BIT3702/101/3/2019

Tutorial Letter 101/3/2019

Molecular Cell Biology

BIT3702

Semesters 1 and 2

Life and Consumer Sciences

IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Please register on myUnisa, activate your myLife email address and
make sure that you have regular access to the myUnisa module
website, BIT3702-2019-S1/S2, as well as your group website.

Note: This is a fully online module and therefore it is only available on myUnisa.

BARCODE
 CONTENTS

Page

1 INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................... 3
1.1 Getting started .............................................................................................................................. 3
2 OVERVIEW OF BIT3702 .............................................................................................................. 3
2.1 Purpose ........................................................................................................................................ 3
2.2 Outcomes ..................................................................................................................................... 3
3 LECTURER(S) AND CONTACT DETAILS................................................................................... 4
3.1 Lecturer(s) .................................................................................................................................... 4
3.2 Department ................................................................................................................................... 4
3.3 University ...................................................................................................................................... 4
4 RESOURCES ............................................................................................................................... 4
4.1 Joining myUnisa ........................................................................................................................... 4
4.2 Recommended books ................................................................................................................... 5
4.3 Electronic reserves (e-reserves) ................................................................................................... 5
4.4 Library services and resources ..................................................................................................... 5
5 STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES ................................................................................................ 5
6 HOW TO STUDY ONLINE ............................................................................................................ 6
6.1 What does it mean to study fully online? ....................................................................................... 6
6.2 myUnisa tools ............................................................................................................................... 6
7 ASSESSMENT ............................................................................................................................. 6
7.1 Assessment plan .......................................................................................................................... 6
7.2 Year mark and final examination/other options ............................................................................. 7
8 CONCLUSION.............................................................................................................................. 7
APPENDIX: GLOSSARY OF TERMS ...................................................................................................... 8
ADDENDUM ............................................................................................................................................ 9

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 BIT3702/101/3/2019

1 INTRODUCTION
Dear Student
Welcome to the module: Molecular Cell Biology we hope that you will enjoy this module and will
make the effort to learn more about the principles of this discipline. We wish you success in your
academic endeavours.
A tutorial letter is our way of communicating with you about teaching, learning and assessment.
Therefore, you will receive a number of tutorial letters during the semester.
Tutorial Letter 101 contains important information about the scheme of work, resources and
assignments for this module. We urge you to read it carefully and to keep it at hand when
working through the study material, preparing for the assignments or examination and
addressing questions to your lecturers.
You should receive the following material for this module:
• Tutorial Letter 101 (this document)
Please note that some of the above-mentioned tutorial matter may not be available when you
register. Tutorial matter that is not available when you register will be posted to you as soon as
possible, but it is also available on myUnisa.
Because this is a fully online module, you will need to use myUnisa to study and complete the
learning activities for this module. Visit the website for [module code] on myUnisa frequently.
The website for your module is BIT3702-19-S1/S2.
1.1 Getting started
Owing to the nature of this module, you can read about the module and find your study material
online. Go to the website at https://my.unisa.ac.za and log in using your student number and
password. You will see BIT3702-19-S1/S2 in the row of modules displayed in the orange blocks
at the top of the webpage. Select the More tab if you cannot find the module you require in the
blocks displayed. Then click on the module you want to open.
We wish you much success in your studies!

2 OVERVIEW OF BIT3702
2.1 Purpose

This module addresses the cell architecture and interactions between the various systems of a
cell, including the interactions between the different types of macromolecules (nucleic acids,
proteins and carbohydrates) as well as learning how these interactions are regulated. In
addition the cell cycle process and underlying control mechanisms will be studied. In particular
this module will deal with the flow of genetic information (replication, transcription and
translation), especially the molecular infrastructure on which these processes are based.

2.2 Outcomes
Qualified learners will be able
to

 Demonstrate understanding of eukaryotic and prokaryotic cell architectures

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  Understand the cell cycle and the molecular basis of cell cycle progression and
control
 Demonstrate an understanding of the structure and function of biological
macromolecules (proteins, nucleic acids and carbohydrates) as functional units
within the cell and its environment
 Undertake comprehensive studies of the processes that govern information flow
(replication, transcription and translation)
 Understand the molecular infrastructure on which information flow is based and
 Understand the principles of molecular recognition

3 LECTURER(S) AND CONTACT DETAILS

3.1 Lecturer(s)
Your lecturers for this module are Professor MM Ntwasa and Mr ST Malindisa:
Department: Life and Consumer Sciences
Telephone: +2711 471 2272 and +2711 471 3975
Email: ntwasmm@unisa.ac.za or malinst@unisa.ac.za
Whenever you contact a lecturer, please include your student number to enable the lecturer to
help you more effectively.
3.2 Department
You can contact the Department of Life and Consumer Sciences as follows:

 Secretary’s telephone number +2711 471 2230/2292

 Departmental fax number +2711 471 2796
College administrator’s e-mail address CAESenquiries@unisa.ac.za
3.3 University
To contact the University, follow the instructions in the brochure Study @ Unisa. Remember to
have your student number available whenever you contact the University.
Unisa website: http://www.unisa.ac.za & http://mobi.unisa.ac.za
myUnisa: https://my.unisa.ac.za/portal & https://my.unisa.ac.za/portal/pda
E-mail: info@unisa.ac.za
SMS: 32695 (only for students in South Africa)
Fax: 012 429 4150

4 RESOURCES
4.1 Joining myUnisa
The myUnisa learning management system is the University's online campus which will help
you to communicate with your lecturers, with other students and with the administrative
departments at Unisa.
To go to the myUnisa website directly, go to https://my.unisa.ac.za. Click on the Claim UNISA
Login on the top of the screen on the myUnisa website. You will then be prompted to give your
student number in order to claim your initial myUnisa details, as well as your myLife email login
details.
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For more information on myUnisa, consult the brochure Study @ Unisa, which you received
with your study material: www.unisa.ac.za/brochures/studies

4.2 Recommended books

Alberts B, Roberts K, Raff M, Walter P, Lewis J and Alexander Johnson. (2014). Molecular
Biology of the Cell. 6th Edition.
Klug,W.S, Cummings, M.R., Spencer, C. A. & Palladino, M.A. (2009). Concepts of Genetics, 9th
Edition.
Further reading may be done using
Thiemann, W.J. & Palladino, A. (2009). Biotechnology, 5th Edition.
4.3 Electronic reserves (e-reserves)
Announcements will be posted on myUnisa as and where required.
4.4 Library services and resources
The Unisa Library offers a range of information services and resources:

 for detailed Library information go to

http://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/corporate/default/Library
 for research support and services (e.g. personal librarians and literature
search services) go to
http://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/corporate/default/Library/Library-
services/Research-support

The Library has created numerous Library guides:

http://libguides.unisa.ac.za
Recommended guides:

 Request and download recommended material:

http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/request/request
 Postgraduate information services:
http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/request/postgrad
 Finding and using library resources and tools:
http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/Research_skills
 Frequently asked questions about the Library:
http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/ask
 Services to students living with disabilities:
http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/disability

5 STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES

The Study @ Unisa brochure is available on myUnisa: www.unisa.ac.za/brochures/studies

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This brochure has all the tips and information you need to succeed at distance learning and,
specifically, at Unisa.

6 HOW TO STUDY ONLINE

6.1 What does it mean to study fully online?
Studying fully online modules differs completely from studying some of your other modules at
Unisa.

 All your study material and learning activities for online modules are designed to be
delivered online on myUnisa.
 All your assignments must be submitted online. This means that you do all your
activities and submit all your assignments on myUnisa. In other words, you may NOT post
your assignments to Unisa using the South African Post Office.
 All communication between you and the University happens online. Lecturers will
communicate to you by email and sms, as well as using the Announcements, the
Discussion Forums and the Questions and Answers tools. You can also use all of these
ways to ask questions and contact your lecturers.
6.2 myUnisa tools
The main tool that we will use is the Lessons tool. This tool will provide the content of and the
assessments for your module. At times you will be directed to join discussions with fellow
students and complete activities and assessments before you can continue with the module.
It is very important that you log in to myUnisa regularly. We recommend that you log in at least
once a week to do the following:

 Check for new announcements. You can also set your myLife email account so that you
receive the announcement emails on your cell phone.
 Do the Discussion Forum activities. When you do the activities for each learning unit, we
want you to share your answers with the other students in your group. You can read the
instructions and even prepare your answers offline, but you will need to go online to post
your messages.
 Do other online activities. For some of the learning unit activities you might need to post
something on the Blog tool, take a quiz or complete a survey under the Self-Assessment
tool. Do not skip these activities because they will help you complete the assignments and
the activities for the module.
We hope that by giving you extra ways to study the material and practise all of the activities, you
will succeed in the online module. To get the most out of the online module you MUST go online
regularly to complete the activities and assignments on time.

7 ASSESSMENT
7.1 Assessment plan
Assignments are seen as part of the learning process for this module. As you do the
assignments, it is important to analyse and revise the study material, consult other resources,
discuss the work with fellow students or do research on a specific concept so that you
become actively engaged in your learning and increase your skill set.

There are two assignments for BIT3702 for each

semester.
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 Students registered for Semester 1 (January to June) will find their two assignments
in
Addendum A: Assignment 01 (Semester 1) and Assignment 02 (Semester 1)
 Students registered for Semester 2 (July to December) will find their assignments
in
Addendum B: Assignment 01 (Semester 2) and Assignment 02 (Semester 2)

It is compulsory to submit at least one assignment in order to be awarded examination

admission. Important: Note that allassignments contribute to your final mark. Therefore,
even though not all of the assignments are compulsory, they are all equally important
in ensuring that you complete this module successfully. If you do not submit a ll of t h e
assignments, your year mark will be very low and you might fail the module, even if you
pass the exam. Therefore, please familiarize yourself with the assessment plan below and
take note of the percentage that each assignment contributes to your final mark.

7.2 Year mark and final examination/other options

Your year mark for this module is as follows:
Formative assessment:
Assignment 1…% Year mark (30% of final mark)
Assignment 2…%
Final Mark

Summative assessment:
Examination Exam mark (70% of final mark)

8 CONCLUSION
This module will guide you through a wide range of skills, with each study unit focusing on a
particular skill, even though all the study units are interrelated. In order for you to develop a
sound understanding of this information and the ability to apply all of these skills successfully to
a variety of practical situations, you must be keen to learn and self-motivated and determined to
study. As a Unisa student, you are part of an open distance learning (ODL) institution.
Therefore, you are expected to visit myUnisa frequently and to correspond with us, your
lecturers. This will not only help you to stay on course with your studies, but will further your
academic accomplishments by clarifying any uncertainties you might encounter during your
studies.
Best wishes for your studies and I hope you enjoy this learning experience.
Kind regards
Professor M Ntwasa and Mr ST Malindisa (BIT3702 lecturers)
DEPARTMENT OF LIFE AND CONSUMER SCIENCES

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APPENDIX: GLOSSARY OF TERMS

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 BIT3702/101/3/2019

ADDENDUM

Instructions for Assignment 01 (for Semester 1)

Plus
Instructions for Assignment 02 (for Semester 1)

1. ALL assignments MUST be typewritten.

2. The main text in an essay shall not exceed 2 000 words (2 pages excluding diagrams
and legends),
3. The main text must be double-spaced in Times New Roman font size 12 (this may
increase the number of pages).
4. If you want to submit a hard copy of this assignment, use the assignment cover and
envelope provided. When stapling your answers inside the cover, staple only in the top
left-hand corner.
5. Your student number is the number just below your address. This number must be filled
in on the assignment cover and must also be quoted in all correspondence with the
university.

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 Department of Life and Consumer Sciences

Molecular Cell Biology

BIT3702

Semester code: 01

Assignment 01

DUE DATE: 08 March 2019

Unique assignment number: 635301

Prokaryotes and eukaryotes have different cellular structures. Discuss the functions of the
structures found in these cells.
[50]

TOTAL MARKS [50]

Assignment 02

DUE DATE: 05 April 2019

Unique assignment number: 667967

1. Explain how the cytoskeletal elements function at molecular level to bring about
movement in eukaryotic cells. (20)

2. Describe TWO (2) diseases that occur as a result of cytoskeletal defects and explain how
the protein defects result in the disease symptoms. (30)

TOTAL MARKS [50]

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 BIT3701/101/3/2019

Department of Life and Consumer Sciences

Molecular Cell Biology

BIT3702

Semester code: 02

Assignment 01
DUE DATE: 16 August 2019
Unique assignment number: 800618
Discuss gene expression in eukaryotes versus prokaryotes. Include the major pathways and
genes involved in your answer. [50]

TOTAL MARKS [50]

Assignment 2

DUE DATE: 20 September 2019

Unique assignment number: 736743
Explain what factors and components contribute to the fluidity of a biological membrane,
including how membrane structure is influenced by temperature. [50]

TOTAL MARKS [50]

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