Teachable Tidbit:
Cell Signaling—Why should YOU Care?
Mountain West Summer Institute
August 3, 2012
Group 1: Cell Biology
Participants: Patrick Burns, Jacquelyn Duke, Diane Hartman,
Pamela Harvey, Andrea Stith, and Mark Thomas
Facilitators: Renee Dawson and Robin Wright
Overview
• Topic: Cell signaling and cancer
• Context:
– Week-long unit geared toward 100-level biology
course for majors and non-majors.
– End of semester
– 50 to 100 students
• Prior Knowledge:
– Cell structure
– Mitosis
– Reading assignment on cell signaling
Unit Goals
• Understand that cell signaling
regulates cell division
• Understand that defects in cell
signaling underlie cancer
Tidbit: Outcomes & Activities
What do these people have in common?
• What IS cancer?
• Will there ever be a cure?
Cell Division and Cancer
Go
Cell Division
STOP
A
B
Cell Division
Go
C
D
E
STOP
F
___Transduction Pathway
___Nuclear Envelope
___Plasma Membrane
___Growth Factor Receptor
___Growth Factor
___Tumor Suppressor Gene
Regulators of Cell Division
Gene
Protein
Normal Function
ErbB2
HER2
Growth Factor Receptor
PDGFR
PDGFR
Growth Factor Receptor
BRCA1,2
BRCA
Tumor Suppressor
TP53
p53
Tumor Suppressor
CHEK-2
CHK2
Tumor Suppressor
Too Much
Protein
Too Little
Protein
Summary Assessment Question
Jane recently was diagnosed with breast cancer.
The oncologist performed a biopsy and
laboratory analysis revealed an increase in
HER2 receptors and decreased p53.
You work in a pharmaceutical company and are a
genius at drug design. Brainstorm a way to
treat Jane’s cancer.
Take home messages:
Appropriate cell signaling is required for
normal cell division.
Cancers are caused by defects in cell
signaling pathways.
Multiple defects magnify the severity.
Assessment, Alignment, & Diversity
Thank you!
Facilitators,
Group Members &
National Academies
Summer Institute for
your contributions!
Website Citations
• 1 http://trusstyjasmine.blogspot.com/2012/03/stem-cellscan-repair-damagedcorneas.html#axzz22P5vt5SP
• 2
http://www.buyactivatedcharcoal.com/infecte
d_wounds
• 3
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_skeleton