Overview
Molecular and cellular pathology involves the study of disease processes at the molecular level and allows diagnosis of disease through the detection of genetic mutations, dysregulated gene expression and non functional or cytotoxic proteins. In this unit, you will learn about the role of cellular genetic material and associated genetic rearrangements and mutations. You will explore the application of molecular techniques, such as polymerase chain reaction and next generation sequencing, and their revolutionary impact on diagnostic testing. The residential school may be scheduled outside of the term of offering of the unit.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Prerequisites:Enrolment in Master of Laboratory Medicine.
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 2 - 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 Postgraduate 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
Students felt that the 1.5h lectorial time was not sufficient to fully understand all unit requirements and receive sufficient feedback on assessments
Consider increasing the lectorial time to 2h per week to allow more time for engagement with students, to provide feedback on assessments and to ensure unit requirements are clearly understood.
Feedback from SUTE, CM18 Student Staff Consultative Commitee (SSCC) meetings, Self-reflection
Students enjoyed the Kahoot quizzes and found them beneficial for learning
Continue including Kahoot quizzes in the lectorials
Feedback from SUTE, CM18 Student Staff Consultative Commitee (SSCC) meetings
Students enjoyed the 'flipped classroom' style of teaching
Consider continuing to use the flipped classroom/lectorial style of delivery
- Critically discuss how gene mutations or rearrangements underpin the molecular aetiology of particular diseases
- Evaluate the role of epigenetic modifications of the genome in disease pathogenesis
- Explain the process of identifying genetic modifications and their clinical significance
- Demonstrate skills in the use of genetic techniques in molecular pathology, including genetic amplification
- Explain the use of molecular pathology in disease diagnosis, prevention and treatment, including the development of personalised medicines.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| 1 - Written Assessment - 20% | |||||
| 2 - Written Assessment - 30% | |||||
| 3 - Laboratory/Practical - 0% | |||||
| 4 - Examination - 50% | |||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| 1 - Knowledge | |||||
| 2 - Communication | |||||
| 3 - Cognitive, technical and creative skills | |||||
| 4 - Research | |||||
| 5 - Self-management | |||||
| 6 - Ethical and Professional Responsibility | |||||
| 7 - Leadership | |||||
| 8 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | |||||
Textbooks
There are no required textbooks.
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
- Microsoft Teams
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing styles below:
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
j.jazayeri@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Revision of molecular pathology and understanding human molecular genetics
Chapter
No prescribed textbook for this unit.
Pls review the lecture material and recordings available for week 1 in Moodle prior to your tutorial/lectorial as well as other provided resources in your Moodle for Week 1.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Welcome and introduction to the unit. Revision of molecular pathology.
Module/Topic
'Omics' techniques supporting molecular diagnosis, pathology and pathogenesis. This will include the study and analysis of various biological molecules that constitute the cells of an organism, such as genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics.
Chapter
No prescribed textbook for this unit.
Pls review the lecture material and recordings available for week 2 in Moodle prior to your tutorial/lectorial as well as the peer-reviewed article indicated for Week 2.
Events and Submissions/Topic
'Omics' techniques supporting molecular diagnosis, pathology and pathogenesis. SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: a review of molecular diagnostic tools.
Module/Topic
Epigenetics and human disease. The study of heritable changes in gene expression that do not involve changes to the DNA sequence, often involving mechanisms such as DNA methylation.
Chapter
No prescribed textbook for this unit.
Pls review the lecture material and recordings available for week 3 in Moodle prior to your tutorial/lectorial as well as the peer-reviewed article indicated for Week 3.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Epigenetics and human disease. Epigenetic deregulation in myeloid malignancies.
Module/Topic
Molecular basis of cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases.
Chapter
No prescribed textbook for this unit.
Pls review the lecture material and recordings available for week 4 in Moodle prior to your tutorial/lectorial as well as the peer-reviewed article indicated for Week 4.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Molecular basis of cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases. Genetic, hormonal and metabolic aspects of PCOS.
Module/Topic
Molecular basis of blood disorders.
Chapter
No prescribed textbook for this unit.
Pls review the lecture material and recordings available for week 5 in Moodle prior to your tutorial/lectorial as well as the peer-reviewed article indicated for Week 5.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Molecular basis of blood disorders. Genetic basis of a Haemoglobinopathy/Thalassemia Syndrome. Revision.
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Molecular basis of colorectal, prostate and gynaecological cancers.
Chapter
Pls review the lecture material and recordings available for week 6 in Moodle prior to your tutorial/lectorial as well as the peer-reviewed article indicated for Week 6.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Molecular basis of colorectal, prostate and gynaecological cancers. Analysis of a peer-reviewed article on a topic relevant to this week.
Mid-semester assessment Due: Week 6 Monday (19 Aug 2024) 9:00 am AEST
Module/Topic
Molecular basis of liver and kidney disease.
Chapter
Pls review the lecture material and recordings available for week 7 in Moodle prior to your tutorial/lectorial as well as the peer-reviewed article indicated for Week 7.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Molecular basis of liver and kidney disease. Analysis of a peer-reviewed article on a topic relevant to this week.
Module/Topic
Molecular basis of skin diseases.
Chapter
Pls review the lecture material and recordings available for week 8 in Moodle prior to your tutorial/lectorial as well as the peer-reviewed article indicated for Week 8.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Molecular basis of skin diseases. Analysis of a peer-reviewed article on a topic relevant to this week.
Module/Topic
Molecular basis of Musculoskeletal Diseases
Chapter
Pls review the lecture material and recordings available for week 9 in Moodle prior to your tutorial/lectorial as well as the peer-reviewed article/other relevant resources indicated for Week 9.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Molecular basis of Musculoskeletal Diseases. Analysis of a peer-reviewed article/other relevant resources on a topic relevant to this week.
Molecular testing design Due: Week 9 Friday (13 Sept 2024) 11:59 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Molecular basis of Exocrine and Endocrine Systems
Chapter
Pls review the lecture material and recordings available for week 10 in Moodle prior to your tutorial/lectorial as well as the peer-reviewed article/other relevant resources indicated for Week 10.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Molecular basis of Exocrine and Endocrine Systems. Analysis of a peer-reviewed article/other relevant resources on a topic relevant to this week.
Laboratory/Practical Due: Week 10 Friday (20 Sept 2024) 4:00 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Clinical Laboratory and Personalised Medicine
Chapter
Pls review the lecture material and recordings available for week 11 in Moodle prior to your tutorial/lectorial as well as the peer-reviewed article/other relevant resources indicated for Week 11.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Clinical Laboratory and Personalised Medicine. Analysis of a peer-reviewed article/other relevant resources on a topic relevant to this week.
Module/Topic
Revision- ALL topics
Chapter
Pls review the lecture material and recordings available for week 12 in Moodle prior to your tutorial/lectorial.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Revision, going over the past exam papers
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
An invigilated examination will be scheduled in the scheduled examination period from 10 October 2024 - 18 October 2024. Students will be notified of the exact date once it has been scheduled.
Unit Coordinator:
The unit coordinator is Dr. Jalal Jazayeri and can be contacted via email: j.jazayeri@cqu.edu.au or phone: 0404024023.
Dr. Jazayeri is based in Melbourne, at 120 Spencer Street, level 4, Room number 4.02.
Textbook:
There is no prescribed textbook for this subject. However, whenever required published journal articles relevant to each topic will be provided. These articles are up-to-date with the latest advancements in the field, ensuring that you have access to the most current research and developments.
Study Guide:
As per Australian educational standards, you are expected to commit 150 hours of engagement to your study of this unit
(~12.5hrs each week). Students are expected to spend time doing the following each week:
- 3 - 4 hours per week watching pre-recorded lectures and revising the content through study notes.
- 2 - 3 hours per week completing the weekly study questions and weekly revision quizzes on the unit's Moodle site.
- 2 - 3 hours per week attending the weekly tutorials and reflecting on your answers to the weekly revision worksheets.
- 3 - 4 hours per week preparing for your assessments and end of term invigilated exam.
This unit also has a compulsory laboratory component which will be completed during the CM18 Residential Schools held on 15-26th September 2024
1 Written Assessment
This assessment will examine your comprehension of the learning objectives and activities carried our from weeks 1 - 5 inclusive in the unit, including any pre-tutorial/lectorial learning materials such as the weekly lecture notes and related resources, peer-reviewed articles and other relevant resources provided with the unit content and covered during scheduled classes. The assessment may include (but not be limited to) some short answer questions, terminology questions, process and arrangement questions. You may also be given a peer-reviewed article and required to provide a summary (in your own words) of the main points addressed, and/or be required to respond to questions pertaining to this article.
You will be provided with support and examples of the types of questions you are likely to encountered in this assessment during your scheduled classes; this will assist you in learning and understanding the expectations of this assessment. You are therefore strongly encouraged to regularly attend and actively participate in the weekly scheduled classes, ask questions where you are uncertain and ensure you come prepared for each class by having reviewed any pre-class learning material. If you still have questions or areas you do not understand following each weekly lectorial/tutorial class you will be encouraged to address these promptly by posting your questions on the Discussion forum and engaging in discussion on this/these topics with fellow students and academics, and the Unit coordinators. Doing this will ensure you 'arrive' to this assessment well prepared and give yourself the best possibilities of preforming well in and from this assessment.
Week 6 Monday (19 Aug 2024) 9:00 am AEST
Online submission via the subject Moodle site
Week 8 Monday (2 Sept 2024)
Two weeks after submission -online
A detailed marking criteria and marks allocated for each questions will be provided with this assessment. Marks will range from 1-2 marks for short responses and 4-5 marks where more detailed information will be required. You will be provided with support and examples of the types of questions you are likely to encountered in this assessment during your scheduled classes; this will assist you in learning and understanding the expectations of this assessment. You are therefore strongly encouraged to regularly attend and actively participate in the weekly scheduled classes, ask questions where you are uncertain and ensure you come prepared for each class by having reviewed any pre-class learning material. If you still have questions or areas you do not understand following each weekly lectorial/tutorial class you will be encouraged to address these promptly by posting your questions on the Discussion forum and engaging in discussion on this/these topics with fellow students and academics, and the Unit coordinators. Doing this will ensure you 'arrive' to this assessment well prepared and give yourself the best possibilities of preforming well in and from this assessment.
- Critically discuss how gene mutations or rearrangements underpin the molecular aetiology of particular diseases
- Explain the process of identifying genetic modifications and their clinical significance
- Explain the use of molecular pathology in disease diagnosis, prevention and treatment, including the development of personalised medicines.
2 Written Assessment
Molecular testing, using genetic amplification, for disease detection has become commonplace in most pathology workplaces. Tests that used to take days can now be done in an hour or 2, making turn-around times shorter and clinical decision making easier. Understanding how and why these tests are done is vital for a Medical Laboratory Scientist.
For this assessment you will be given a range of scenarios with different diseases and will be asked to design a molecular experiment to determine the status of the disease in a specific patient. Working in pairs you will research the disease and determine a specific genetic target to be tested. You and your student partner will then design a genetic amplification-based experiment, including describing specific primer sets, amplification conditions, reagents and equipment needed. Individually, you will then outline what you expect to see in terms of results and interpret what this means for the patient.
Week 9 Friday (13 Sept 2024) 11:59 pm AEST
online via subject Moodle site
Week 11 Friday (27 Sept 2024)
Via Subject Moodle site
Assessment Criteria
You will be assessed on the following criteria:
- Identification of the molecular etiology of the disease.
- Appropriate design of molecular primers/probes to determine the presence or absence of disease.
- Accurate description of the experimental conditions for the genetic amplification test.
- Clear identification of the experimental outcomes.
- Appropriate use of referencing of scientific literature.
A detailed marking rubric will be available on the Moodle site for this unit.
- Demonstrate skills in the use of genetic techniques in molecular pathology, including genetic amplification
3 Laboratory/Practical
This is part of the Residential School. Attendance at the Residential School / Laboratory is mandatory to pass the unit. The residential school will be from the 15th -26th September inclusive.
Within the practical residential school, the students will have to show competence in the use and understanding of molecular biology techniques (such as LAMP and PCR) and safety protocols commonly used in the pathology setting. Students will be required to submit their laboratory workbook at the completion of the laboratory practical. The workbook will contain questions designed to assess an understanding of the experimental techniques being performed. Demonstrate skills in the use of genetic techniques in molecular pathology, including genetic amplification
Week 10 Friday (20 Sept 2024) 4:00 pm AEST
Please submit towards the end of the residential school period
You will be assessed on the following criteria:
- completion of the experiments outlined in the laboratory manual
- an understanding and adherence to the safety protocols dealing with blood handling
- displaying sufficient understanding of the experimental techniques as assessed by answering workbook
questions
Marks will be allocated within the Laboratory workbook for each section, and marking rubric will be available on the Moodle site for this unit.
- Demonstrate skills in the use of genetic techniques in molecular pathology, including genetic amplification
Examination
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?
