Unit details

BIOC2002 Biochemical Regulation of Cell Function

Credit

6 points

Offering
(see Timetable)

Availability	Location	Mode
Semester 2	UWA (Perth)	Face to face

Details for undergraduate courses

• Level 2 core unit in the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Molecular Life Sciences; Biochemistry of Nutrition major sequences
• Level 2 elective

Content

This unit focuses on the central role of proteins in controlling or affecting cell function and expands on information covered in BIOC2001 Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of the Cell. Cells are complex systems containing many thousands of small molecules and larger macromolecules. This complexity enables cells to divide, grow and respond to external changes, and allows specialised cells of multicellular organisms to perform their particular functions. In this unit, the focus is on how these cellular functions are controlled and regulated by intracellular signals and extracellular signals. Understanding how cells regulate their activities allows insight into how an organism responds to and copes with its environment, nutrients and/or diet, infection and disease. The content of the unit is divided into five major themes: (1) metabolic pathways; (2) organelles and energy production; (3) post-translational signal transduction pathways; (4) transcriptional signal transduction pathways; and (5) the cell cycle—regulation and cancer. Workshops and laboratories are interactive and designed to reinforce theory concepts from supplied learning materials. Techniques and technologies used in modern biological laboratories are introduced and train students in biological laboratory skills.

Outcomes

Students are able to (1) acquire and demonstrate knowledge in the role of proteins in cell function; (2) recognise the organising principle of metabolic pathways is used to understand the complexity of cells containing many thousands of small molecules and macromolecules; (3) describe how extracellular signals and intracellular signals cause a coordinated response by metabolic pathways; (4) explain the molecular mechanisms by which cells receive and process signals received from the external environment; (5) describe how various signals from outside and inside the cell contribute to the regulation of the cell cycle and how defects in these pathways can lead to cancer; and (6) demonstrate skills in current techniques used in biochemical research, problem solving, critical thinking, experimental design and data analysis.

Assessment

Indicative assessments in this unit are as follows: (1) an examination; (2) continuous assessment of laboratory component (quizzes, reports); and (3) online theory themed quizzes. Further information is available in the unit outline.

For units commencing in May 2022 or later the availability of the supplementary assessment is subject to confirmation.

Student may be offered supplementary assessment in this unit if they meet the eligibility criteria.

Except where supplementary assessment is not available in a unit, it will be offered to students in all units who:

• Are in good academic standing overall;
• Have passed over half the units taken in the teaching period concerned, except where they are only enrolled in two or less units in the period;
• Have submitted all assessment items in the unit;
• Have achieved a mark between 45 and 49 for the unit overall, or the same mark in any failed component item in the unit; and
• No finding of academic misconduct has been made against them in the unit concerned.

Additionally student may apply for supplementary assessment in any unit which is the final unit required for graduation in there course and where they have achieved a mark between 45 and 49 for the unit overall, or the same mark in any failed component item in the unit.

Unit Coordinator(s)

Dr Alyssa Van Dreumel and Dr Peter Arthur

Unit rules

Prerequisites:

Enrolment in Major(s) MJD-BCNDM Biochemistry of Nutrition or Major(s) MJD-MLSDM Molecular Life Sciences or Major(s) MJD-BCHMB Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Successful completion of two Unit(s) SCIE1106 Molecular Biology of the Cell and Unit(s) BIOC1001 Introductory Cellular Biochemistry or Unit(s) CHEM1002 Chemistry—Structure and Reactivity

Co-requisites:

Successful completion of Or Enrolment in One Unit(s) SCIE1106 Molecular Biology of the Cell

Advisable prior study:

BIOC2001 Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of the Cell

Incompatibility:

Unit(s) BIOC2202 Biochemical Regulation of Cell Function

Contact hours

Workshops: 1 hour per week; Laboratories: 3 hours per week, as per timetable

Note

BIOC2002 has a compulsory face to face laboratory component, which will need to be completed (at a later date) before a final grade can be awarded for the unit, if the unit is completed in an online mode.