BIOCHEMISTRY FOR AGRICULTURE AND ANIMAL SCIENCES

AGR2BAA

2020

Credit points: 15

Subject outline

What do herbicides, tequila, biofuel, cow stomachs and hibernating bears have in common? Biochemistry! The rapidly changing climate, population growth and the increase in microbial diseases have led to a technological revolution focused at dealing with these food security and environmental challenges. This subject will explore the biochemical underpinnings of animal and plant production and health and will cover selected topics from the broad field of agriculture and animal science. This includes the photobiological basis for photosynthesis, plant nitrogen fixation, bioactive molecules acting as competitive inhibitors of metabolism, animal energy metabolism and regulation, and metabolic adaptations in animals and plants. This subject will be delivered via a combination of on-line modules and face-to-face workshop sessions. The weekly 3-hour workshops are compulsory and involve in-class assessment

School: Life Sciences (Pre 2022)

Credit points: 15

Subject Co-ordinator: Travis Beddoe

Available to Study Abroad/Exchange Students: Yes

Subject year level: Year Level 2 - UG

Available as Elective: No

Learning Activities: N/A

Capstone subject: No

Subject particulars

Subject rules

Prerequisites: One of (CHE1CHF or CHE1GEN) and (BIO1OF or BIO1MGC)

Co-requisites: N/A

Incompatible subjects: BCH2MBC OR BCH2IBM

Equivalent subjects: N/A

Quota Management Strategy: N/A

Quota-conditions or rules: N/A

Special conditions: N/A

Minimum credit point requirement: N/A

Assumed knowledge: N/A

Career Ready

Career-focused: No

Work-based learning: No

Self sourced or Uni sourced: N/A

Entire subject or partial subject: N/A

Total hours/days required: N/A

Location of WBL activity (region): N/A

WBL addtional requirements: N/A

Graduate capabilities & intended learning outcomes

Graduate Capabilities

Intended Learning Outcomes

01. Describe mechanisms for converting solar energy to chemical energy in plants.
02. Describe mechanisms of nitrogen fixation and amino acid biosynthesis in plants.
03. Explain the metabolic pathways involved in energy production in animals and its regulation to achieve homeostasis.
04. Explain the biochemical principles underlying metabolic adaptations in animals and animal production traits.
05. Critique recent biotechnological advances and their roles in food security and environmental challenges.
06. Evaluate scientific information to communicate clearly and professionally written forms.

Melbourne (Bundoora), 2020, Semester 2, Blended

Overview

Online enrolment: Yes

Maximum enrolment size: N/A

Subject Instance Co-ordinator: Travis Beddoe

Class requirements

Unscheduled Online ClassWeek: 31 - 43
One 3.50 hours unscheduled online class per week on weekdays during the day from week 31 to week 43 and delivered via online.
On-line activities equivalent to 3.5 hours per week

WorkShopWeek: 31 - 43
One 3.00 hours workshop per week on weekdays during the day from week 31 to week 43 and delivered via face-to-face.
Compulsory Workshop

Assessments

Assessment elementCommentsCategoryContributionHurdle%ILO*

Poster on metabolism (700-words equivalent)

N/AN/AN/ANo15SILO2, SILO3, SILO4, SILO6

On-line and in-class assignments (1,300-words equivalent)

N/AN/AN/ANo25SILO1, SILO2, SILO3, SILO4, SILO5

One x 2 hour case study test (2,000-words equivalent)

N/AN/AN/ANo50SILO1, SILO2, SILO3, SILO4, SILO5, SILO6

Two x 15 minute online multiple choice quizzes (500-words equivalent, total)

N/AN/AN/ANo10SILO1, SILO2, SILO3, SILO4, SILO5