NBIK10015U Cell Cycle Control and Cancer

Volume 2024/2025
Education

MSc Programme in Biochemistry
MSc Programme in Biology
MSc Programme in Biology with a minor subject
MSc Programme in Molecular Biomedicine

Content

To give students a thorough understanding of pioneering and contemporary cell cycle research with emphasis on the mechanisms that are deregulated in cancer.

To be able to understand, evaluate and convey molecular genetic research on cell cycle control and cancer development.

Following themes:

  • Cancer as a genetic disease
  • Basic cell-cycle regulation and deregulation of the pRB pathway
  • p53 and checkpoints
  • Genetic instability and DNA repair
  • Mitosis
  • Loss of heterozygousity
  • Epigenetics and cancer
  • Mechanisms of chromosome mis-segregation
  • Fragile sites in chromosome replication


Within each course week one or two themes will be covered by an introductory lecture, by group discussions of papers (journal-club format) and by a research seminar given by an expert in the field.

Learning Outcome

Knowledge:

A critical experimental approach applied to the study of cell cycle control. The course is heavy on genetics, but also deals with techniques of cell biology, protein chemistry and biochemistry.

Skills:

The student will be able to read, understand and convey the reasoning and logic of scientific experiments that deals with experimental approaches to cell cycle control in normal cells, and the genetic deregulation of theses control mechanisms that causes cancer or contribute to cancer development.

Competences:

To be able to understand, evaluate and convey molecular genetic research on cell cycle control and cancer development.

Literature

See Absalon.

Molecular Genetics or equivalent.

Academic qualifications equivalent to a BSc degree is recommended.
Lectures, group discussions of research papers, and guest seminars.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Lectures
  • 27
  • Preparation
  • 148
  • Theory exercises
  • 27
  • Exam
  • 4
  • Total
  • 206
Oral
Continuous feedback during the course of the semester
Peer feedback (Students give each other feedback)
Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
On-site written exam, 4 hours under invigilation
Type of assessment details
The on-site written exam is an ITX exam.
See important information about ITX-exams at Study Information, menu point: Exams -> Exam types and rules -> Written on-site exams (ITX)
Aid
All aids allowed

The University will make computers available to students at the ITX-exam.

Students are not permitted to bring digital aids like computers, tablets, calculators, mobile phones etc.

Books, notes, and similar materials can be brought in paper form or uploaded before the exam and accessed digitally from the ITX computer. Read more about this at Study Information.

Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
No external censorship
Several internal examiners/co-examiners.
Re-exam

The same as the ordinary exam.

If ten or fewer students have signed up for re-exam, the type of assessment will be changed to oral exam.

Criteria for exam assesment

In order to obtain the grade 12 the student should convincingly and accurately demonstrate the knowledge, skills and competences described under Learning Outcome.