BMB835: Cancer Cell Biology

Comment

Mine. 5 participants and a maximum of 20 participants.
This training course is performed according to legal safety instructions, but uses experimental protocols and chemicals that are suspected of being potentially harmful to pregnant / breastfeeding women. Pregnant / breastfeeding students should therefore contact the course coordinator well in advance of course registration.

The course has a limited number of participants, and if there are more registrations than the limit indicates, the time registrations will be prioritised after the date of registration.

Entry requirements

The course cannot be followed by students who have taken BMB810.

The course cannot be taken by students who are not enrolled at BMB or Biomedicine.

Academic preconditions

Students taking the course are expected to:

Have fundamental knowledge of cell biology and molecular biology
Be able to use basic techniques within the area of cell biology and molecular biology.

Participant limit

Course introduction

The aim of the course is to provide extensive knowledge on the molecular and cell biology of cancer. The first part of the course gives a detailed overview of the factors and mechanisms that contribute to the development of this disease while the second part focuses on specific types of cancer highlighting similarities and differences.

It is the goal of the course to strengthen the specific academic profile of the students within the area of Biomedicine and Biochemistry/Molecular Biology.

The course establish a logical connection with some of the courses followed earlier in the area of BMB and Biomedicine and bring the students to an upper-level knowledge and expertise expanding specific skills and competence with which they have familiarized earlier. An intensive practical training gives the students the possibility to put into practice the theory they have been learning as follow up to the theoretical part of the course.

The course builds on the knowledge acquired in the Bachelor degree in BMB/Biomedicine and gives an academic basis for studying topics cancer cell biology – typically in a masters project.

In relation to the competence profile of the degree it is the explicit focus of the course to make the students able to:

Describe and explain relevant concepts related to the biology of cancer
Develop and formulate constructive criticism on peer-reviewed articles
Understand how scientific knowledge is acquired by an interplay between theory and experiments
Master modern techniques in the fields of Cell Biology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Formulate a critical assessment of the results obtained relating them to each other.

Expected learning outcome

The learning objective of the course is that the student demonstrates the ability to:

Part 1:

Understand and use appropriately the terminology within the cancer cells biology field
Understand the nature of cancer and cell processes leading to uncontrolled cell proliferation
Explain the molecular and cellular basis of frequently occurring forms of cancer
Discuss basic concepts of translational cancer research
Understand advanced methodologies applied to cancer research and treatment

Part 2:

Analyse the effect of chemotherapeutic agents on cancer cells with respect to the DNA status and selected intracellular signal transduction pathways
Analyse the role of tumour suppressor gene products as master guardian of the genome

Content

The following main topics are contained in the course:

Molecular mechanisms in cell cycle regulation
The biology and genetics of cancer
The role of oncogenes and tumour suppressor genes
Cell signalling
Maintenance of genomic integrity and cancer development
Tumour angiogenesis
Tumour metastasis
The rational treatment of cancer
Cancer Immunology
Bioinformatics in cancer research
DNA damage and repair pathways
Elements of nutrition in cancer

Literature

See itslearning for syllabus lists and additional literature references.

Examination regulations

Exam element a)

Timing

Spring

Tests

Written report based on lab. work

EKA

N210041112

Assessment

Second examiner: None

Grading

Pass/Fail

Identification

Full name and SDU username

Language

Normally, the same as teaching language

Examination aids

To be announced during the course

ECTS value

Additional information

The report is submitted as group work.

Exam element b)

Timing

June

Tests

Written exam

EKA

N210041102

Assessment

Second examiner: Internal

Grading

7-point grading scale

Identification

Student Identification Card

Language

Normally, the same as teaching language

Examination aids

The exam is without aids. However, it is allowed to use "ordbogsprogrammet" (the dictionary programme) from http://www.ordbogen.com/ in electronic form provided this has been downloaded and installed before the start of the exam. The browser version is not allowed.

Internet is not allowed during the exam. However, you may the course site in itslearning in connection with filling out the multiple-choice questions.

ECTS value

Additional information

The exam is conducted as a multiple choice test.
The re-exam will be changed to an oral-exam, no change in censorship and grading, when there are 5 or fewer participants. The oral re-exam will be without aids and preparation, and will be 25 minutes including grading.

Indicative number of lessons

74 hours per semester

Teaching Method

At the faculty of science, teaching is organized after the three-phase model ie. intro, training and study phase.

Intro-phase: 24 hours
Training phase: 50 hours, of which 50 hours lab. exercises

The intro-phase comprises lectures, which will be carried out in the form of a dialog between the teachers and the students. The lectures will cover relevant topics that are part of the course and will supply the selected literature with additional notions and perspectivation. The lecture slides will, in fact, contain information that is not necessarily part of the assigned literature. The relevant theory for carrying out the practical part of the course will be discussed during the lectures.

In the training phase, the students will have the opportunity to apply the acquired knowledge by performing experiments related to some of the topics discussed during the lectures. The students will be acquainted with modern techniques in the fields of Molecular Biology, Biochemistry and Cell Biology. In the study phase, the students are expected to re-elaborate the knowledge acquired during the lectures and the practical part of the course with the help of the selected literature. The lectures and laboratory training are meant to complement each other and provide the students with optimal learning tools.

Educational activities:

To read and study text-book chapters, scientific articles and websites which should complement the content the lecture slides
To prepare for the practical part of the course
To write an obligatory report

Teacher responsible

Name	E-mail	Department
Barbara Guerra	bag@bmb.sdu.dk	Institut for Biokemi og Molekylær Biologi
Paolo Ceppi	pceppi@bmb.sdu.dk	Institut for Biokemi og Molekylær Biologi

Timetable

Odense

Show full time table

Administrative Unit

Biokemi og Molekylær Biologi

Team at Educational Law & Registration

NAT

Offered in

Odense

Recommended course of study

Profile	Education	Semester	Offer period

Transition rules

Transitional arrangements describe how a course replaces another course when changes are made to the course of study.

If a transitional arrangement has been made for a course, it will be stated in the list.

See transitional arrangements for all courses at the Faculty of Science.