How do cells become cancerous?

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How do cells become cancerous?

Lesson Overview

There are 6 steps that a cell goes through to become a "cancer cell." Students will investigate these steps by navigating through the "inside cancer" site and investigating the "Hallmarks of Cancer" presentation.

Goals and Objectives

Students will be able explain the requirements to become a cancer cell.

Common Misconceptions

Students have a connection to cancer by knowing people who have been diagnosed, survived, or died from the disease. Understanding the mechanism to which cells become cancerous will allow for a deeper understanding of the process and how current research is conducted to create better, more specific treatments.

The Lesson

Copy worksheet questions for students. Prepare class computers by preparing website access. Students should have already learned concepts such as the cell cycle, transcription/translation, DNA structure and function.

During class

Students will investigate a multimedia presentation on "The Hallmarks of Cancer" while answering questions as they naviagate their presentation. Students will be in groups of 3-5, and each group of students will have a different "Hallmark of Cancer" to investigate. After completion of their topic, students will take part in a jig saw activity where they will leave their original group and be put into a larger group that has at least one person from each "hallmark." They will then have to fill in a table that contains information on each "HALLMARK" as they exchange information with others from their new group.

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Time required

Students will need 20 minutes to investigate and discuss their hallmark with their group so that all individuals within the group are "experts" on their topic. An additional 30 - 60 minutes will be needed within new groups to distribute information among individuals.

Student Handouts for the Lesson Plan Each student will have to answer the “overview” handout questions before they begin work with their individual hallmark.

Overview questions that all students will answer.

1. Who gets cancer? 2. Where does cancer occur in the body? 3. Cancer begins with how many cells having mutations? 4. What percent of cancers are inherited? 5. What usually causes cancers? 6. What kind of mutation can lead to a cancer and what does the mutation create? 7. Mutations can disrupt what part of cell life? 8. Define the “hallmarks of cancer.”

There will be a worksheet for each "hallmark" that will be filled out as the initial group navigates the presentation assigned (still in the works). The cumulative handout will be a data table that summarizes information from each hallmark topic. Each student should have their original "hallmark" investigation sheet as well as the summary table sheet attached in their lab notebook by the end of the period.

7 investigations will be

Uncontrolled division

Evading death

Processing nutrients

Becoming immortal

Invading other tissue

Avoiding detection

Promote other mutations

JIG-SAW CONNECTION WORKSHEET

HALLMARK

1. Uncontrolled division

2. Evading Death

3. Processing Nutrients

4. Becoming immortal

5. Invading other tissue

6. Avoiding Detection

7. Promoting other mutations