Growth Control and Cancer
Biol. 172b
Spring 2014
Tuesdays and Fridays, 11:00 am - 12:30 pm
Bassine 208
Instructor: Dr. Rachel Woodruff ()
Office hours: Thursdays & Fridays 2-3pm in Bassine 230 (group), or by appointment
Course description: This course will introduce the molecular basis of cancer, the history of cancer research, and many experimental approaches used in cancer research. You will practice and develop your skills in observation and interpretation of scientific data, reading and understanding primary research papers, and developing thoughtful biological questions, as well as in discussion and oral presentation.
Course format: Come to class ready to participate! We will spend a lot of class time looking at scientific data and analyzing data and research articles.
After the first few meetings of class, part of each class meeting will be devoted to studentpresentations of cancer research articles. Each of you will give two presentations. You will be assigned to a team of four for your first presentation, anda team of 2 for your second. During a team presentation, each of you will present a part of the paper.
In-class discussions, both in your smaller assigned group and with the class as a whole, will also be a regular part of class meetings. In some cases, you will be called on individually to present your group’s conclusions to the class.
The textbook will be an important resource to you in developing a general understanding of cancer biology, and inunderstandingand presenting the research articles. Occasional quizzes may be given in class to help you keep on top of the basic concepts, but there will be no exams.
Cell phones and laptops are generally not allowed, as they can interfere in group discussions.
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Text: The Biology of Cancer, by Robert A. Weinberg. Garland Science, publ. Second Edition, ISBN 978-0-8153-4220-5
Additional readingswill be posted on LATTE. There will be many!
Grades:Your grade for the course will be based on your course work:
30%Homework assignments and quizzes
30% Participation and attendance in class
40% Presentations (two)
If you are a student with a documented disability on record at Brandeis University and wish to have a reasonable accommodation made for you in this class, please see me immediately
Academic Integrity: You are expected to be familiar with and to follow the University’s policies on academic integrity (see ). Faculty may refer any suspected instances of alleged dishonesty to the Office of Student Development and Conduct. Instances of academic dishonesty may result in sanctions including but not limited to failing grades being issued.
Course schedule: This schedule does not show the specific daily reading assignments you will be given. On most days, there will be one or two research articles assigned. See LATTE for updates to assignments and schedule.
WeekSubjectDays
Week 1Introduction to Cancer BiologyJan 14Text Ch1 (no article)
Textbook: Chapter 1Jan 17Text p31-54 (no article)
Week 2The nature of cancerJan 21pp439-458 and Fialkow
Textbook: Chapter 2Jan 24pp458-468 and Al Hajj
Week 3Tumor development Jan 28:Text pp55-67;Ames Chapter 3 Jan 31 Text Ch3 Group 1 presents
Week 4Tumor viruses and transformationFeb 4 Group 2
Chapter 4Feb 7Text Ch4Group 3
Week 5Oncogenes, part 1Feb11 Group 4
Feb14Group 5 and Guest Lecture
Week 6Oncogenes, part 2Feb 25 Group 6
Textbook: Chapters 4, 5 and 6Feb 28 Group 7 and Pair 1
Week 7Regulating cell growth, part 1March 4Pair 2
Textbook: Chapter 4March 7Pair 3
Week 8Regulating cell growth, part 2March 11Pair 4
Textbook: Chapter 5March 14Pair 5
Week 9Tumor suppressors, part 1March 18Pair 6
Textbook: Chapter 6March 21Pair 7
Week 10Tumor suppressors, part 2March 25Pair 8
Textbook: Chapter 7 and 8March 28Pair 9
Week 11Tumor suppressors, part 3April 1Pair 10
Textbook: Chapter 8 and 9Apr 4Pair 11
Week 12ImmortalizationApril 8Pair 12
Textbook: Chapter 10April 11Pair 13
Week 13Mutator mutationsApril 25Pair 14
Textbook: Chapter 12April 29Pair 15