Postgraduate Course: Cancer Biology (LISC11025)
Course Outline
| School | School of Clinical Sciences and Community Health |
College | College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine |
| Course type | Standard |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Credits | 40 |
| Home subject area | Life Sciences |
Other subject area | None |
| Course website |
http://www.gradlife.ed.ac.uk/post_opp/mscbyres.htm |
Taught in Gaelic? | No |
| Course description | The study of cancer encompasses a broad spectrum of approaches, from the analysis of basic molecular mechanisms to the psychosocial factors relating to therapeutic and preventative strategies. The aim of this course is to provide an integrated introduction to this area of work.
There is much evidence from both human and mouse studies of what genetic changes are involved in tumour evolution and progression. These may involve the activation of proto-oncogenes to oncogenes or the inactivation of tumour suppressor genes. While activating mutations in proto-oncogenes are almost invariably found as somatic mutations, inactivating mutations in tumour suppressor genes may be inherited in the germline, giving rise to familial cancer syndromes. Environmental agents also play an important role in tumourigenesis and in many cases susceptibility to these agents is a function of the genetic constitution of the patient at one or more loci, so that genetic information is vital in informing preventative strategies. The efficacy of many of the therapeutic drugs used in cancer treatment depends both upon the genetic constitution of the patient and the somatic genetic changes that have given rise to the tumour. Furthermore, a number of approaches to cancer treatment are under development that can be classed as gene therapy, involving either the correction of gene mutations or the genetic modification of tumour cells to enable them to be selectively destroyed. |
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: 2012/13 Semester 1, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
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WebCT enabled: No |
Quota: None |
| Location |
Activity |
Description |
Weeks |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
| No Classes have been defined for this Course |
| First Class |
First class information not currently available |
| No Exam Information |
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
The purpose of this mini project is to ascertain that students:
- have a thorough knowledge of the relevant literature, can make a critical appraisal of the key material in it and can place their own proposed project in its context,
- can accurately report the work already done and its significance.
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Assessment Information
Students will produce a report at the end of the mini-project for assessment in the form of a scientific paper (no more than 5 000 words) to provide practice in accurate and concise writing. The miniproject report should be prepared to high standard. Student will also be asked to include in this report a brief critique, spelling out the strengths and weaknesses of the project design or experimental approach.
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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 | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Prof Margarete Heck
Tel: 0131 242 6694
Email: |
Course secretary | Mrs Marie Manson
Tel: 0131 242 6478
Email: |
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