Explain Basic Principles of Mendelian Genetics Including Dominance, Codominance, Incomplete
To be Discontinued? / No
Has been Discontinued / No
Owning Org Unit / Discipline / Agricultural Sciences / School / School of Veterinary and Life Sciences
Collaborating Org Units / Discipline / None[M C1] / School / School of Veterinary and Life Sciences
Unit Coordinator (Callista) / Name / Dr Robin Spectacles / Email /
Unit Coordinator (Future) / Name[M C2] / Email
Teaching Team / Name[M C3] / Email
Administrative Contact / Name / Email
Unit Details
Unit Level / 100
Unit Code
Base Unit Code
Field of Education / 050105 Animal Husbandry[M C4]
Credit Points / 3
Prerequisites / Nil.
Exclusions / Students who have successfully completed XYZ100 Introduction to Bunny Breeding cannot enrol for credit in this unit.
Grading Schema / STANDARD
Timetable this unit / Yes
Unit Type / Repeatable: No
Special Topic: No
Special Unit Type / Transition: No
Breadth for Degree: No
University-Wide Breadth: No
Research Skills: No
Work Integrated Learning / Industry or Community Project: No
Placement or Internship: No
Workplace Simulation: No
Unit Offering Information
Unit Offerings / Publish / Teaching Period / Location / Mode / Self-Enrol / Quota Number (if applicable)
Yes / S1 / MURDOCH / Internal / Yes
Yes / S1 / MURDOCH / External / Yes
If the unit is to be offered in a non-standard teaching period, indicate start and end dates (refer to Teaching Periods, Patterns and Academic Calendars Policy)
Quota (if applicable) - provide details on reasons for application / Admission Requirements: No quota[M C5]
Rationale: Not applicable[M C6].
Appears in these Courses/Majors: see individual structures for context / Animal Health
Animal Science
Biological Sciences
Appears in these Minors / None
Unit Description[M C7]
This unit introduces the theoretical and practical frameworks underpinning bunny breeding for pets, laboratory research and food. Basic principles of genetics, animal handling and husbandry are introduced and then applied to specific aims in bunny breeding. Practical work reinforces the basic principles while building skills in observation, quantification, experimental design and interpreting data.
Learning outcomes[M C8]
On completion of this unit students will be able to:
- Explain basic principles of Mendelian genetics including dominance, codominance, incomplete dominance and epistasis as they apply to desirable discrete character traits in bunnies.
- Define the concept of heredity and explain how it can be calculated for desirable continuous character traits in bunnies.
- Describe the key requirements for successful bunny husbandry, with particular reference to food, shelter, exercise and behavioural enrichment.
- Describe the main characteristics of popular breeds of modern rabbits used in Austtralia for pets, laboratory research and food.
Unit content[M C9]
The unit is organised into these blocks:
- Principles of inheritance – Mendelian genetics, heredity, desirable traits in bunnies for pets, laboratory research and food.
- Bunnies as pets – popular breeds (Angora, British Giant, Dutch, Dwarf Lop, Mini Cashmere, Californian), nutrition, common diseases, space requirements, guidelines for showing.
- Laboratory bunnies – principles of animal ethics, common laboratory breeds (NZ white, Dutch), nutrition, housing requirements.
- Bunnies for food – nutrition, housing requirements, transport, desirable carcass characteristics.
Unit learning experiences[M C10]
The approach to learning in this unit involves structured timetabled learning in lectures and laboratories/tutorials to provide students with hands on experience. Internal students will take specific responsibility for the care of rabbits housed on campus for a six-week period during semester. For their practical work, external students are required to design and build appropriate enclosures for pet rabbits. Other learning activities for external students include recorded lectures and real-time interactive online tutorials.
Timetabled Learning Activities[M C11]
Lectures: 3 hours per week; laboratories/field work: up to 3 hours per week. (External students undertake take-home exercises in lieu of attendance for laboratories/field work).
Other Learning Experiences
External students undertake take-home exercises in lieu of attendance for laboratories/field work.
Other Notes to be published in the Handbook
None.
Assessment[M C12]
Assessment is based on written reports of laboratory activities, a mid-semester test and a final examination. The mark for the first report is not recorded, giving students a chance to benefit from feedback before their first assessed submissions. Detailed feedback is given on all other reports. Sample examination papers and worked solutions are provided to guide preparation for the examination and the mid-semester test.
Assessment Item 1
Assessment Type / Quiz/Test
<See list of assessment types>[M C13]
Assessment Name / Mid-semester test
Description / 40 minute multiple choice test
Formative/Summative / Formative/Summative
Demonstrates learning outcomes / Theory 3
Practical 4
Demonstrates graduate attributes / In-depth knowledge of a field of study
Critical and creative thinking
Weighting / 10
Completion By / Individual
Supervised / Yes
Applicable Unit Offerings / All
Due / Mid
Assessment Item 2
Assessment Type / Examination
<See list of assessment types>
Assessment Name / Final examination
Description / 2 hour examination comprising 60 multiple choice questions and 8 short answer questions.
Formative/Summative / Formative/Summative
Demonstrates learning outcomes / All theory outcomes
Demonstrates graduate attributes / In-depth knowledge of a field of study
Critical and creative thinking
Weighting / 50
Completion By / Individual
Supervised / Yes
Applicable Unit Offerings / All
Due / End
Assessment Item 3
Assessment Type / Practical/Laboratory
<See list of assessment types>
Assessment Name / Laboratory Reports
Description / Four laboratory reports based on laboratory and field investigations.
Formative/Summative / Formative/Summative
Demonstrates learning outcomes / Practical outcomes 1-4
Overall outcome 1
Demonstrates graduate attributes / In-depth knowledge of a field of study
Social interaction
Communication
Critical and creative thinking
Independent and lifelong learning
Weighting / 40
Completion By / Individual
Supervised / No
Applicable Unit Offerings / All
Due / Early
Mid
End
Learning Materials[M C14]
Spectacles, R. (2010) Principles of bunny breeding for pets, laboratory animals and food. Vanity Press, Abuja, Nigeria.
Page 1 of 1 | CD | Unit Description 2018 Academic Year
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[M C1]If staff from another AOU in VLS or from another school are involved, list them here.
[M C2]If the unit coordinator is going to change in the following year and you know it, indicate the new person here.
[M C3]If there are other coordinators or people with a substantial teaching allocation into the unit, list them here.
[M C4]Choose a code from the lists at http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/Latestproducts/6E04E37B83201BCFCA256AAF001FCA5D?opendocument.
[M C5]If you have a quota, indicate it here.
[M C6]But if there was a quota, this is where you justify it.
[M C7]<80 words maximum. The unit description provides a brief explanation of the unit covering key knowledge, skills and application of knowledge and skills. You may also wish to highlight distinctive learning experiences in which the student will engage and explain the role of the unit within the broader course/major. The unit description is published in the Handbook.>
[M C8]<The unit learning outcomes should be written in terms of what the student will know or be able to do on completion of the unit. Using student-centred language you would typically require no more than 4-8 numbered points to define the outcomes with reference to the knowledge and skills developed and the applications demonstrated. Where possible you are encouraged to identify the linkage of each outcome to broader course/major outcomes. Achievement of unit learning outcomes should be explicitly demonstrated through assessment.>
[M C9]<The content section provides extended guidance to students on the key topics, concepts and academic debates to be covered in the unit. You may choose to provide a bulleted list of key concepts, topics and activities or you may choose to provide 2 to 3 paragraphs which provide context to the broad topics to be covered.>
[M C10]<In the description of the unit learning experience you should explain your approach to instruction in the unit using student-centred language. You may choose to explain the relationship between structured timetabled learning (lectures, tutorials etc), timetabled semi-structured learning (workshops, clinics etc) and self-directed or group learning tasks. You may also explain the use of blended learning strategies reflected in your use of moodle or other digital tools/media. This section should be no more than 2 to 3 paragraphs>
[M C11]<You are also asked to provide details of the intended timetabled activities including the type, duration and frequency of that activity. (Descriptions of timetabled activity types.)> (Safari browser users note: if the page does not display properly, use Chrome or Firefox)
[M C12]<In this section you are asked to provide a summary explanation of the assessment strategies in use in your unit. You should explain to students how the assessment tasks align to collectively demonstrate your unit learning outcomes. Maximum 120 words. This information will be published in the Handbook.>
[M C13]Safari browser users note: if the page does not display properly, use Chrome or Firefox
[M C14]<Include indicative learning materials including prescribed or recommended texts and/or digital resources.>