Offered to students admitted to Year 1 in ALL
Major/Minor ALL
Course Type
Offer in 2024 - 2025 Y N
Course Code BIOC4612
Date2024/09/16 11:40
Enquiry for Course Details
   <<< This course is not offered in 2024 - 2025. Course details are subject to change. >>>
BIOC4612 Molecular biology of the gene (6 credits) Academic Year 2024
Offering Department Biomedical Sciences Quota 50
Course Co-ordinator Prof K S E Cheah, Biomedical Sciences < hrmbdkc@hku.hk >
Teachers Involved (Dr K M Yao,Biomedical Sciences)
(Prof K S E Cheah,Biomedical Sciences)
(Prof PT Liu,Biomedical Sciences)
(Prof ZJ Zhou,Biomedical Sciences)
Course Objectives To provide an up-to-date knowledge of molecular biology, especially with respect to the regulation of eukaryotic gene expression.
Course Contents & Topics This is a comprehensive course covering many detailed molecular aspects of gene regulation and gene function.  Through this course an understanding of how gene expression can be regulated at levels of transcription and post transcription will be gained.
Course Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this course, students should be able to:

CLO 1 describe the mechanisms for regulation of transcription, RNA processing and translation in eukaryotes
CLO 2 explain how cellular homeostasis can be maintained by a combination of controls of gene expression at multiple levels
CLO 3 illustrate the hierarchy of gene expression regulation in stem cells and developmental processes
CLO 4 interpret experimental results in gene regulation studies
CLO 5 work effectively with classmates in tutorial classes
Pre-requisites
(and Co-requisites and
Impermissible combinations)		 Pass in BIOC3601 or BIOL3401 or BIOL3402 or BIOL3404 or BBMS2007
Course Status with Related Major/Minor /Professional Core 2024 Major in Biochemistry ( Disciplinary Elective )
2024 Minor in Biochemistry ( Disciplinary Elective )
2023 Major in Biochemistry ( Disciplinary Elective )
2023 Minor in Biochemistry ( Disciplinary Elective )
2022 Major in Biochemistry ( Disciplinary Elective )
2022 Minor in Biochemistry ( Disciplinary Elective )
2021 Major in Biochemistry ( Disciplinary Elective )
2021 Minor in Biochemistry ( Disciplinary Elective )
2020 Major in Biochemistry ( Disciplinary Elective )
2020 Minor in Biochemistry ( Disciplinary Elective )
Course to PLO Mapping 2024 Major in Biochemistry < PLO 1,2,3,4 >
2023 Major in Biochemistry < PLO 1,2,3,4 >
2022 Major in Biochemistry < PLO 1,2,3,4 >
2021 Major in Biochemistry < PLO 1,2,3,4 >
2020 Major in Biochemistry < PLO 1,2,3,4 >
Offer in 2024 - 2025 N        Examination
Offer in 2025 - 2026 Y
Course Grade A+ to F
Grade Descriptors
A Demonstrates a deep and comprehensive understanding of the regulation of eukaryotic gene expression and its relevance to disease and effectively relates the knowledge to developmental processes. Uses skill and insight to analyse and interpret experimental data from gene regulation studies.
B Demonstrates a competent grasp of the key concepts in the regulation of eukaryotic gene expression and its relevance to disease and is able to link the knowledge to developmental processes. Correctly analyses and interprets experimental data from gene regulation studies.
C Demonstrates a basic understanding of the regulation of eukaryotic gene expression and its relevance to disease and is sometimes able to relate the knowledge to developmental processes. Displays a limited capacity to analyse and interpret experimental data from gene regulation studies.
D Demonstrates a simplistic knowledge of the regulation of eukaryotic gene expression and rarely relates the information to developmental processes. Displays weak analytical skills and is rarely able to interpret experimental data from gene regulation studies.
Fail Demonstrates incomplete or incorrect knowledge of the regulation of gene expression and is unable to relate the ideas to developmental processes. Unable to analyse or interpret experimental data from gene regulation studies.
Communication-intensive Course N
Course Type Lecture-based course
Course Teaching
& Learning Activities
Activities Details No. of Hours
Lectures 36
Tutorials 12
Reading / Self study 100
Assessment Methods
and Weighting
Methods Details Weighting in final
course grade (%)		 Assessment Methods
to CLO Mapping
Assignments Problem-solving questions and data analysis 50 CLO 1,2,3,4,5
Examination 50 CLO 1,2,3,4
Required/recommended reading
and online materials		 Alberts B et al. (2014) Molecular Biology of the Cell, 6th ed. Garland Science, New York.
Watson JD et al. (2014) Molecular Biology of the Gene, 7th ed. Pearson/Benjamin Cummings, San Francisco.
Course Website NIL
Additional Course Information NIL
Back  /  Home