Important notice
The course guide is provisional.
The PDF version of the course guide may take a few days to become available in the DDD.
Genetic Predisposition to Cancer
Code: 42929Credits: 6
| Degree programme | Type | Course |
|---|---|---|
| Advanced Genetics | OP | 0 |
Contact lecturer
- Name :
- Jordi Surralles Calonge
- Email :
- jordi.surralles@uab.cat
Teaching staff
- Massimo Bogliolo
Group languages
You can consult this information at the end of the document.
Prerequisites
There are not specific requirement for this module. A certain background on human genetics and DNA damage response, including DNA repair mechanism, is advisable.
Objectives
The aim of this module is to dissect the genetic basis of cancer predisposition. We will discuss and perform laboratory experiments to explore the molecular basis of syndromes such as hereditary breast cancer, familiar colon cancer or rare DNA repair syndromes characterized by cancer predisposition such as Xeroderma pigmentosum, Fanconi anemia or Lynch syndromes. We will also discuss and experimentally check how DNA repair can be targeted for specific anticancer therapies.
Learning outcomes
- Preparation and presentation of seminars.
- Write critical summaries about the taught seminars.
- Students should be capable of integrating knowledge and facing the complexity of making judgements using information that may be incomplete or limited, including reflections on the social and ethical responsibilities linked to that knowledge and those judgements.
- Preparation of work related to the module content.
- Analyse the molecular mechanisms operating in genetic pathologies.
- Analyse the molecular mechanisms operating in tumour processes and in the genetic predisposition to suffer them.
- Write reports on the genetic bases of different illnesses.
- Use and manage bibliographical information and other resources related to genetics and related fields.
- Demonstrate responsibility in the management of information and knowledge and in the direction of groups and/or projects in multidisciplinary teams.
- Write a report that considers the use of the methodology used in the module to resolve a specific problem.
- Use scientific terminology to argue the results of the research and show how to communicate in spoken and written English in an international setting.
- Analyse the research results to obtain new products or processes valuing their industrial and commercial viability for transfer to society.
- Develop critical reasoning in the area of study and in relation to the scientific and business environments.
Contents
Theoretical lectures and seminars:
-Molecular basis of cancer predisposition: DNA repair and DNA damange response mechanisms.
-BRCAness and genetic predisposition to breast/ovarian cancer
-Rare DNA repair syndromes of cancer predisposition
-Targeting DNA repair in cancer treatment: chemosensitazing tumors by inhibiting DNA repair.
Synthetic lethality: Chemotherapy of BRCA tumours with PARP inhibitors
Laboratory experiments:
-Sensitivity of cells from Xeroderma pigmentosum to UV light
-Repair kinetics of UV-light induced pyrimidine dimers
-Sensitivity of BRCA negative cells to PARP inhibitors
-Homologus recombination assay
These experiments will require the following techniques:
-culturing of human cells from cancer predisposition syndromes
-cytotoxicity and cell cycle assays
-subnuclear local irradiation of fibroblast
-Plasmid transfection
-RNA interference by siRNA
-flow cytometry
-Western blot
-flow cytometry
Learning activities and methodology
| Title | Hours | ECTS | Learning outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lectures | 10 | 0.4 | |
| Laboratory experiments | 40 | 1.6 | |
| Studing and reading | 37 | 1.48 | |
| Laboratory report | 30 | 1.2 | |
| Seminars | 3 | 0.12 | |
| Discusion of results and preparation of PPT files | 20 | 0.8 |
The student will receive several lectures to get the theoretical background required to perform and follow the laboratory experiments that will take most of the time in close contact with specialists in the field of this module. Bibliografy will be given in advance via Campus Virtual so that the students can discuss it, summaryze it or prepare PPT files in the format of seminars. The students will have to summarize the laboraty experiments performed in the laboratory.
Assessment
Continuous assessment activities
| Title | Weight | Hours | ECTS | Learning outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exam | 40 | 2 | 0.08 | 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, 13 |
| Participation | 20 | 2 | 0.08 | 2 |
| Report | 40 | 6 | 0.24 | 1, 2, 7, 10, 11, 12 |
Stdents must pass a final exam to demonstrate that they have reach an acceptable degree of acknowledge on the different topics discussed in the module.
Students will have to write a report of the experiments performed which will be corrected and evaluated. For the written report, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies is permitted exclusively in support tasks, such as bibliographic or information searches, text correction or translations. The student must clearly identify which parts have been generated with this technology, specify the tools used and include a critical reflection on how these have influenced the process and the final result of the activity. The lack of transparency in the use of AI in this assessable activity will be considered a lack of academic honesty and may lead to a partial or total penalty in the grade of the activity, or greater sanctions in serious cases.
Active participation in the laboratory and via Campus Virtual will be another source of information to reach the final qualification.
The commission of any irregularity in an assessment act (academic fraud, plagiarism or improper use of AI, unless this use is expressly authorized in the teaching guide), which may lead to a significant variation in the grade, means that this act will be graded with a 0. In the event that the teaching guide provides that to pass the subject it is an essential requirement to have obtained a minimum grade in this assessment act or that several irregularities occur in the assessment acts of the same subject, the final grade for this subject is 0. Apart from this, a disciplinary process may be initiated against the student who incurs any of these irregularities.
Bibliography
The student will receive a list of references and the corresponding PDF documents via Campus Virtual
Software
No applicable
Course groups and languages
The information provided is provisional until November 30. After this date, you will be able to consult the language of each group through this link. To access the information, you will need to enter the course CODE
| Type of teaching | Group | Language | Semester | Shift |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (TEm) Theory (master) | 1 | English | first semester | morning-mixed |
| (PLABm) Practical laboratories (master) | 1 | English | first semester | afternoon |
| (PLABsm) Suport a les prà ctiques de laboratori (mà ster) | 1 | English | first semester | afternoon |