James Cook University Subject Handbook - 2017

BC3102 - Molecular Basis of Disease

Credit points: 03
Year: 2017
Student Contribution Band: Band 2
Administered by: College of Public Health, Medical & Vet Sciences

For students who do not have the required pre-requisites, please seek advice from the Discipline Academic Advisor to enrol

This subject builds on the principles and concepts introduced in BC2013 and BC2024 and focuses on how eukaryotic cells are regulated at the molecular and genetic level. Topics covered include intracellular structures, signal transduction, protein sorting and translocation, the cytoskeleton, the cell cycle, apoptosis, molecular immunology and the molecular biology of cancer. Advanced cell biology is important to a wide range of current biomedical and genetic research because it describes much of the biochemical basis for modern treatment and prophylaxis approaches. The lectures and practical sessions of this subject are focused on providing a background in molecular biomedicine to compete effectively in the job market. The first half of semester covers the structures and biochemistry of basic cell functions (division, death, movement, production and responsiveness) while the second half integrates this knowledge to develop a working understanding of the molecular bases of four complex biological systems: tumour biology, disease, immune responses to foreign proteins (allergies) and to infectious diseases (parasites).The subject concludes with a look to the past leading to emerging technologies and their impact on the field of biomedical science.

Learning Outcomes

Prerequisites:BC2013 AND BC2024
Inadmissible
Subject
Combinations:
BC3020 BC5102 GG3102

Availabilities

Townsville, Internal, Study Period 1
Census Date 23-Mar-2017
Coordinator: Dr Fiona Baird
Lecturers: Mr Ray Layton, Bill Warren, Assoc. Professor Patrick Schaeffer, Professor Andreas Lopata, Dr Fiona Baird, Dr Alex Roberts.
Contact hours:
  • 32 hours lectures
  • 4 hours tutorials
  • 20 hours practicals
    Assessment:end of semester exam (55%); other exams (10%); practical reports, written assignments (35%).

    Note: Minor variations might occur due to the continuous Subject quality improvement process, and in case of minor variation(s) in assessment details, the Subject Outline represents the latest official information.