INTRODUCTION TO BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
BCH2IBM
2014
Credit points: 15
Subject outline
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology is concerned with the function of biological systems at the molecular level. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology is central to most studies in biology and life sciences and is directly related to biomedical research and biotechnology. In this subject, students are introduced to gene structure and function, DNA replication, transcription and translation; techniques in molecular biology; bioenergetics; and protein structure and function. The practical work includes hands-on experience in molecular biology techniques (including PCR, analysis of recombinant DNA and techniques in expression of proteins in heterologous hosts), spectrophotometric methods and enzyme kinetics. This subject lays the foundation for the study of Metabolic Biochemistry and Cell Biology (BCH2MBC) in semester 2.
Faculty: Faculty of Science, Tech & Engineering
Credit points: 15
Subject Co-ordinator: Steve Jones
Available to Study Abroad Students: Yes
Subject year level: Year Level 2 - UG
Exchange Students: Yes
Subject particulars
Subject rules
Prerequisites: BIO1OF/HBS1HBA and (one of CHE1GEN, CHE1BAS or CHE1CHF) and CHE1APL/DIE1FFU/DTN1FFU
Co-requisites: N/A
Incompatible subjects: BCH2BMA, BCH21BMA, BCH21PEM, AGR2BAS, AGR2BAA
Equivalent subjects: N/A
Special conditions: N/A
Learning resources
Readings
| Resource Type | Title | Resource Requirement | Author and Year | Publisher |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Readings | BCH2IBM Manual | Recommended | FSTE | AVAILABLE THROUGH LA TROBE UNIVERSITY BOOKSHOP |
| Readings | Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry (2012, 6th edition) | Recommended | David L Nelson & Michael M Cox | W.H. FREEMAN & COMPANY, NEW YORK |
Melbourne, 2014, Semester 1, Day
Overview
Online enrolment: Yes
Maximum enrolment size: 400
Enrolment information: Access to laboratory space and availability of demonstrators Students for whom BCH2IBM is a core subject will be given first priority. If the quota is exceeded, students will be selected on the basis of their WAM scores in Year 1.
Subject Instance Co-ordinator: Steve Jones
Class requirements
LectureWeek: 10 - 22
Three 1.0 hours lecture per week on weekdays during the day from week 10 to week 22 and delivered via face-to-face.
"One of the three 1-hr 'lectures' each week will be either (i) a 1-hr 'lectorial' or large-scale tutorial (one per fortnight, equivalent to 0.5 hr per week) or (ii) a 1-hr 'prac techniques' session (one per fortnight, equivalent to 0.5 hr per week)."
Laboratory ClassWeek: 10 - 22
One 3.0 hours laboratory class every two weeks on weekdays during the day from week 10 to week 22 and delivered via face-to-face.
"(equivalent to 1.5hr per week)"
Assessments
| Assessment element | Comments | % |
|---|---|---|
| End of semester examination (2 hr) | 40 | |
| Lectorial quizzes (x 5) | 10 | |
| Mid-semester examination (45 min) | 15 | |
| Practical work: worksheet or brief prac report x 6 (20%) and laboratory performance mark (5%) | 25 | |
| Research assignment (750-word written exercise) | 10 |