: Meiosis and mitosis; Mendelian genetics: chromosome structure and function; genotype/phenotype. Inheritance of simple traits; Molecular basis of inheritance: DNA structure, genes to proteins. | 23.00 |
| 6. | Mechanisms for evolution; Darwinism in historical context; Summary of evidence for evolution of species; The evolution of populations; The modern synthesis; Major causes of microevolution; Genetic drift, gene flow, mutation and natural selection; The origin of species; The species concept; Allopatric and sympatric speciation; Gradualism and punctuated equilibrium. | 15.40 |
Text and materials required to be purchased or accessed
(Australian Version.)
Student workload expectations
To do well in this subject, students are expected to commit approximately 10 hours per week including class contact hours, independent study, and all assessment tasks. If you are undertaking additional activities, which may include placements and residential schools, the weekly workload hours may vary.
Assessment details
| Description | Group Assessment |
Weighting (%) | Course learning outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quiz A1 of 3 | No | 10 | 1,2 |
| Report 1 | No | 15 | 1,9 |
| Quiz A2 of 3 | No | 20 | 3,4 |
| Report 2 | No | 25 | 4,9 |
| Quiz A3 of 3 | No | 30 | 5,6,7,8 |