Molecular and Cellular Biomedicine

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2012:

240 hours (including non-contact time)

Pre-requisites are:

None

The Level 1 prerequisite subjects should provide an appropriate background for this subject

Non allowed subjects:

This subject requires active participation in laboratory activities. Students who feel that their disability may impact upon their active and safe participation in the subject are encouraged to discuss this with the unit coordinator and the Disability Liaison Unit:

http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

The subject introduces students to the molecular and cellular aspects of biological systems with particular emphasis on human biology.The course is arranged for students to generate an understanding of the molecular aspects of biology at the biomolecular, sub-cellular and cellular level, building up to the system and whole organism level, including and understanding of the molecular and cellular basis of infections and host cell responses. This multi-disciplinary subject is co-taught by staff in the departments of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Genetics, Microbiology and immunology, and Pathology. There is particular emphasis on integration of these disciplines with students receiving both theoretical and practical knowledge of fundamental and frontier research and development in these areas.

This multidisciplinary subject is expected to provide and understanding of:

• The building blocks of life;
• How the building blocks fit together in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells and biological systems;
• The molecular and cellular basis of infection, immunological response and pathological changes; and
• The experimental means by which the building blocks, cells and systems can be studied.

• 5 x continuous assessment exercises during semester - 10% (2% each)
• 2 x intra-semester tests during semester - 20% (10% each)
• 2 x 2 hour examinations during the exam period - 70% (35% each)

Alberts B, Johnson A, Lewis J, Raff M, Roberts K, Walter P, "Molecular Biology of the Cell", 5th Edition

These individual texts are strongly recommended if you intend to pursue further study in the respective area:

· Nelson D, Cox M, "Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry", 5th edition

· Griffiths AJF et al., "Introduction to Genetic Analysis", 10th edition

· Engleberg NC et al., “Schaechter's Mechanisms of Microbial Disease” 4th edition

· Kumar V et al., 'Robbins Basic Pathology', 8th edition

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

Completion of this subject is expected to provide students with the following skills:

• The ability to interpret scientific literature
• Familiarity with molecular and cell biology techniques
• The capacity to integrate knowledge across disciplines
• The ability to critically analyse scientific data

This subject is only available to students enrolled in the Bachelor of Biomedicine.

Students undertaking this unit should have access to an internet-enabled computer.