Course Description
Students will explore the history, causes and types of cancers, progression of cancer, and treatment options, amid studying the underlying biological processes involved in it. The lectures provide background information, and the discussion groups will focus on specific topics and introduce students to the reading and analysis of scientific data.
Athena Title
Biology of Cancer
Prerequisite
BIOL 1108 or BIOL 1108E or BIOL 2108H
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Student learning Outcomes
- By the end of this class, students will be able to demonstrate and apply understanding of cancer history, biology, statistics, and treatment.
- By the end of this class, students will be able to analyze authentic scientific data and draw conclusions relevant to cancer biology, supporting claims with sound reasoning.
- By the end of this class, students will be able to propose appropriate experimental methods and treatment options to study and treat cancer.
- By the end of this class, students will be able to express scientific ideas using clear and accurate language as used by the cancer research field.
- By the end of this class, students will be able to collaborate with peers to incorporate multiple perspectives on cancer discovery techniques and treatment options.
Topical Outline
- History of cancer, morphological hallmarks of cancers, heredity of cancer
Causes of cancer, cancer statistics, Warburg effect
Aging and disease, immune system, genetics of aging (telomerases, polymerase, DNA repair machinery)
Overview of the cell cycle, which cells cycle, cancer stem cells, oncogenes and proto-oncogenes
Protein expression and destruction, tissue-specific regulation of the cell cycle
Cell cycle checkpoints
Cell cycle disruption in cancer cells
therapies, genetic testing, etc
Transforming growth factor pathways in disease
Breast and prostate cancer, triple negative, HER-positive, BRCA mutations
Colon cancer, polyps, Wnt-signaling
Blood and neural cancers
Skin Cancer
Institutional Competencies Learning Outcomes
Analytical Thinking
The ability to reason, interpret, analyze, and solve problems from a wide array of authentic contexts.
