Vertebrate Zoology
A subject of two 1-hour sessions and one 3-hour session a week for one term.
Prerequisite: Biology A or an approved equivalent.
Syllabus
A study will be made of the functional anatomy of selected vertebrates. Some aspects of the evolutionary relationships between the classes will be dealt with, and the student will be introduced to the families of Australian marsupials.
Books
None prescribed. The student will be expected to make extensive use of material available in the Education Resource Centre. Details will be available from the lecturer in charge.
Assessment
Assessment will be based on performance in laboratory work and also on assignments and/or a three hour examination.
BIOLOGY B05 (BIB05) 3 points
Plant Physiology
A subject of two 1-hour sessions and one 3-hour session a week for one term.
Prerequisite: Biology A or an approved equivalent.
Syllabus
Metabolic processes of plant cells, including those needed by the plant for its survival and those used by man; physiology of plant growth and development.
Topics studied will include: photosynthesis and respiration; production of food, fuel and fibres, action of herbicides, flowering and plant hormones.
Books
Preliminary Reading:
Galston, A W The Life of the Green P/ant (Foundations of Modern Biology Series) London: Prentice-Hall 1972
Reference:
Bidwell, R G S Plant Physiology New York: Macmillan 1974 OR
Noggle, G R & Fritz, G J Introductory Plant Physiology Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall 1976
OR
Salisbury, F B & Ross, C P/ant Physiology Belmont (Calif): Wadsworth 1969 Assessment
Assessment will be based on one 2-hour examination, practical reports and an assignment.
BIOLOGY B06 (BIB06) 3 points
Animal Physiology
A subject of two 1-hour sessions and one 3-hour session a week for one term.
Prerequisite: Biology A or an approved equivalent.
Syllabus
A study will be made of the basic elements of the physiology of animals with emphasis
on the way in which animals have adapted physiologically to marine, freshwater, and terrestrial environments.
Books
Preliminary Reading.
Schmidt-Nielsen, K Animal Physiology 3rd edn Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall 1970 Reference:
Folk, G E Jnr Textbook of Environmental Physiology 2nd edn Philadelphia: Lea &
Febiger 1974
Hill, R W Comparative Physiology of Animals: An Environmental Approach New York:
Harper & Row 1976
Marshall, P J & Hughes, G H The Physiology of Mammals and Other Vertebrates London: CUP 1972
Prosser, C L Comparative Animal Physiology 3rd edn London: Saunders 1973
•Schmidt-Nielsen, K Animal Physiology: Adaptation and Environment London: CUP 1975
Schmidt-Nielsen, K How Animals Work London: CUP 1972
Vander, A J et al Human Physiology — the mechanisms of body function 2nd edn New York: McGraw-Hill 1975
Assessment
Assessment will be based on one 2-hour examination at the end of term, and on practical reports and assignments.
BIOLOGY B07 (BIB07) 3 points
Population Ecology
A subject of two 1-hour sessions a week for one term, and one 3-hour session for five weeks of the term.
Biology 807 can be taken as a separate subject but would preferably be taken in association with Biology 608.
Special Requirement
Attendance at field excursions, including one of two days' duration taken immediately before or after the extended excursion in Biology BOB, is compulsory.
Prerequisite: Biology A or an approved equivalent.
Syllabus
An introduction to the ecology of natural populations of organisms, including: nature and characteristics of natural populations, the measurement of natural populations, population change, and effects of man on populations.
Books Reference:
Kormondy, E J Concepts of Ecology 2nd edn Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall 1976 Assessment
Assessment will be based on one 1-hour examination at the end of term, and on practical reports and assignments.
BIOLOGY 608 (BIB08) 3 points
Community Ecology
A subject of two 1-hour sessions a week for one term, and one 3-hour session for five weeks of the term.
Biology B08 can be taken as a single subject but would preferably be taken in association with Biology 807.
Special Requirement
Attendance at field excursions, including one of two and a half days' duration taken immediately before or after the extended excursion in Biology BO7, is compulsory.
Prerequisite: Biology A or an approved equivalent.
Syllabus
An introduction to the ecology of natural communities and ecosystems, including the community concept, community classification, the ecosystem concept, aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems and their functioning, including ecosystem dynamics; the biosphere and effects of man on the biosphere.
Books Reference:
Kormondy, E J Concepts of Ecology Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall 1976 Assessment
Assessment will be based on one 1-hour theory examination at the end of term, and on performance in, and reports of, practical work and excursions.
BIOLOGY B09 (BIB09) 3 points
Microbiology
A subject of two 1-hour sessions and one 3-hour session a week for one term.
Prerequisite: Biology A or an approved equivalent.
Syllabus
The study will serve as a general introduction to procaryotic organisms (bacteria and blue-green algae), viruses and certain eucaryotic organisms (protozoa and fungi). Study of these organisms will include their properties as determined by laboratory cultivation and investigation, and their behaviour and importance in the natural environment and in the pathogenesis of disease in animals and plants.
Books Reference:
• Levy, Jet al Introductory Microbiology New York: Wiley 1973 Stanier, R Y et al General Microbiology 4th edn London: Macmillan 1976 Assessment
Assessment will be based on one 1'/z-hour theory and one 1-hour practical examination at the end of the term, and on assignments.
BIOLOGY B10 (BIB10) 3 points
Biochemistry
A subject of two 1-hour sessions and one 3-hour session a week for one term.
Prerequisite: Biology A or an approved equivalent.
Syllabus
The study aims to provide an introduction to the relationship between structure and function of biological compounds at the levels of organisms, cells and molecules.
It will emphasise the relevance of structures, reactions and metabolism of amino acids, lipids and carbohydrates.
The laboratory work serves to introduce the student to methods and techniques.
Books Reference:
Bohinski, R C Modern Concepts in Biochemistry Boston: Allyn & Bacon 1973 OR
McGilvery, R W Biochemistry— a functional approach London: Saunders 1970
• Yudkin, M & Offord, R Biochemistry Boston: Houghton Mifflin 1975 Assessment
Assessment will be based on one 2-hour examination at the end of the term, and on participation in course work, including practical work, and a literature review.
BIOLOGY B11 (BIB11) 3 points
Genetics
A subject of two 1-hour sessions and one 3-hour session a week for one term.
Prerequisite: Biology A or an approved equivalent.
Syllabus
This subject, in which lectures and practical work are integrated, is designed to serve as an introduction to the basic concepts of heredity. Topics covered will include Mendelian inheritance, polygenic inheritance, chromosomal studies and molecular aspects of genetics. Examples will be drawn from micro-organisms, plants and animals, with emphasis on studies of human genetics. Practical applications of genetic principles in crop and livestock improvement will be given in addition to clinical and commercial applications.
Books Reference:
*Burns, G W The Science of Genetics 3rd edn New York: Macmillan 1976
Pai, A C Foundations of Genetics: A Science for Society New York: McGraw-Hill 1974 Stern, C Principles of Human Genetics 3rd edn San Francisco: Freeman 1973
Assessment
Assessment is continuous and will be based on participation in course work, including regular assignments, problem sets, practical exercises, a selected field investigation, and on a written review of a selected topic.
Twenty per cent of the assessment will be based on performance in one 2-hour examination at the end of term.
BIOLOGY B12 (BIB12) 3 points
Nutrition
A subject of two 1-hour sessions and one 3-hour session a week for one term.
Prerequisite: Biology A or an approved equivalent.
Syllabus
The study will investigate the components of food and the function of the nutrients in the human body.
Topics to be covered will include: the qutrient requirements of the living organism; the nutritional needs of different groups in the human population; problems associated with undernutrition, overnutrition, malnutrition; nutritional status and methods of assessing it; food selection and meal planning; nutrition education and public health.
Books Reference:
Davidson, S et al Human Nutrition and Dietetics 6th edn New York: Longman 1975
•Robinson, C Fundamentals of Normal Nutrition 2nd edn New York: Macmillan 1973
• Thomas, S & Cordon, M Tables of C',mposition of Australian Foods Canberra: AGPS 1970
Assessment
Assessment will be based on one 2-hour written examination, and on participation in course work, including practical work and a literature review.
BIOLOGY CO1 (BIC01) 6 points
Advanced Genetics
A subject of two 1-hour sessions and one 3-hour session a week for two terms.
Prerequisite: Biology B11.
Syllabus
A subject of integrated lectures, practical work and seminar work, based on both original research papers and reference books, for students who have a knowledge and understanding of the basic concepts of genetics.
There will be emphasis on a study of genetics at the molecular level to complement earlier studies in classical Mendelian genetics. Topics to be covered will include a study of developmental genetics: regulation of gene activity in procaryotes and eucaryotes, differential gene function at the level of RNA synthesis and protein synthesis, isozymes, functional organisation of chromosomes and extra-nuclear inheritance.
Topics relevant to an understanding of population genetics will also be examined: gene duplication in evolution and molecular study of gene mutation and recombination.
Examples will be drawn from a variety of organisms, including man.
By means of seminar programs and reference to original research papers, a study will be made of current issues in genetics including genetic engineering, mapping of human chromosomes, prenatal diagnosis of genetic disorders, and genetics in the control of insect pests.
Books Reference:
Smith-Keary, P F Genetic Structure and Function London: Macmillan 1974 Stern, C Principles of Human Genetics 3rd edn San Francisco: Freeman 1973
Whitehouse, H L K Towards an Understanding of the Mechanism of Heredity 2nd edn San Francisco: Freeman 1969
An additional reading list will be distributed at the commencement of the subject.
Assessment
Assessment is continuous and will be based on participation in course work, including regular assignments, problem sets, practical exercises, presentation of seminar topics, and written reviews of selected topics.
Twenty per cent of the assessment will be based on performance in one 2-hour examination.
BIOLOGY CO2 (BICO2) 6 points
Advanced Physiology/Biochemistry
A subject of two 1-hour sessions and one 3-hour session a week for two terms.
Prerequisite: Biology B06.
Syllabus
This subject makes a detailed study of the structure and function of the cell in relation to its own integrity and to that of the whole organism of which it is a part.
Areas of study include:
The structure, properties and functions of cell organelles and fluids.
Cell nutrition and metabolic pathways: their control and integration.
Biochemical and physiological mechanisms in specialised cells.
Cellular communication and co-ordination.
Books
Reading lists will be available from the Department of Biology at the beginning of the year.
Assessment
Assessment will be based on performance in theoretical and practical work.
BIOLOGY CO3 (BIC03) 6 points
Advanced Ecology
A subject of two 1-hour sessions and one 3-hour session a week for two terms. Field excursions may substitute for some of these sessions.
Prerequisite: Biology B07 and B08.
Syllabus
Lectures, laboratory work and field studies in ecological dynamics, community ecology and in the ecology of freshwater ecosystems.
Books
Reading lists will be available from the Secretary, Department of Biology, at the beginning of the year.
Assessment
Assessment will be based on performance in theoretical and practical work, and on assignments.
BIOLOGY C04 (BIC04) 6 points
Selected Studies of Australian Fauna and Flora
A subject of two 1-hour sessions and one 3-hour session a week for two terms. Field excursions may substitute for some of these sessions.
Prerequisite: Biology 801 and B04.
Syllabus
This subject encompasses detailed studies of selected species of animals and plants found in the Australian region. These studies will serve to deepen and extend knowledge and understanding of general botany and zoology in an integrated treatment of the anatomical, physiological, biochemical, behavioural and biogeographical features of the organisms concerned. Field-based studies will be supplemented by laboratory investigations and research into the pertinent literature.
Books Reference:
• Tyndale-Biscoe, H Life of Marsupials London: Arnold 1973
Reading lists will be available from the Secretary, Department of Biology, at the beginning of the year.
Assessment
Assessment will be based on performance in theoretical and practical work, and on assignments.
BIOLOGY C05 (BIC05) 3 points
Research Project in Biology
A subject consisting of a research project of approximately 40 hours' duration.
Special Requirement
This subject is normally taken in conjunction with one of Biology C01, CO2, CO3, or C04.
Prerequisite: As for Biology C01, or CO2, or CO3, or C04.
Syllabus
The details of the project, and the arrangement of the work schedule will be negotiated between the staff member responsible and the student.
Books
Reading lists will be available from the staff member concerned.
Assessment
Assessment will be based on participation, and on a written report.
BIOLOGY C06 (BIC06) 3 points
Evolution
A subject of two 1-hour sessions and one 3-hour session a week, in which theoretical and practical work are integrated, for one term.
Prerequisite: One of Biology B01, B03 or B04.
Syllabus
A study of the mechanisms of speciation and evolution. Evolutionary changes are examined in a variety of living organisms.
Books
Reading lists will be available from the Department of Biology at the beginning of the year.
Assessment
Assessment will be based on participation in course work, on assignments, and on performance in an examination at the end of term.