This subject requires on campus attendance. Refer to Additional Requirements for more information.
Life Processes
UndergraduateMAQ-BIOX22102025
- Study method
- Online & on-campus
- Assessments
- Subject may require attendance
- Enrol by
- 20 July 2025
- Entry requirements
- Part of a degree
- Duration
- 13 weeks
- Start dates
- 28 July 2025
- Price from
- $1,195
- Upfront cost
- $0
- Loan available
- HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP available
Life Processes
About this subject
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
- Describe the co-ordination of physiological processes in organisms, including transport systems and responses to stimuli
- Apply detailed knowledge to explain the processes by which organisms gain energy, grow, and develop
- Compare and contrast physiological processes, and their evolution, in microbes, plants, and animals
- Demonstrate critical thinking and writing skills to appraise scientific literature on a major physiological theme
- Analyse and interpret complex experimental data and critically evaluate these data in the context of physiological phenomena
- Apply broad and coherent knowledge of physiology to understand how organisms adapt to environmental challenges.
- A week-by-week guide to the topics you will explore in this subject will be provided in your study materials.
This unit will compare and contrast a range of physiological processes in microbes, plants and animals. It will highlight common features and their evolutionary origins, with particular reference to prokaryotic genes which have been conserved in multicellular organisms. Topics to be explored include metabolism (e.g. respiration, photosynthesis and transport), environmental responses (e.g. abiotic stress response, immune reactions, behaviour), and phenology (e.g. sexual maturation, fertilisation, life cycles). The unit will draw the common threads of evolution together in complex multicellular organisms, as well as contrasting those processes unique to each Kingdom, such as photosynthesis and locomotion.
- Written Assignment (20%)
- Final Examination (40%)
- Weekly quizzes (20%)
- Practical Quizzes (20%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
This research-intensive university in north-western Sydney offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. With over 44,000 current students, Macquarie has a strong reputation for welcoming international students and embracing flexible and convenient study options, including its partnership with Open Universities Australia.
Learn more about Macquarie University.
Explore Macquarie courses.
- QS World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:
- 11
- Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:
- 10
Entry requirements
To enrol in this subject, you must be admitted into a degree.
Prior study
You must have successfully completed the following subject(s) before starting this subject:
one of
Others
NCCW (pre-2020 units): BIOL229, BIOL208, BIOL210, BIOL606
Pre-requisite (40cp at 1000 level or above) including (BIOX1310 or BIOL114) or (BIOX1110 or BIOL115)
Additional requirements
- Attendance requirements - A series of practical classes to complement the lectures, some of which will require on-campus attendance
Study load
- 0.125 EFTSL
- This is in the range of 10 to 12 hours of study each week.
Equivalent full time study load (EFTSL) is one way to calculate your study load. One (1.0) EFTSL is equivalent to a full-time study load for one year.
Find out more information on Commonwealth Loans to understand what this means to your eligibility for financial support.