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Inside Cancer

How Genes Influence Cancer Development

Marie Salter, Dr Momna Hejmadi, Laurence Hurst (Educator), Andrew Ward (Educator), Andrew Chalmers (Educator), Alex Jeffries (Educator), J Licchesi, and Adele Murrell

Most FutureLearn courses run multiple times. Every run of a course has a set start date but you can join it and work through it after it starts. Find out more The course is designed as a beginner’s guide to cancer genetics and would appeal to school students, teachers, undergraduates, pharmacists, nurses, medical practitioners, or indeed anyone interested in understanding the molecular basis of cancer. You can use the hashtag #FLgenesbath to talk about this course on social media.

Topics Covered

What is cancer and why do we get it?
How rogue cells behave: oncogenes, tumour suppressor genes and apoptosis in cancer development
Genetic pathways to cancer: angiogenesis, metastasis, cancer stem cells and immune cells in cancer development
Diagnostics and treatments: success and challenges of traditional (radiotherapy /chemotherapy) and targeted (immunotherapy) approaches

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Reviews summary

Cancer genetics: a beginner's guide

According to learners, this course provides a clear introduction to the complex topic of cancer genetics. Many found the explanations of fundamental concepts, such as oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes, to be particularly helpful. Students appreciated the course's design as a beginner's guide, suitable for a wide range of backgrounds from students to healthcare professionals. While generally well-received, some noted that the pace can be challenging for those entirely new to the subject, whereas others with more background found it too basic in parts. Overall, it's seen as a solid starting point for understanding how genes influence cancer development.

Pace and depth vary depending on background.

"As someone completely new, the pace sometimes felt a little fast."

"I already had some biology knowledge, so parts felt a bit slow and basic for me."

"Could use more detail on specific pathways for those wanting depth."

Covers key, up-to-date topics.

"The material felt very relevant to current understandings of cancer."

"Liked the sections on immunotherapy and targeted treatments."

"The topics covered were exactly what I expected and needed."

Provides a solid foundation.

"This course was an excellent first step into the world of cancer genetics."

"Perfect if you need a basic overview before diving into more advanced topics."

"I feel like I have a good base understanding now thanks to this course."

Complex concepts explained simply.

"I found the complex genetic ideas broken down into easy-to-understand parts."

"The way the instructor explained how genes relate to cancer made sense, even with no prior biology."

"Really helped clear up my confusion about oncogenes and tumor suppressors."

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Learners who complete Inside Cancer: How Genes Influence Cancer Development will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

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The Genetic Basis of Human Cancer

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This comprehensive textbook provides an in-depth overview of the genetic basis of human cancer, covering topics such as cancer genomics, tumor suppressor genes, and oncogenes. It is highly relevant for a deep understanding of the topic and is authored by two leading experts in the field.

Inside Cancer

How Genes Influence Cancer Development

Topics Covered

Topics Covered

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Reviews summary

Cancer genetics: a beginner's guide

Activities

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Reading list

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