Module Specification
The information contained in this module specification was correct at the time of publication but may be subject to change, either during the session because of unforeseen circumstances, or following review of the module at the end of the session. Queries about the module should be directed to the member of staff with responsibility for the module.
Title GENES AND CANCER
Code LIFE302
Coordinator Dr V See
Biochemistry
Violaine@liverpool.ac.uk
Year CATS Level Semester CATS Value
Session 2016-17 Level 6 FHEQ Second Semester 15

Pre-requisites before taking this module (other modules and/or general educational/academic requirements):
LIFE201 In addition, Genetics students should have taken LIFE 208, and Biochemistry and Biological and Medical Sciences students should have taken LIFE 202 

Modules for which this module is a pre-requisite:
 

Co-requisite modules:
 

Linked Modules:
 

Teaching Schedule
  Lectures Seminars Tutorials Lab Practicals Fieldwork Placement Other TOTAL
Study Hours 24
This refers to timetabled lectures
        3
This refers to one timetabled Bioinformatic workshop of 2h plus one 1h assessment-preparation workshop
27
Timetable (if known)           During the assessment preparation, guidance will be provided on how to perform the case-study exercise and what to revise for the quiz. Information will also be provided on how to answer the questions
  		 
Private Study 123
TOTAL HOURS 150

Assessment
EXAM Duration Timing
(Semester)		 % of
final
mark		 Resit/resubmission
opportunity		 Penalty for late
submission		 Notes
Unseen Written Exam  180  Semester 2  80  Yes    Formal examination 
CONTINUOUS Duration Timing
(Semester)		 % of
final
mark		 Resit/resubmission
opportunity		 Penalty for late
submission		 Notes
Coursework  90 min  Semester 2  5  Yes    On-line case-study exercise and knowledge quiz 
Coursework  1h30, 3 questions, 5  semester 2  15  Yes  Standard UoL penalty applies  Guided analysis of a published paper figures Notes (applying to all assessments) Witten examination will be extended written exercises and short answer questions Continuous assessment will be a case-study exercise and a document analysis. 

Aims

1. To develop students’ understanding of how cancer occurs and the role of oncogenes and tumour suppressor genes in the development of human cancer

 
2. To develop students'' understanding of what are the hallmarks of cancer and what are the therapeutical strategies and limitations
 
3. To develop students’ ability to apply their knowledge and understanding, to critically evaluate and interpret the published literature in the field of cancer biology

Learning Outcomes

To explain the molecular and cellular basis of cancer formation

To appraise the biological capabilities acquired during the multistep development of human tumours 

To explain the current therapeutic strategies for cancer treatment

To critically evaluate how technologies such as transcriptomics and bio-informatics have shaped our knowledge of the mechanism of cancer progression

To synthesise information, critically review evidence to support conclusions, and define complex problems by applying appropriate knowledge and skills in the area of genes and cancer

Teaching and Learning Strategies

Lecture - This refers to timetabled lectures

Workshop - This refers to one timetabled Bioinformatic workshop of 2h plus one 1h assessment-preparation workshop

During the assessment preparation, guidance will be provided on how to perform the case-study exercise and what to revise for the quiz. Information will also be provided on how to answer the questions for the document analysis exercise.

Syllabus
1 

      1.    How does cancer initiate?

·       DNA damage and mutation
·       Genome instability and DNA repair: Oncogenes and tumour suppressor genes
·       DNA repair defect as a target for chemotherapy
·       Detection of genomic alterations
 

2.    Cancer hallmarks:
 
·       Self-sufficiency in growth signals
·       Cell immortalisation
·       The tumour micro-environment (including tumour hypoxia)
·       Metabolic reprogramming
·       Evading growth suppressors
·       Resisting cell death
·       Tissue invasion and metastasis
 
3.     Anti-cancer therapeutic strategies:
 
·       Cancer, the view from the clinic
·       From drug target to drug design
·       Targeted therapies


Module content will be delivered primarily via standard lectures, which will be accompanied by suitable lecture handouts available on VITAL. For independent study, students will be guided to textbooks, but also to specific reviews of source literature, copies of which will be made available on VITAL and in the library for use by the students. At intervals during the module, more focused workshops will allow students to integrate specialised techniques/approaches in the understanding o f cancer research. Lectures will be supported by on-line resources, mainly published papers and reviews, available through VITAL. Opportunities will exist for students to self-evaluate their understanding of the content of the module, and practice for the exam, through short answer questions and truncated publication available on Vital.  Guidance on how to answer the questions will be provided during a specific lecture will be provided during a specific lecture and feedback will be provided via Padlet.

Recommended Texts
Reading lists are managed at readinglists.liverpool.ac.uk. Click here to access the reading lists for this module.
Explanation of Reading List:

WEINBERG, R. (2014) The Biology of Cancer. 2nd edition, Garland Science.
The students will also be directed to current research literature.