Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Cellular Communication

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

BIOL2144

Bundoora Campus

Undergraduate

160H Medical Sciences

Face-to-Face

 Sem 1 2006,
Sem 1 2007,
Sem 1 2008,
Sem 1 2009,
Sem 1 2010,
Sem 1 2011,
Sem 1 2012,
Sem 1 2013,
Sem 1 2014,
Sem 1 2015,
Sem 1 2016

BIOL2144

Bundoora Campus

Undergraduate

173H School of Health and Biomed

Face-to-Face

 Sem 1 2018,
Sem 1 2019,
Sem 1 2020,
Sem 1 2021,
Sem 1 2022,
Sem 1 2023,
Sem 1 2024

Course Coordinator: Dr Narin Osman

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 6686

Course Coordinator Email: narin.osman@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: 220.04.017

Course Coordinator Availability: Please request an appointment via e-mail


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

Required Prior Study

You should have satisfactorily completed following course/s before you commence this course.

Alternatively, you may be able to demonstrate the required skills and knowledge before you start this course.

Contact your course coordinator if you think you may be eligible for recognition of prior learning.


Course Description

This course presents current aspects of cell biology with an emphasis on communication at the cellular level and relies on the theoretic basis provided by the Developmental and Cell Biology (BIOL2319). The content of this course will comprise a series of lectures, tutorials and practicals. It is designed to include work integrated learning (WIL) in preparation for career paths in research as either a research assistant or higher degrees candidate.

Topics in cellular communication include cell membrane specialisations and signal transduction, cell-matrix signalling, neural and electrical signalling, major receptor types – how they are studied and what they do, intracellular signal strategies, second messenger pathways and examples of these in both health and disease.

In the practical component, emphasis will be placed on developing skills in scientific report writing, including understanding and describing methods in cell biology, and the analysis and interpretation of ‘experimental’ results. In this way, the course aims to foster an understanding of how research works, and the rigour required to properly describe and present research results.


 


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

This course contributes to the following Program Learning Outcomes for BP231 Bachelor of Biomedical Science:

  • Demonstrate a coherent understanding of Biomedical Science;
  • Exhibit depth and breadth of scientific knowledge
  • Critically analyse and solve scientific problems


Upon successful completion of this course you should be able to:

  1. Relate how cells receive and transduce signals to orchestrate an appropriate response to maintain the functions of the organism.
  2. Interpret the significance of findings in cell biology for the identification of therapeutic targets in the treatment of disease.
  3. Apply and relate knowledge gained from other disciplines for instance physiology and biochemistry to the field of cell biology in industry and research. Communicating your understanding of cell biology and participating in scientific discourse.
  4. Interpret information presented in peer-reviewed international literature, including an appreciation of the methods and how they relate to lab work as well as the structure and reasoning behind hypothesis driven (empirical) research.
  5. Apply the scientific method to acquire, analyse and interpret cell biology data in experimental protocols and present those results in the form of a rigorous scientific report.
  6. Demonstrate knowledge of mammalian cell culture techniques.


Overview of Learning Activities

  • Lectures – will set the topic for each week and introduce you to the current level of understanding in cellular processes, starting with the cell membrane and progressing throughout the semester from the cell surface to the nucleus via many of the second messenger and protein signalling pathways.
  • Lectorials – in which you will be required to prepare answers to discussion questions posed by the recorded lecture material or associated podcasts and these tutorial discussions may continue online using a discussion board.
  • Workshops – There will also be either a Pre- or Post- practical workshop that will assist you to prepare for the practicals and develop skills in data analysis and report writing.
  • Practicals – which will include establishing a primary mammalian tissue culture and performing experiments to manipulate cultured cells and demonstrate intracellular signalling, using research techniques including microscopy and immunocytochemistry to study these processes. You will obtain experimental data that you will use to practice analysing and presenting scientific data in report form similar to that of a scientific publication.

You are encouraged to be proactive and self-directed in your learning, asking questions of your lecturer and/or peers and seeking out information as required, especially from the numerous sources available through the RMIT library, and through links and material specific to this course that is available through myRMIT Studies Course. 


Overview of Learning Resources

RMIT will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through myRMIT Studies Course. 

There are services available to support your learning through the University Library. The Library provides guides on academic referencing and subject specialist help as well as a range of study support services. For further information, please visit the Library page on the RMIT University website and the myRMIT student portal.


Overview of Assessment

Assessment Tasks

Assessment Task 1: Written assignment
Weighting 20%
This assessment task supports CLO 1, 2, 3 & 4

Assessment Task 2: Practical Reports
Weighting 40%
This assessment task supports CLOs 4, 5 & 6

Assessment Task 3: Online Content assessments
Weighting 40%
This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2, 3 & 4

If you have a long-term medical condition and/or disability it may be possible to negotiate to vary aspects of the learning or assessment methods. You can contact the program coordinator or Equitable Learning Services if you would like to find out more.