BIOCHEM 2503 - Biochemistry II (Biotechnology): Metabolism

North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2025

BIOCHEM 2503 uses the knowledge and understanding gained in the prerequisite Level I courses (see below) to provide students with an appreciation and an understanding of key metabolic biochemistry and molecular biology concepts. The topics covered include signal transduction pathways, tissue specific metabolism and its control, enzyme specificity and regulation for important metabolic pathways, how the body adjusts to variations in the demand for energy, mechanisms of hormone action and extensions of the signal transduction pathways covered at the beginning of the semester. The course combines lectures, tutorials that reinforce the lecture content, and practicals complement this material. PRACTICAL COMPONENT worth 20% of the grade: Students enrolled in this course will need to also enrol in a separate course which is the practical component (one of SCIENCE 2200, SCIENCE 2201 or SCIENCE 2202). To determine which practical to enrol into you are required to read the document on: https://set.adelaide.edu.au/student-support/enrolment#course-information-and-timetabling-resources please scroll down to "Level 2 BIOCHEM, GENETICS, MICRO courses".

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Course Details

Course Code	BIOCHEM 2503
Course	Biochemistry II (Biotechnology): Metabolism
Coordinating Unit	Molec & Biomedical Science
Term	Semester 2
Level	Undergraduate
Location/s	North Terrace Campus
Units	3
Contact	Up to 8 hours per week
Available for Study Abroad and Exchange	N
Prerequisites	((CHEM 1100 and CHEM 1200) or (CHEM 1101 and CHEM 1201)) and (BIOLOGY 1101, BIOLOGY 1101ND, BIOLOGY 1001 or BIOLOGY 1401) and (BIOLOGY 1201 or BIOLOGY 1202)
Corequisites	One of SCIENCE 2200, SCIENCE 2201 or SCIENCE 2202; This co-requisite is the practical component that is worth 20% of your course.
Incompatible	BIOCHEM 2501
Restrictions	Available to B Sc (Biotechnology) students only
Assessment	Final exam, written tests, written practical assessments within the prac ABC system and online tests of multiple choice questions

Course Staff

Course Coordinator: Dr John Bruning

Mrs Racheline (Lynn) Rogers

Course Timetable

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

Course Learning Outcomes

1	Understand: Cell signalling The main principles of metabolic biochemistry concepts How homeostasis is controlled in the body The function of specific anabolic and catabolic pathways and how these pathways are controlled and interrelated How current research has provided us with an understanding of the molecular basis of the control of metabolism How tto communicate scientific information effectively in writing Hypothesis-based experimental design
2	Plan and safely perform fundamental techniques in molecular and cellular biology
3	Interpret, analyse, and affectively communicate experimental data and conclusions of scientific research

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)
Attribute 1: Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth Graduates have comprehensive knowledge and understanding of their subject area, the ability to engage with different traditions of thought, and the ability to apply their knowledge in practice including in multi-disciplinary or multi-professional contexts.	1
Attribute 2: Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving Graduates are effective problems-solvers, able to apply critical, creative and evidence-based thinking to conceive innovative responses to future challenges.	1-3
Attribute 3: Teamwork and communication skills Graduates convey ideas and information effectively to a range of audiences for a variety of purposes and contribute in a positive and collaborative manner to achieving common goals.	2-3
Attribute 4: Professionalism and leadership readiness Graduates engage in professional behaviour and have the potential to be entrepreneurial and take leadership roles in their chosen occupations or careers and communities.	1-3
Attribute 5: Intercultural and ethical competency Graduates are responsible and effective global citizens whose personal values and practices are consistent with their roles as responsible members of society.	2-3
Attribute 8: Self-awareness and emotional intelligence Graduates are self-aware and reflective; they are flexible and resilient and have the capacity to accept and give constructive feedback; they act with integrity and take responsibility for their actions.	1-3

Learning Resources

Required Resources

Recommended Textbooks
"Biochemistry and Molecular Biology" Despo Papachristodoulou, Alison Snape, William H. Elliott and Daphne C. Elliott
5th edition (OUP)

AND

Suitable Laboratory attire

Recommended Resources

See above

Online Learning

All lectures are recorded

Lecture notes are placed on MyUni along with tutorial Assignments, feedback to assessments and past examination papers

MCQs with feedback are on MyUni

Lynn's Concept slides to help with the more difficult course concepts are also found on MyUni

Daily monitored Discussion Board

Learning & Teaching Modes

Three Lectures per week although some of these are in the form of lectorials or large tutorial formats where the lecturer reviews the course work and students can ask questions

Small group tutorials

Daily monitored Discussion Board

Workload

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

A student enrolled in a 3 unit course, such as this, should expect to spend, on average 12 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

Week 1	Cell signalling
Week 2	Cell signalling
Week 3	Digestion and characteristics of different tissues
Week 4	Glucose traffic in the body
Week 5	Obtaining energy from glucose
Week 6	Obtaining energy from other foods
Week 7	Carbohydrate to fat and other molecules
Week 8	Other metabolic pathways and interesting molecules
Week 9	Metabolic Diseases/Integration
Week 10	Integration continued How to answer exam questions Written test
Week 11	Lectorials Metabolic integration How to answer exam questions
Week 12	Lectorials Review How to answer exam questions

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	Type of assessment	Percentage of total assessment for grading purposes	Hurdle Yes/No	Learning Outcome
Written tests and tutorial assignments	Formative/Summative	20%	No	1
Online Tests with feedback	Summative	10%	No	1
Practical assessments	Formative/Summative	20%	No	2-3
Final written exam	Summative	50%	No	1

Assessment Related Requirements

Assessment Detail

Online tests of multiple choice questions (MCQs): 10% of total course grade

MCQ tests given weekly to encourage further reading of course material and to ensure understanding of concepts as the course progresses.
Students are given one week to organise themselves to complete the one hour tests.

Written Tests: 20% of total course grade

Written tests are given during tutorial and or lecture sessions as timetable permits to ensure understanding of the material presented during the semester and to impart scientific communication skills to students. Students receive feedback within a week, both verbal in a class format, and written, in the form of example (anonymous) answers from students who have done well. These remain on MyUni for the duration of the semester.

Practical: 20% of total course grade

Four written practical assessments per semester handed in by the students are promptly assessed to provide feedback. Details vary depending on which practical students enrol into in the prac ABC system.

Final written examination: 50% of total course grade

A 2.5 hour examination covering lecture and tutorial material made up of short and long answer questions.

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 .

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.
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鈥檚 disciplinary procedures.

The 成人大片 is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The 成人大片 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

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