Louise Blakemore
Associate Professor in Medical Education, Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia
Location UK
Activity
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Dear Mary, this is a good question about transcription. The DNA double-helix is 'unzipped' and this allows the RNA machinery access, to create a strand of RNA. Often this RNA is modified slightly and then exported out of the nucleus to allow proteins to be built. Some types of RNA have different functions. For more information on the similarities and...
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Dear David,
I'm glad to hear that you enjoyed this assignment and found it beneficial for your learning!
Louise
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Hi Alexis,
Kenneth's comment that highlights that the cost of treatment for earlier stages of cancer can be lower than that for the more advanced stages is spot on. With respect to ovarian cancer treatment in the UK, it's estimated that treatment of stage 4 advanced cancer costs around three times as much as that for the stage 1 cancer. More details about...
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Hi Isaias,
This course mainly focuses on stem cells is in Week 2, sections 2.10 and 2.11. However, if you'd like to review the basics of this topic again from a different perspective, Bath's 'Inside Cancer' MOOC covers this topic in Week 4. This course has just started:
https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/inside-cancer
Louise
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Hi Azahara,
The data from this ovarian cancer screening study shows that this new method of testing may find twice as many cancers. The investigators are still waiting for results about other aspects of the trial. You can read an update on this study here:
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/news-articles/0515/020415-ovarian-cancer-screening-detection
Louise
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Louise Blakemore replied to Jacqueline Young
Hi Jacqueline,
That's a good question. Due to the many different types of cancer, the treatment options for each, and the differences between each patient, a treatment plan is usually determined on a case by case basis. Patients in the UK with advanced non-small cell lung cancer can be offered treatment that targets these receptors if their cancer is found...
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Hi Chris,
Yes, these may have higher levels of nitrates and nitrates than the non-smoked/cured versions and can have over 10 times the amount of salt. However, they're considered to have more nutritional value than smoked meats as they contain omega-3 fatty acids in addition to certain vitamins and minerals. It's recommended that you should limit your...
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The World Cancer Research Fund has a good article on this topic, with practical guidance!
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Louise Blakemore replied to Jill Benvie
Hi Jill,
You can find the link to the recommended reading in the next step!
Louise
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Louise Blakemore replied to Devon Masarati
Hi Devon,
Thank you for checking. I think that using this video for a non-profit educational purpose would be fine!
Louise
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Hi Kathryn,
Yes, you're right. In certain cases, loss of methylation (or hypomethylation) in the region of oncogenes can contribute to their activation. This process will be explored in more detail in Week 6 if you're interested in learning more!
Louise
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Louise Blakemore replied to Kirsten Paterson
Hi Kirsten,
The viral 'Src' oncogene was named for it's ability to induce sarcomas in chickens and is pronounced 'sark'.
Louise
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That's an excellent answer from Doug with good detail on how necrosis can contribute to cancer development! Next week you'll find out more about how avoiding apoptosis is considered to be one of the 'Hallmarks of Cancer'. Cancer cells can acquire the means to override this highly controlled self-destruct program. These cancer cells can then continue to divide...
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Louise Blakemore replied to aseel turkman
Hi Aseel,
Yes, this glossary will be available throughout the course at the bottom of every page. Alternatively, you can download the PDF version this list at the bottom of this page. That way you can refer to this offline too!
Louise
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Louise Blakemore replied to Allison Coe
Hi Allison,
I think that the term 'consultand' refers to a person that visits a genetic counselor for support. This is distinct from a clinical consultant.
There's a great glossary resource provided by the US National Library of Medicine on Genetic Conditions that you might find useful (although it's much larger than the course...
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Hi David,
Absolutely, Denmark has an excellent healthcare system. It's thought that the high rates of cancer incidence may be down to how well cancer is detected there. However, lifestyle factors such as smoking and drinking are also thought to contribute to the high rates of cancer incidence in this country.
In Week 3 there's more information on cancer...
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Dear Tess,
That's a good question. DNA transcription, the process by which the code in DNA is transferred to RNA takes place in the nucleus. Transcription involves an enzyme called RNA polymerase. You can read more about this process in this Nature Education article, 'Translation: DNA to mRNA to... -
Hi Monty, that's a very good point you've raised about cancer statistics and the exclusion of some types of skin cancer in these figures. Here are further explanations as to why stats for non-melanoma skin cancer can be excluded from comparative analyses of cancer...
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Louise Blakemore made a comment
Thanks Heather! I just learned more in 7 minutes than I have done in years of using Google :)
