Introductory lecture material will cover normal cellular and molecular biology, including cell division, cell death, gene structure/regulation, protein structure/function, cell motility and signal transduction. Once this foundation is established, we will discuss how these normal cellular processes are distorted to trigger the development of cancer, and how modern medicine is using this information to generate a new generation of drugs.

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Real-world laboratory experience will each molecular biology techniques. Specifically, we will investigate cell death and chemotherapy-resistance using western blot analysis, and explore an example of gene regulation using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

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To conclude the class, the students will investigate a gene of their choosing, and conduct independent computer research to determine the normal role of the gene, the role of the gene in the development of cancer, and how researchers are targeting the gene to develop new drugs.

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Throughout the class there will be a heavy emphasis on how to identify, analyze and solve problems using the scientific method, and how these skills translate into diverse professions within the field of biomedicine.

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- Don’t be intimidated by the unfamiliar terminology...the purpose of the class is to learn exactly what all of this stuff means.