Score: H1. low-key I enjoy the 5 hour practicals, and I had Alex as my lab demonstrator. As previously mentioned, it's like a 12 week project where we did some experiment on a phosphatase (E1: mutation and gene expression, E2: protein activity, E3: microscopy, and E4: bioinformatics). The lab report has 2 components: rough and final. For the rough draft, we had to submit the introduction, methods, results, and discussion separately (total 15%). To be honest, as someone who didnt take BCMB20005 I initially struggled to understand what they wanted from us, and my marks for the rough draft were quite poor. However, I kept asking for feedbacks from the marker by coming to the drop-in session during SWOTvac week (along with discussing with Iza the subject coordinator). From there, I carefully integrated their suggestions into my final lab report, and ended up from getting a pass in the introduction to an H1 in the final lab report (20%), so dont be discouraged when getting your rough draft results. As mentioned, we also had weekly lab notebooks (30%) that we need to do before and after the weekly lab, which I found to be a bit time consuming depending on the weeks. However, I reckon it is a good practice as it keeps track of what you did throughout the weeks, which would be relevant to the lab report. We also had this mark coming from lab skills performance (20% final mark), which is basically based on the demonstrator. The final exam was only worth 15%, but I would say it was the hardest exam I had ever taken in this uni. No one (including me) could finish the exam, and many left feeling defeated (including me). You really need to practice from the past exam paper, CALs, bioinformatic worksheets, and really understand the practicals well (hint: pay attention closely to the pre-lab work aka the flowchart). Please do practice the calculation (hint: enzyme specific activity, buffer for RE digestion, basically any calculations that they have in this subject). I think the final exam was definitely scaled because I thought I definitely messed up (I dont even think I passed actually LOL). My suggestion is to do your best in the lab notebooks and the performance, as you can get easy marks from these assessments. Also try your best in every part of the lab report as they mark the lab report quite harshly (albeit the markings were quite fair for most of the time esp the final report). Do not ever think to boost your grades via the final exam! The 1 star lost is because of the vagueness of the rubric for the lab report (in which I assume because they want to give freedom to students but lowk the markers have their own expectations), and how there were not much support on exam preparation. Overall, a time consuming subject yet fun practicals. If you have other commitments I suggest to underload while taking this subject, or if you really cant then perhaps taking an easy breadth subject/level 1 subject.

Really stellar subject, although it requires a hefty time commitment. I would recommend doing it in a 3-subject semester or less if possible. The weekly lab notebook is worth 30%, be prepared to spend at least 3+ hours on that alone every week, some weeks it took the whole day. The subject basically reads like a 12 week research project, where you work on this specific phosphatase protein. You start at the genomic level with transfecting cells for expression of the protein, DNA purification, etc., and then move to protein level, where you practice techniques like protein purification, microscopy and mass spec. At the end of semester you have to write a major report on the entire semester, but you get to deliver drafts throughout the sem and get feedback before you have to deliver the final report. Draft is worth 15% total and final is worth 20% but they are essentially the same report. In terms of demo, I had Alex and was really happy, but I know people that were not super happy with their demo, and grading/feedback was a bit subjective of each marker. The pracs were very fun though and the exam (15%) quite easy and straightforward if you understood the theory behind the pracs. If you don't, make sure to ask. Iza (the coordinator) is really kind and always very accessible if you have any questions or issues, as were the other demos. Overall, this was a fantastic subject and a must for anyone looking to go into wet lab research. I wouldn't really recommend for students that aren't interested in a research career because even tho its fairly easy to get H1 if you just keep up with the work and the deadlines, the time commitment is pretty huge, and does take work to do well. Def worth it if you're thinking of doing honours/masters by research, though. One of the highlights of my degree and major, for sure, and one of the subjects where I've learned the most throughout my degree, and one of the most useful ones, as well.

A really interesting subject with lots of enjoyable practicals. I think it's quite unique in that the end of semester exam is worth only 15%, with most of your marks coming from report writing and maintaining a lab notebook throughout (one per week). Don't be fooled by the fact that each lab notebook entry is worth only 2.5% though, they can be quite time consuming and I was averaging a word count of 1,000-2000 words for each notebook entry. Lots of work but very enjoyable nonetheless. Iza the new coordinator is really lovely and so was my demonstrator. For most of the experiments you'll be required to work with a lab partner and prac groups are kept small so easy to get to know everybody. The format of the reports you write in this subject are a bit different to what you might be used to in BCMB20005 and are more like formal reports you see in journals, so this might take some time for you to get used to. However, plenty of detailed feedback is given and you're given an opportunity to incorporate whatever feedback you receive into your final report.

The lab and lecture components are great but the lab books take an huge amount of time and the marking on the major essay is extremely harsh. Be prepared for this subject to take up literally twice as much of your time as a normal third year science class.

Incredible subject that really takes you deep into the laboratory environment. Expect to come out of this with a high level of autonomy for how to approach an investigation into analysing DNA or a protein. VERY time consuming and the workload is incredibly high, would only recommend if you have 3 subjects in the semester or 3 and a very VERY simple breadth. Assessment is based on lab notebooks you write in (which is where you'll spend most of your time at 3 am writing), a big formal lab report, and a group presentation on a scientific paper (plus a little 45 minute exam in the final week of exam period). The lectures are simple and follow nicely with other BCMB subjects. Renu is the most amazing demonstrator I've ever had, if you have her or Isa they're both super lovely and helpful to have when you have any questions about the theory or lab protocol. 5/5 - Great content, amazing labs, the workload is horrible but very an easy H1 if you really apply yourself and have a good biochemistry background!!

ABSOLUTELY AMAZING if time can be committed. Got to learn A LOT. Should take it if one wants to be prepared for research.

A step up from BCMB20005 with more interesting techniques and more challenging content including a full report and speech toward the end of semester.