SCHM 109  sec 003                                                11/20/09

The next homework assignment is here.  It is not due the date listed on the top of the page. It will be due 11/30/09. Unlike your previous assignments, most of this assignment is relatively descriptive, and does not require critical thinking or higher level reasoning about the subject.  The NCI slide show will give you most of the information you need to complete the assignment.  The only preparation you should need:

    a) Genes in this context are sections of DNA that code for the production of molecules (RNAs and proteins) that perform specific functions in your body.

    b) The expression of some genes is tightly controlled.

    c) Estrogen is one of the molecules that is involved in control of expression from some genes.

    d) Estrogen dependent breast cancer cells depend on estrogen activating certain of their genes to enable the cancer cells to divide (tumor growth).

    e) If the process of estrogen activation of genes in estrogen dependent breast cancer cells can be disrupted, the cancer cells (tumors) will (usually) cease dividing, and the patient will (usually) recover from the cancer.