BIOCHEM 3235 - Cancer, Stem Cells & Development III (Biomed Sc)

North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2020

This Capstone course combines lectures and tutorials with cutting edge research-based practical exercises. The lecture material covers major conceptual and technical advances in this field, focussing on two principle themes: 1. Molecular Basis of Cancer: topics include the molecular mechanisms of cell-cell communication, signal transduction pathways, genetic mutations, oncogenes and tumour suppressor genes, clonal selection, the hallmarks of cancer and metastasis, dysregulation of cell cycle checkpoints, DNA damage, replicative senescence, telomere shortening and genomic instability, control of cell proliferation and apoptosis, cancer-specific metabolism and oncometabolites. Specific examples are included of current of diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for cancer. 2. Stem Cells and Development: topics include the embryonic and adult stem cells, cellular reprogramming and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS), generation of transgenic/knock-out mice using CRISPR/Cas9 and other techniques, with medical and other applications. Finally, the topics of cell differentiation, neurogenesis and exploring neural circuits will be covered. The practical component involves a research-based practical project using CRISPR/Cas9 technology in the first seven weeks of the semester to complement the lecture material, with problem-based learning exercises where theoretical knowledge is applied to solve practical biomedical problems in the final five weeks of the semester.

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Course Details

Course Code	BIOCHEM 3235
Course	Cancer, Stem Cells & Development III (Biomed Sc)
Coordinating Unit	School of Biological Sciences
Term	Semester 2
Level	Undergraduate
Location/s	North Terrace Campus
Units	6
Contact	3 x 1 hour lectures per week, 1 x 1 hour tutorial per week, 3 x 5 hour practical per fortnight or PBL for the semester (total 11.5 hrs/week)
Available for Study Abroad and Exchange	N
Prerequisites	BIOCHEM 2500 & BIOCHEM 2501
Incompatible	BIOCHEM 3001, BIOCHEM 3520
Restrictions	Available to BSc (Biomedical Science) students only
Assessment	Exam on lecture material, practical reports, PBL/Tutorial exercises and online assessment

Course Staff

Course Coordinator: Associate Professor Dan Peet

Course Timetable

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

Course Learning Outcomes

1	Understand key theoretical aspects of the regulation of cellular signalling, proliferation and differentiation in the context of embryonic development, stem cells and diseases such as cancer.
2	Understand and apply advanced experimental techniques required to solve specific biochemical problems, and understand of the ethical implications of this research.
3	Plan, perform, interpret, and quantitatively analyse biomedical research using a variety of modern experimental techniques
4	Find, interpret and critically analyse relevant scientific literature and apply it to specific problems in biomedical research.
5	Work in teams and communicate scientific outcomes

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)
Deep discipline knowledge informed and infused by cutting edge research, scaffolded throughout their program of studies acquired from personal interaction with research active educators, from year 1 accredited or validated against national or international standards (for relevant programs)	1, 2, 3
Critical thinking and problem solving steeped in research methods and rigor based on empirical evidence and the scientific approach to knowledge development demonstrated through appropriate and relevant assessment	3, 4, 5
Teamwork and communication skills developed from, with, and via the SGDE honed through assessment and practice throughout the program of studies encouraged and valued in all aspects of learning	4, 5, 6
Career and leadership readiness technology savvy professional and, where relevant, fully accredited forward thinking and well informed tested and validated by work based experiences	5, 6
Intercultural and ethical competency adept at operating in other cultures comfortable with different nationalities and social contexts able to determine and contribute to desirable social outcomes demonstrated by study abroad or with an understanding of indigenous knowledges	6
Self-awareness and emotional intelligence a capacity for self-reflection and a willingness to engage in self-appraisal open to objective and constructive feedback from supervisors and peers able to negotiate difficult social situations, defuse conflict and engage positively in purposeful debate	4, 6

Learning Resources

Required Resources

Laboratory coat, safety glasses and closed shoes.

Recommended Resources

Text book: Molecular Biology of the Cell (5th Edn) by Alberts et al., 2008, Published by Garland Science

Online Learning

Resource material such as lecture, tutorial, practical and past exams will be available on Myuni.Online assessment will be conducted via Myuni.

Learning & Teaching Modes

This course will be delivered by the following means:

3 Lectures of 1 hour each per week. The stacked / same time teaching components are the
lectures timetabled with the existing course, Cancer, Stem Cells and Development III (BIOCHEM 3001).

1 Tutorial of 1 hour per week developing material covered in lectures. The lecturer takes the tutorial classes for their section.

1 Practical of 15 hours per fortnight. (Odd weeks = 5 hours & Even weeks = 10 hour duration) in the first six weeks of the semester.

9 PBL/Tutorial sessions of 5 hours in the final six weeks of the semester.

3 online multiple choice tests of 1 hour duration per semester (weeks 4, 8 and 12, with immediate feedback provided).

During Covid-19

Lectures will all be delivered online, with a combination of prerecorded and live-streamed (Zoom) lectures.It is anticipated that tutorials will be a combination of face-to-face and live-streamed (Zoom) tutorials, with one each week recorded.Note that lectures and tutes stacked with BIOCHEM 3520 and 3001, prac stacked with 3001.

The practical will be divided into 2 exercises. The first will be entirely online, with academic/demonstrator support provided via Zoom.

The second will be an intensive face-to-face practical that is directly related to the online practical. This will be held at the scheduled times in the Braggs 350 laboratory. This will include 5-6 sessions, and depending on numbers of students (currently 35 enrolled in BIOCHEM 3001 & 3235) and availability of laboratory space could be all held at once in Braggs 350, held concurrently in Braggs 350 and 340 (Monday afternoons currently available), or broken up into two duplicate sessions, each held within the scheduled time. Students will be surveyed to determine number of students able/willing to attend the practical sessions. A replacement exercise will be provided for students unable/unwilling to attend the face-to-face practical.

This course involves Problem Based Learning activities. These activities will either be delivered exclusively online (via Zoom), or with a combination of face-to-face and online (opt-in for face-to-face).

Workload

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

A student enrolled in a 6 unit course, such as this, should expect to spend, on average 24 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

Schedule
Week 1	Mechanisms of Epigenetic Cellular Memory	Lecture
Week 2	Cell Signalling Pathways	Lecture
Week 3	Signalling Domains: Structure and Function	Lecture
Week 4	Signalling Domains: Structure and Function	Lecture
Week 5	Cancer and metabolism	Lecture
Week 6	Cancer molecular biology	Lecture
Week 7	Cancer molecular biology	Lecture
Week 8	mTOR signalling in cancer	Lecture
Week 9	Cancer, the immune system and immunotherapy	Lecture
Week 10	Stem cells/CRISPR technology	Lecture
Week 11	Cell Differentiation/Neurogenesis	Lecture
Week 12	In vitro production of neurons and exploring neuronal circuits	Lecture

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	Task Type	Due	Weighting	Learning Outcome
Online practical exercise	Formative/summative	Week 4	9%	3, 4, 5
Online MCQ	Formative/summative	Week 5	1.7%	1, 2
Written online test on lecture material	Summative	Week 6	20%	1, 2, 3
Practical (Face to Face or online replacement) report	Summative	End of week 8	9%	3, 4, 5
Online MCQ	Formative/summative	Week 9	1.7%	1, 2
Problem-based learning exercises	Formative/summative	Week 10	6%	2, 4, 5
Problem - based learning exercises	Formative/summative	Week 12	6%	2, 4, 5
Online MCQ	Summative/formative	Week 12	1.7%	1, 2
Written exam on lecture material	Summative	Week 14	45%	1,2, 3

Assessment Detail

End of semester written Exam (65% of total course grade) – 3 hour examination covering the lecture material. It is made up of a mixture of short and long answer type questions.

Practical write up (15% of total course grade). The six week long practical exercise will include experimental work, keeping an up to date laboratory notebook, 1 oral presentation and the
submission of a final practical report. The oral presentation is 10-15 minutes, cover the research performed in the practical, and performed in small groups in week 6. Students receive feedback throughout the semester on laboratory performance and keeping of laboratory notebooks, immediately after the oral presentation, and on the final report.
Outstanding students may have the option of a laboratory-based research project in place of the practical exercise.

PBL/Tutorial exercises, final six weeks of the semester: (15% of total course grade). A specialised set of Problem Based Learning (PBL)/Tutorial exercises, are designed to provide students with a perspective of how cutting edge biomedical science principles and techniques are applied to
major research questions. This will illustrate that cross disciplinary approaches are essential in modern biomedical science research.

Online exercises: Three multiple choice tests in weeks 4, 8 and 12 (5% of total course grade). Encourages revision of the material soon after the relevant lectures, and immediate feedback provided to students.

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.

Provision of Feedback to Students
The assessor usually provides appropriate feedback of assessment tasks to the student by means of
written comments. The student has the opportunity to directly liaise with the assessor to obtain additional feedback and clarification if required.
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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