SLE703 - Agricultural Biotechnology
Unit details
Year | 2025 unit information |
---|---|
Enrolment modes: | Trimester 1: Waurn Ponds (Geelong) |
Credit point(s): | 1 |
EFTSL value: | 0.125 |
Unit Chair: | Trimester 1: Mark Ziemann |
Prerequisite: | Nil |
Corequisite: | Nil |
Incompatible with: | Nil |
Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - on-campus unit enrolment: | 3 x 2 hour practical experiences (field trip) per trimester, 8 x 1 hour seminars per trimester. |
Typical study commitment: | Students will on average spend 150 hours over the teaching period undertaking the teaching, learning and assessment activities for this unit. This will include educator guided online learning activities within the unit site. |
Content
Agricultural Biotechnology is a subject that encompasses both plant and animal-based biotechnological solutions to agricultural problems. The unit is divided along those lines, and we will first explore plant biotechnology and its many real-world applications. In the second half of the trimester, we will focus on advances in the areas of animal biotechnology, from breeding to gene editing. Students will also be introduced to data intensive aspects of agricultural biotechnology such as genome mapping, global gene expression monitoring, and integrated omics analysis.
Throughout the trimester, we will be taking field trips to agricultural and biotechnology facilities in the Geelong region and meet experts working professionally in the agricultural biotechnology space. This helps to build our students professional networks and employability; and ensures that assessments are authentic and designed to develop students' portfolios.
Learning Outcomes
ULO | These are the Unit Learning Outcomes (ULOs) for this unit. At the completion of this unit, successful students can: | Alignment to Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes (GLOs) |
---|---|---|
ULO1 | Understand the biotechnological approaches used to improve animal and plant productivity and disease control. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
ULO2 | Understand the relevance of molecular biology and recombinant DNA technology to agricultural systems. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
ULO3 | Understand and apply principles of monitoring gene expression and proteomic analysis, gene mapping, genomics and gene discovery in contexts relevant to plant and animal systems. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
ULO4 | Understand the process of genetic modifications of plants and animals including random mutagenesis, gene transfer/deletion and methods for achieving these modifications including cloning. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
ULO5 | Show a proficiency in handling large biological data sets and analysing them using bioinformatics tools. | GLO3: Digital literacy |
ULO6 | Demonstrate an understanding of the underlying ethics and regulations governing gene manipulation technologies. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
Assessment
Assessment Description | Student output | Grading and weighting (% total mark for unit) | Indicative due week |
---|---|---|---|
Assessment 1 Written report | Written report, 1,000 words maximum | 25% | Week 5 |
Assessment 2 Open format assessment | Flexible format assessment (e.g. poster presentation, infographic, oral presentation, animation, brochure, etc) | 25% | Week 6 |
Assessment 3 Written report | Written report, 1,000 words maximum | 25% | Week 10 |
Assessment 4 Open format assessment | Flexible format assessment (e.g. poster presentation, infographic, oral presentation, animation, brochure, etc) | 25% | Week 11 |
The assessment due weeks provided may change. The Unit Chair will clarify the exact assessment requirements, including the due date, at the start of the teaching period.
Learning resource
The texts and reading list for SLE703 can be found via the University Library.
Note: Select the relevant trimester reading list. Please note that a future teaching period's reading list may not be available until a month prior to the start of that teaching period so you may wish to use the relevant trimester's prior year reading list as a guide only.
Unit Fee Information
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