Italicized font represents information to be shared orally or physically completed with the students at this time.

The non-italicized font represents additional information included to support the teacher’s understanding of the content being introduced within the CELL.

ASK WHY

Remind students that all cancers begin in cells, the body’s basic unit of life and, to understand cancer, it’s helpful to know what happens when normal cells become cancer cells. By completing this core experience learning lab, students will gain insight into the transition from healthy to abnormal cells. They will also gain awareness about this disease. Early awareness saves lives.

BRANCH OUT

Remind students that radiation therapists administer targeted doses of radiation to the patient’s body to treat cancer. As the radiation strikes human tissue, it produces highly energized ions that gradually shrink and destroy the nucleus of malignant tumor cells.

GET FOCUSED

Inform students that the Investigation is designed to help them to answer the following Focus Question:

• What is the relationship between the control of the cell cycle and cancer? Normally the cell cycle is regulated so that cells only progress through the cycle and divide when necessary. In cancer, the regulation of the cell cycle is lost and the cell divides constantly. The constant cell proliferation leads to a tumor and cancer.

Note: This question is located in students’ SDRs at the beginning and end of the Investigation.

Note: This is a succinct response to the Focus Question and is placed here for your reference at this time. Fully developed responses to the Focus Questions can be found on the PostLab page.

GO DEEPER

As a class, read the Background(s) in the Investigation. Have students read the information aloud or silently to themselves. When students have finished, discuss the following concepts as a class:

• Regulation of the cell cycle is very important. If cells divided at random, the organization of the tissue would be lost and the function of the organ would be affected.
• If the gene that codes for the controlling protein is damaged or mutated, then a properly functioning protein cannot be produced.
• If there is no production of the controlling proteins, the cells will go through the cell cycle and divide unregulated.
• Each new (daughter) cell will inherit the mutated gene for this controlling protein because the cell receives an exact copy of the DNA in the original (parent) cell. This means that every daughter cell produced from the originally damaged cell will also divide continuously.
• Cancer is defined as a group of diseases that involve the uncontrolled cell division of body cells.
• Cancer begins when one normal body cell breaks free from normal controls of the cell cycle and begins to follow its own rate of cell division. This happens after damage to the cell’s DNA has occurred, which affects the production of the controlling protein.
• All cells produced by this cell, and all cells from those daughter cells, will also follow a faster rate of cell division.
• This process allows a tumor, made up of a mass of cells, to develop.
• A tumor can invade normal tissue and therefore alter its overall organization and structure.
• This disorganization leads to an inability of the tissue to function, which in turn means that the organ cannot function properly.
• If a single cancerous cell breaks away from the tumor it can travel in the blood to other places throughout the body. At a new site, this single cancer cell will proliferate and form another tumor. This is called metastases and is how cancer spreads.
• Lung cancer, called adenocarcinoma, is one of the leading causes of death in adults.
• The primary cause of lung cancer is cigarette smoke. The chemicals in cigarette smoke are inhaled and absorbed by cells in the lung.
• These toxins damage DNA. If the damage occurs on a gene that normally codes for a cell cycle controlling protein, cancer can develop. 
• Breast cancer develops when a normal duct or lobule cell transforms into a cancerous cell that divides in an uncontrolled manner.
• This transformation occurs after a mutation occurs in the gene that controls the production of a cell cycle controlling protein. 

Note: These concepts are integrated into the Background(s) and are used to deepen students’ comprehension of the big ideas.

LEARN THE LabLearner LINGO

The following list includes Key Terms that are introduced in the Investigation Background(s). They should be used, as appropriate, by teachers and students during everyday classroom discourse.

• cancer
• metastases
• adenocarcinoma

Note: Definitions to these terms can be found on the Introduction page to the CELL.

Note: Additional words may be bolded within the Background(s). These words are not Key Terms and are strictly emphasized for exposure at this time.

SET FOR SUCCESS

• Direct students to complete the Recall section in their SDRs. Student answers may vary.

• How is cell division controlled?
• What would happen if cells continued to divide without any controls of cell division? 

• Play the video below. Stop to ask students questions or answer students’ questions when necessary. Remind students to follow along with their SDRs and make any notes that they think might be helpful.
• After the video, direct students to divide into their lab groups to discuss their strategy for the lab. For example, they may assign certain group members to perform specific functions during the lab.

Note: The purpose of the video is to allow students to anticipate the laboratory experience they will soon encounter. Students should leave this PreLab session with a firm idea of what to expect and how to perform in the lab.

Note: Homework is posted below the video.

HOMEWORK

Tell students that they should review the Investigation in preparation for the Lab.