Causes of Human Disease: Exploring Cancer and Genetic Disease Course - University of Leeds FutureLearn

Explore how the unravelling of genetic code has led to a deeper understanding of genetic diseases and cancer.

Understand the role of genes in cancer and genetic disease

It’s widely known that some diseases run in families. The discovery of the structure of DNA and the unravelling of the genetic code has led to a deeper understanding of such diseases. We now know more about the genetic basis of cancer and how cancer cells are formed and reproduced. In this course, you’ll explore the structure of DNA, its processes and learn how genetic disease results from DNA alterations. You’ll look closely at the nature of these changes, causes and risk factors – this is vital in the case of cancer, as prevention has proved to be an effective way of managing this disease.

What topics will you cover?

• The chemical structure of DNA, genes and chromosomes.
• The importance of DNA in understanding the causes of genetic diseases.
• DNA replication and cell reproduction.
• The role of genes and proteins in controlling the activities of the cell and the cell cycle.
• How genes and chromosomes can be permanently altered when mistakes happen during DNA replication.
• The wide variety of different agents can cause cancer.
• The differences between normal cells and cancer cells.
• Causes of genetic disease.
• Different types of genetic diseases and how they may arise.

When would you like to start?

Most FutureLearn courses run multiple times. Every run of a course has a set start date but you can join it and work through it after it starts.

• Available now
• 27 September 2021

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to:

• Explore how some diseases are caused by problems with our genes.
• Identify what genes are and the role they can play in human disease.
• Explain the basis of inherited disease and cancer.
• Describe what cancer is.
• Summarise the main risk factors for cancer.

Who will you learn with?

Phil Burns

I am a senior lecturer in the School of Medicine at the University of Leeds. I have a strong interest in medical education and cancer research.

Who developed the course?

University of Leeds

As one of the UK’s largest research-based universities, the University of Leeds is a member of the prestigious Russell Group and a centre of excellence for teaching.