BMS3031 - Molecular mechanisms of disease

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Overview

This unit will provide insights into the molecular mechanisms that mediate human diseases and the specific biotechnologies used to facilitate diagnosis and treatment. Relevant areas studied in this unit may change from year to year but will generally include a number of topics related to pharmacology, cancer, cardiovascular disease, development … For more content click the Read More button below. The small group work in the unit is designed to build employability skills for graduates. Emphasis is placed on critical thinking, research skills and on communication skills in the context of biomedical research.

This unit will provide insights into the molecular mechanisms that mediate human diseases and the specific biotechnologies used to facilitate diagnosis and treatment.

Relevant areas studied in this unit may change from year to year but will generally include a number of topics related to pharmacology, cancer, cardiovascular disease, development and stem cells, infection and immunity, metabolic disease and obesity, and neuroscience.

The small group work in the unit is designed to build employability skills for graduates.

Emphasis is placed on critical thinking, research skills and on communication skills in the context of biomedical research.

Offerings

S1-01-CLAYTON-ON-CAMPUS

S1-FF-CLAYTON-FLEXIBLE

Requisites

Prerequisite

Microbes in health and disease

BMS2062

6 CP

Introduction to bioinformatics

BMS1021

6 CP

Cells, tissues and organisms

Public health and preventive medicine

Structure of the human body: An evolutionary and functional perspective

BMS2021

6 CP

Human molecular cell biology

BMS2031

6 CP

Body systems

Rules

Enrolment Rule

Contacts

Chief Examiner(s)

Associate Professor Yvonne Maree Hodgson Fetherston

Unit Coordinator(s)

Dr Daniel Czech

Associate Professor Elizabeth Davis

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you should be able to:

Integrate, apply and build upon knowledge from previous core units in the study of the molecular mechanisms and defects that cause human disease, including how developmental errors and gene abnormalities may lead to abnormalities in protein structure and function.

Discuss and evaluate the role of molecular techniques in the diagnosis of human diseases and the design of targeted therapies or specific treatments.

Explain and predict the principles of pharmacokinetics and how these can influence the therapeutic use of drugs.

Explore and analyse how patient factors (including genetics) can lead to interindividual variation in responses to drugs.

Describe and apply skills required to undertake biomedical research activities and apply this to develop a career plan.

Synthesise, integrate and summarise information from fundamental principles and techniques in biomedical sciences, then apply it to broader contexts.

Work effectively and collaboratively in small teams and evaluate peer and self-performance.

Present data and scientific ideas, in oral, written and visual forms using scientific language or plain English as appropriate.

Assessment summary

Small group learning (5,000 words equivalent) 40% - hurdle
Lecture workshops (1,000 words equivalent) 10%
Mid-semester test (50 min) 10%
End of semester exam (3 hours and 10 minutes) 40% - hurdle

Assessment in this unit includes hurdle assessment tasks. Failure of any hurdle assessment task may result in failure of the unit.

Workload requirements

Workload

Availability in areas of study

Biomedical science