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ERIC Number: EJ1211479
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2019
Pages: 9
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0021-9266
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Using "C. elegans" Notch Mutants in an Undergraduate Cancer Biology Laboratory Course to Demonstrate Oncogenic Effects on Cell Proliferation
Journal of Biological Education, v53 n3 p265-273 2019
Undergraduate laboratory exercises addressing aspects of cancer biology such as increased cell proliferation, gain-of-function signaling mutations and tumour formation often rely on tissue culture or even small mammal models. Many departments have limited or no access to these tools, and even well-equipped departments face logistical problems when incorporating these models into laboratory classes. I have developed a laboratory exercise using the microscopic worm, "C. elegans", to demonstrate the effects of Notch receptor mutations on cell proliferation. Notch, which is activated by juxtacrine signaling, is mutated in many human cancers. In this exercise, students compare the germline phenotypes of worms that have a loss-of-function Notch mutation (no cells in the germline) or a gain-of-function Notch mutation (over-proliferation resulting in a germline tumour). Students also genotype the worms and perform sequence analysis to determine the effects of the mutations on the protein sequence. This laboratory exercise demonstrates oncogenic proliferation, correlates genotype to phenotype, exposes students to model organisms and introduces sequence databases and analysis. In addition to cancer biology courses, this exercise could be incorporated in courses with a focus on genetics, cell biology or developmental biology.
Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A