Undergraduate Course: Cancer Biology and Medicine (BIME10030)
Course Outline
School | School of Biomedical Sciences |
College | College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine |
Course type | Standard |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) |
Credits | 20 |
Home subject area | Biomedical Sciences |
Other subject area | None |
Course website |
None |
Taught in Gaelic? | No |
Course description | This course will consider the genetic, molecular and cell biological processes involved in susceptibility to cancer and in the initiation and progression of the disease and show how this knowledge is being translated into improved cancer therapies. The requirement for multiple genetic changes in the development of a metastatic cancer will be illustrated and the role of tumour suppressor genes and oncogenes will be described. The role of DNA repair in preventing genome instability will be discussed and some inherited DNA repair deficiency/ cancer susceptibility syndromes will be described. Alterations in cell cycle control, in proliferative cell signalling and cell death pathways in cancer cells will all be covered. Conventional surgical, radiotherapeutic and chemotherapeutic cancer treatments will be considered and new rational therapies that take into account both individual and cancer biodiversity will be discussed and illustrated for a number of major cancers: breast, ovarian, colorectal, lung and melanoma. Molecular profiling of cancers, identification of novel therapeutic targets, cancer drug development and trials of novel cancer therapies will all be considered and the use of animal models in cancer research will be discussed. The course will consist mostly of lectures, with some teacher-led discussions and non-assessed presentations by students working in groups. Before any student oral presentations there will be a feedback session on an assessed exercise where individual students will be asked to prepare and submit a 5-slide Powerpoint presentation on an early topic from the course. |
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Additional Costs | None |
Course Delivery Information
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Delivery period: 2014/15 Semester 1, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
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Learn enabled: Yes |
Quota: None |
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Web Timetable |
Web Timetable |
Course Start Date |
15/09/2014 |
Breakdown of Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Please contact the School directly for a breakdown of Learning and Teaching Activities |
Additional Notes |
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Breakdown of Assessment Methods (Further Info) |
Written Exam
60 %,
Coursework
40 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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No Exam Information |
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
At the end of this course students should be able to:
¿ Understand how different genetic, molecular and cell biological processes are involved in susceptibility to cancer and in the initiation and progression of the disease.
¿ Understand the achievements and limitations of conventional cancer therapies.
¿ Understand how knowledge of cancer biology can be translated into improved cancer therapies.
¿ Understand the role of animal models in cancer research.
¿ Demonstrate an ability to illustrate and present information regarding a specialised cancer topic in a Powerpoint presentation.
¿ Demonstrate an ability to discuss the different pathways by which cancer cells invade and metastasise and the challenges that this presents for new therapeutic interventions. |
Assessment Information
In course 40% (1 essay 30%; 1 Powerpoint presentation [submitted electronically not presented orally] 10%)
Exam 60%
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Special Arrangements
None |
Additional Information
Academic description |
Not entered |
Syllabus |
Not entered |
Transferable skills |
Not entered |
Reading list |
Not entered |
Study Abroad |
Not entered |
Study Pattern |
Not entered |
Keywords | Cancer biology; cancer genetics; genome instability; cell signalling; therapy; drug discovery; anima |
Contacts
Course organiser | Dr David Melton
Tel: (0131 6)50 5393/5396
Email: David.Melton@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Ms Caroline Morris
Tel: (0131 6)51 3255
Email: c.d.morris@ed.ac.uk |
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© Copyright 2014 The University of Edinburgh - 29 August 2014 3:31 am
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