Linking Science and Social Issues

Introduction to cellular and molecular biology
Taught through cancer statistics and malfunction of organisms at the cellular and molecular level leading to pathology

Macromolecules [carbohydrates, protein, lipids, nucleic acids]
Taught through nutritional aspects of cancer, role of diet, obesity, and heredity in relationship to cancer risk

Cellular components
Taught through cellular changes common to cancer cell morphology and characteristics

Cellular membranes; Fluid mosaic model
Taught through alteration of cell adhesion and integral proteins in cancer cells

Central dogma: DNA-RNA-Protein
Taught through gene mutations and repair in cancer, changes in gene expression [mRNA and protein] in cancer

Cellular signaling and communication; Reception, transduction and cell response
Taught through abnormalities in cell signaling leading to cancer progression, alterations in receptor location, structure, abundance and function, changes in protein effectors and transduction pathways, abnormal cellular response in cancer cells

Virus structure, reproduction and function
Taught through viral role in cancer; HPV, HIV, HTLV, HHV risk and mechanisms of action leading to cellular progression to cancer phenotypes

Eukaryotic genes and gene expression
Taught through proto-oncogenes and tumor suppressors role in cancer progression

Cellular respiration and fermentation
Taught through decrease in the rate of oxidative phosphorylation in cancer cells with corresponding increase in fermentation, role of angiogenesis and increased blood supply to tumors in cancer progression