531-301 Cellular Basis of Disease

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This subject may be taken as part of a major in pathology or as a single pathology subject. Students intending to complete a major in pathology are required to enrol in both 531-301 and 531-302.

To enrol in 531-303 and 531-304, a pass grade must be achieved in both 531-301 and 531-302.

Number of points: 12.5

Subject co-ordinators: Dr M M Ayers; Dr J R Underwood

Pre-requisites:

531-201; biochemistry and molecular biology 521-211, 521-212 and 521-220.

For pathology majors: 531-302 Techniques for Investigation of Disease.

Recommended: Anatomy and cell biology 516-201; biochemistry and molecular biology 521-301 and/or 521-302; or microbiology and immunology 526-304 plus 526-324.

Contact:

36 lectures (three per week)

Students completing this subject will:

• extend and deepen studies of the principles of pathology begun in 531-201 through the scientific study of the causes, mechanisms of development and the possible outcomes of disease;

• understand the cellular and molecular basis of defence and repair processes commonly used by the body when a malfunction of a tissue/organ occurs;

• appreciate the spectrum and limitations of the possible biological mechanisms of response to injury, and be able to relate these mechanisms to those which have been established as the basis of normal cell/molecular biology; and

• gain a deeper theoretical and practical understanding of the way in which questions about disease processes are formulated and investigation of these questions is carried.

The topics to be studied are cell injury, inflammation, regeneration, repair and fibrosis in particular disease contexts; infectious disease; immunopathology; haemo-dynamic disorders; vascular disease and shock; neoplasia; nutritional pathology; environmental pathology; ageing; and genetic disease and diagnosis.

Assessment:

A 3-hour end-of-semester written examination (70%) and two multiple choice question tests to be held during the semester (15% each).

Prescribed texts:

• R S Cotran, Robbins Pathologic Basis of Disease . latest edition, Saunders.
  or
  E Rubin and J L Farber, Pathology . latest edition, Lippincott.