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School of Biomedical, Biomolecular and Chemical Sciences
Unit Outline
Molecular Biology of the Cell
SCIE1106
Semester: 2
Campus: Crawley
Unit Coordinator: Dr Martha Ludwig
This outline is the currently available version for this unit. Detailed Information on unit
content and assessment may undergo modification before the time of delivery of the
unit. For the most up to date information students must consult material supplied to
enrolled students by the unit co-ordinator.
All material reproduced herein has been copied in accordance with and pursuant to a statutory licence administered
by Copyright Agency Limited (CAL), granted to the University of Western Australia pursuant to Part VB of the
Copyright Act 1968 (Cth).
Copying of this material by students, except for fair dealing purposes under the Copyright Act, is prohibited. For the
purposes of this fair dealing exception, students should be aware that the rule allowing copying, for fair dealing
purposes, of 10% of the work, or one chapter/article, applies to the original work from which the excerpt in this course
material was taken, and not to the course material itself
© The University of Western Australia 2001
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Introduction
This is an introductory unit that explores prokaryote and eukaryote cell structure and function
at the physiological and molecular level. A strong emphasis will be placed on applications in
biomedicine and biotechnology. The first part of the unit will cover DNA and RNA structure
and replication, gene expression and its regulation, and recombinant DNA technology. The
second part of the course will deal with the cell cycle and cell differentiation, cell structure and
compartmentalization, the structure of biological membranes and strategies used to move
molecules across these membranes, and intercellular communication. Applications of cell and
molecular biology in microbiology, disease diagnosis and therapy, and genetic engineering
will be discussed in the final part of the course. Practical classes will illustrate fundamental
techniques in cell and molecular biology, and tutorials will discuss recent advances in
microbiology, physiology, and biochemistry.
Advisable Prior Study
Core Concepts in Biology (BIOL1130) or Human Biology (ANHB1101) with normally 12 points
of Level 1 chemistry as a co-requisite.
Technical Requirements
Laboratory Notebook: You must record everything during laboratory classes in a dedicated
Notebook. The notebook must have a hard cover, with pages that are properly bound (a
Science Exercise Book with graph paper/ruled pages interleaved is very suitable).
A laboratory coat and closed-toe shoes must be worn during the practical sessions.
Calculator: You should have a pocket calculator available for use in the laboratory; it should
have the means for determining the log of a number.
Software Requirements
Students are required to arrange their own access to word processing and spreadsheet and
graphing software. Microsoft Word and Excel are recommended. Microsoft Powerpoint and/or
Adobe Reader are required for viewing lecture material on WebCT.
Contact Details
Unit web site (may include Web CT URL): http://Webct.uwa.edu.au/
Name of Unit coordinator: Dr Martha Ludwig
e-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 6488 3744
Fax: 6488 1148
Location: Chemical and Molecular Sciences Building, room 3.04
Consultation hours: By appointment
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Unit Structure Summary
Lectures
Three lectures per week.
Practical and/or Laboratory Sessions
One 2 hr laboratory class every two weeks. Attendance is compulsory.
Tutorials
One 2-hour tutorial every second week, alternating with the practicals. Attendance is
compulsory. In each tutorial, the previous laboratory and lecture material are discussed.
Topics
For details of times and venues of all teaching sessions please consult the most recent
version of the university timetable at http://www.timetable.uwa.edu.au/
LECTURE TOPICS
1
Overview of Unit
2
Macromolecules
3
Structure of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells
4
Structure of DNA
5
Replication of DNA
6
Mutation and repair of DNA
7
Mechanisms of transcription
8
Products of transcription
9
Translation of mRNA into proteins
10
The process of translation
11
REVISION LECTURE
12
Introduction to protein structure
13
Protein function
14
Introduction to cloning
15
Copying DNA and RNA in the test tube
16
Hybridisation techniques
17
REVISION SESSION
18
Regulation of gene expression in prokaryotes
19
Negative regulation of the E. coli lactose operon
20
Positive regulation of the E. coli lactose operon
21
Regulation of gene expression in eukaryotes
22
Post-transcriptional regulation of eukaryotic genes
23
REVISION LECTURE
24
Cell cycle and programmed cell death
25
Cytoskeleton, cell shape and motility
26
Motility and cell division
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LECTURE TOPICS continued
27
Secretory pathways and endo/exocytosis
28
Membrane structure/lipids/fluidity
29
Membrane transport
30
Molecular and cellular symbiosis: mitochondria and chloroplasts
31
Polarised cells – design and function
32
Intracellular and intercellular communication and signalling
33
Sensitive and self-sensitive membranes
34
REVISION LECTURE
35
Molecular diseases
36
Genetic engineering of plants
37
Microbial biotechnology
38
Ethical issues in molecular biology
39
REVISION LECTURE
References, Resources and Reading Materials
Essential Cell Biology (2nd Edition) Alberts et al., Garland Science Press ISBN 0-8153-3481-8.
If you wish to continue in Molecular Biology in years 2 and 3 get Molecular Biology of the Cell
(4th Edition), Alberts et al., Garland Science Press ISBN0-8153-4072-9. (ISBN numbers are
for the softcover editions.)
The unit manual, supplied to all students who enrol in the unit, contains detailed laboratory
notes, assignment instructions, and other supporting material.
Unit Web Site
All enrolled students have access to the unit WebCT site (http://webct.uwa.edu.au). This site
will be used for notices, posting of supplementary course materials, email and discussion. It is
strongly recommended that you log onto this site on a daily basis. The website should be
used for all remote communication to the unit co-ordinator.
Assessment Details
Assessed Work
% Mark
Timing
Lecture quizzes (6, in tutorials)
20%
Throughout semester
Lab quizzes (6, in tutorials)
20%
Throughout semester
Final lab report and laboratory
notebook
10%
Last tutorial of semester
Final exam (3hr exam, multiple
choice questions)
50%
End of semester exam period
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Plagiarism
The University of Western Australia takes very seriously the matter of academic misconduct
by students and has policies in place that define misconduct (including plagiarism) and the
penalties that apply. The consequences for misconduct can be severe, including exclusion
from the university.
All students are expected to make themselves aware of the definitions and policies relating to
academic misconduct, found at the websites below, and with any additional requirements or
stipulations that may be provided by individual unit co-ordinators.
http://www.secretariat.uwa.edu.au/__data/page/20839/StuMiscondInfo.rtf
http://www.teachingandlearning.uwa.edu.au/tl/academic_conduct
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