Overview
Understanding the evolution, anatomy and identification of plants and animals is critical in tackling the scientific study or management of organisms, ecosystems and animal or plant production. In Life Science Laboratory, you will study evolution and phylogeny, and the anatomy of the most common vertebrate and invertebrate animals, plants, algae and fungi, to support the development of your practical skills, which include specimen collection, preparation and curation; microscopic and macroscopic identification; and animal and plant dissection. This unit includes field work where you will use the knowledge and skills developed to study organisms in both terrestrial and marine ecosystems. On conclusion of this unit, you will understand the important role that biology plays in research and innovation in the fields of science, environmental science and agriculture.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Anti-requisite BIOL11099 Living Systems
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 1 - 2024
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of 'pass' in order to pass the unit. If any 'pass/fail' tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully ('pass' grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the 'assessment task' section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University's Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback - Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from SUTE UNIT COMMENTS REPORT
I found the amount of weekly content to be an excellent balance. It helped that I really enjoy the subject matter but the lectures were easy to absorb, especially with the ability to pause, slow down and speed up. The text was a good choice as well.
The amount of unit content and the prescribed text will remain unchanged.
Feedback from SUTE UNIT COMMENTS REPORT
The time provided for the final quiz was too minimal given the requirements of the questions.
Unit assessment and weighting will be changed for 2024 in line with a wider unit refresh and update.
Feedback from SUTE UNIT COMMENTS REPORT
Assignments were clear and engaging.
Assessments to continue to have clear instructions and engaging content.
- Distinguish between major taxa of plants and animals using morphological features
- Discuss evolution and the Hierarchy of Classification in relation to the diversity of living organisms
- Safely perform laboratory activities, including the use of microscopes and aseptic techniques, and the dissection of plants and animals
- Collect and curate plant specimens
- Use dichotomous keys to identify flowering plants and insects.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| 1 - Written Assessment - 20% | |||||
| 2 - Practical Assessment - 30% | |||||
| 3 - Laboratory/Practical - 0% | |||||
| 4 - Online Quiz(zes) - 50% | |||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| 1 - Communication | |||||
| 2 - Problem Solving | |||||
| 3 - Critical Thinking | |||||
| 4 - Information Literacy | |||||
| 5 - Team Work | |||||
| 6 - Information Technology Competence | |||||
| 7 - Cross Cultural Competence | |||||
| 8 - Ethical practice | |||||
| 9 - Social Innovation | |||||
| 10 - First Nations Knowledges | |||||
| 11 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | |||||
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
| Assessment Tasks | Graduate Attributes | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | |
| 1 - Written Assessment - 20% | |||||||||||
| 2 - Practical Assessment - 30% | |||||||||||
| 3 - Laboratory/Practical - 0% | |||||||||||
| 4 - Online Quiz(zes) - 50% | |||||||||||
Textbooks
Campbell Biology, Australian and New Zealand Edition
- Edition: 12th (2021)
- Authors: Lisa A. Urry, Noel Meyers, Michael L. Cain, Steven A. Wasserman, Peter V. Minorsky, Rebecca Orr, Karen Burke, Da Silva Ann, Parkinson Lesley, Lluka Prasad Chunduri
- Pearson Education
- Australia
- ISBN: 9780655705840
- Binding: Hardcover
Additional Textbook Information
Available as an eTextbook from https://www.pearson.com/.
Previous editions (9th edition onwards) of Campbell Biology, Australian and New Zealand Edition, are also acceptable.
Also available through the CQU Library in hardcopy and ebook formats .
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Harvard (author-date)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
a.carton@cqu.edu.au
Week 1
Begin Date: 04 Mar 2024Module/Topic
Unifying Themes of Biology
Mechanisms of Evolution
Evolution of Populations
Tutorial Q and A
Chapter
Evolution, the themes of biology, and scientific inquiry (pg 2 - 26)
Mechanisms of Evolution (pg 471 - 575)
(Note: page references are for the 12th edition and may differ from early editions)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 2
Begin Date: 11 Mar 2024Module/Topic
The Tree of Life and Phylogeny
Cell Theory
The Prokaryotes
Tutorial Q and A
Chapter
Phylogeny and the Tree of Life (pg 578 to 597)
The Cell (pg 94 to 213)
Bacteria and Archaea (pg 598 to 617)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 3
Begin Date: 18 Mar 2024Module/Topic
Protists
Fungi
Tutorial Q and A
Chapter
Protists (pg 618 to 642)
Fungi (pg 689 to 709)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 4
Begin Date: 25 Mar 2024Module/Topic
Plant Diversity, Form and Function I
Tutorial Q and A
Chapter
Plant diversity I: How plants colonised land (pg 643 to 662)
Plant diversity II: The evolution of seed plants (pg 663 to 688)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 5
Begin Date: 01 Apr 2024Module/Topic
Plant Diversity, Form and Function II
Tutorial Q and A
Chapter
Plant form and function (pg 798 to 920)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Vacation Week
Begin Date: 08 Apr 2024Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 6
Begin Date: 15 Apr 2024Module/Topic
Residential School
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Residential School A - Practical Assessment Due: Tuesday to Friday Week 6
Week 7
Begin Date: 22 Apr 2024Module/Topic
Animal Diversity
Animal Morphology
The Invertebrates
Tutorial Q and A
Chapter
An overview of animal diversity (pg 710 to 724)
An introduction to invertebrates (pg 725 to 729)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 8
Begin Date: 29 Apr 2024Module/Topic
Eumetazoans (Cnidarians)
Lophotrochozoans (Platyhelminths, Annelids)
Tutorial Q and A
Chapter
An introduction to invertebrates (pg 730 to 743)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 9
Begin Date: 06 May 2024Module/Topic
Lophotrochozoans (Molluscs, Arthropods)
Introduction to Insects
Tutorial Q and A
Chapter
Ecdysozoans are the most species-rich animal group (pg 744 to 751)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 10
Begin Date: 13 May 2024Module/Topic
Deuterostomes (Echinoderms)
The Origin and Evolution of Vertebrates
Tutorial Q and A
Chapter
Echinoderms and chordates are deuterostomes (pg 752 to 754)
The origin and evolution of vertebrates (pg 757 to 797)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 11
Begin Date: 20 May 2024Module/Topic
Residential School
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Residential School B - Practical Assessment Due: Friday Week 11 to Monday Week 12
Week 12
Begin Date: 27 May 2024Module/Topic
The Origin and Evolution of Vertebrates (cont)
Animal Form and Function
Unit Recap
Chapter
Animal Form and Function (pg 921 to 946)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Review/Exam Week
Begin Date: 03 Jun 2024Module/Topic
End of Unit Assessment
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
1 Written Assessment
This assessment requires you to research an animal that has been discovered in Australia (including surrounding territories and waters) within the last ten years and write a 500 word article for a popular science magazine.
Your article should include a description of the scientific classification (kingdom, phylum etc) and the characteristics associated with the animal in that group (approximately 200 words). In the remaining words (approximately 300), you should describe what is interesting about the animal, what makes it different from other similar animals, the significance of the discovery, or other relevant information that will attract and keep the audience's attention. At the end of the article, you must provide a list of the references you have used, but do not use any in-text referencing except to refer to the scientific paper that describes the species that has been discovered. As well as uploading your assignment as a Word document, you must upload a Adobe pdf of the original paper where the species is described. Exemplar articles will be available on the unit's Moodle page at the commencement of the term.
Vacation Week Monday (8 Apr 2024) 5:00 pm AEST
Upload your article as a Word document (.doc or .docx) and the original scientific article where the species is described as an Adobe pdf.
Week 9 Monday (6 May 2024)
Article and feedback returned via Moodle.
Assessment Criteria
The complete assessment rubric will be available on the unit's Moodle site at the commencement of the term.
The assessment criteria primarily focuses on the following:
1. Accuracy of the information about the newly discovered species and its classification.
2. Relevance of the material.
3. Clarity of expression and ability to engage an audience.
4. Correct English grammar and punctuation.
5. Accuracy of referencing.
- Distinguish between major taxa of plants and animals using morphological features
- Discuss evolution and the Hierarchy of Classification in relation to the diversity of living organisms
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
2 Practical Assessment
You will demonstrate a range of biological skills and complete a series of assessments during the Residential School. Assessment activities will address competence in the use of microscopes and preparation of biological slides, plant and animal dissection, identification of plant and animal organs, tissues, and structures, use of dichotomous and lucid keys for plant and insect identification, and short online quizzes based on the material covered during the practical laboratory session.
Residential School Week (Residential School A - Week 6, Residential School B - Week 11-12)
Residential School Week
Competency and performance of assessment tasks will be evaluated on the correctness, comprehensiveness and relevance of the response. Specific details regarding each Residential School assessment will be available on the Moodle two weeks prior to the the residential school (see Week 6 and 11) and be explained prior to undertaking the relevant practical laboratory session.
- Safely perform laboratory activities, including the use of microscopes and aseptic techniques, and the dissection of plants and animals
- Collect and curate plant specimens
- Use dichotomous keys to identify flowering plants and insects.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Technology Competence
3 Laboratory/Practical
During or after each laboratory session, students will present their work to a supervisor for marking and feedback. Students must ensure that all required skills checks are completed and signed off on.
Residential School Week
Residential School Week
The assessment criteria for each laboratory session will vary, but assessment criteria will generally involve the following: Safety, Accuracy, Completeness, and Concept understanding. After receiving feedback, and at the supervisors discretion students maybe asked to demonstrate proficiency in skills. This assessment is a Pass/Fail.
- Safely perform laboratory activities, including the use of microscopes and aseptic techniques, and the dissection of plants and animals
- Collect and curate plant specimens
- Use dichotomous keys to identify flowering plants and insects.
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Team Work
4 Online Quiz(zes)
The unit test is based on lecture and study material covered during Weeks 1-12 (students are asked to revise the lecture and reading material associated with each week). The unit test is limited to 90 minutes for completion and must be submitted after completion. Answers will be automatically submitted after 90 minutes. Test questions will be a combination eight (8) short and four (4) long answer questions. Short answer questions will form 40% and long answer questions 60% of total available marks.
1
Other
Review/Exam Week Wednesday (5 June 2024) 7:00 am AEST
The assessment will open at 7:00am Tuesday 4th June and close at 7:00am Wednesday 5th June. The assessment must be completed within this 24hr window.
Exam Week Friday (14 June 2024)
Returned via the unit Moodle site
Answers will be assessed on their completeness, relevance, depth and correct application of biological knowledge.
- Distinguish between major taxa of plants and animals using morphological features
- Discuss evolution and the Hierarchy of Classification in relation to the diversity of living organisms
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
