System Biology Assignment | Online Assignment

BIOL2499 2020 Assessment: Practical Report 2 (RNA-Seq)
Assessment details – Course: Systems Biology
Assessment task
and purpose
To provide an opportunity for students to demonstrate technical ability in the critical analysis and
interpretation of omics data.
Course learning
outcomes (CLO)
This assessment relates to the following CLOs

1. Demonstrate theoretical and technical understanding of Systems Biology (Omics)
   approaches to the study of biological systems from the level of molecules to cells,
   tissues, organisms and populations.
2. Critically analyse, interpret and explain omics data.
3. Summarise and synthesize and evaluate primary scientific literature.
4. Communicate clearly and effectively using correct scientific language and conventions.
   Assessment
   description /
   requirements
   Working as a pair or an individual, use the instructions in the practical manual to complete the
   practical activities. As an individual, complete the questions relating to the assessment criteria.
   This assessment will demonstrate a capacity to evaluate complex ideas and concepts in research
   of omics datasets.
   Assessment type
   & weighting
   This is a summative assessment. This assessment is worth 5% of the total mark for this course.
   Assessment
   submission details
   Deadline: Midnight Sunday the 24th of May
   Method: Submit the assessment onto CANVAS by the due date. The file format should be Word or
   pdf. Maximum 2 pages.
   Grading /
   performance
   standards
   A rubric is available on CANVAS. It outlines the grading and performance standards. Students
   are encouraged to read the rubric in conjunction with the assessment description. The Discussion
   Board provides opportunities for Q&A about grading and performance throughout the assessment
   period.
   Assessment
   preparation/
   Resources
   https://usegalaxy.org.au/
   http://flybase.org
   https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/
   Assessment
   feedback
   A rubric will be used to grade individual performance. Assessment feedback will be provided to
   individuals on CANVAS at the conclusion of the marking period. Students can ask for input
   (feedback) throughout the assessment period using the Discussion Board’s Q&A. In addition, at the
   conclusion of the marking period, video feedback addressing the strengths and weaknesses of all
   students’ performance (collective feedback) will be provided.
   Indicators of
   authentic and
   blended
   assessment
   Authentic in this assessment
   • Relates to world-wide trends e.g. commonly used techniques in
   systems biology
   • Requires students to use technology in a practical context
   Blended in this assessment
   • Digital technology

BIOL2499 Practical Report 2
Use your results from Practical Activity 2: RNA-Seq: Differential Gene Expression, the
answers to questions completed in the practical manual and the FlyBase website
(http://flybase.org) to complete this assessment. The assessment simply requires answers to the
questions below, a standard practical report structure (intro, results, etc) is not required.
Maximum 2 pages
Q1 Alignment of reads from RNA-Seq:
What is the major challenge faced when aligning reads from an RNA-seq experiment to a
reference genome sequence? How is this challenge overcome?
Q2 The Importance of Replicates:
Use your results from Practical Activity 2: RNA-Seq: Differential Gene Expression to explain
why it is important to have biological replicates in an RNA-seq experiment.
Q3 Biological significance
Use the FlyBase website (http://flybase.org) to investigate the role of the 4 differentially
expressed genes identified when using 3 biological replicates but not using 2 biological
replicates.
Identify the Biological process GO terms (based on experimental evidence) for the 4 genes.
Based on these GO terms and other information on Flybase, hypothesize what is the general
role of these genes. What would be the phenotypic consequences if they were mutated?