Unit 3: The Microenvironment, Influences on Stem Cell Fate, and Cancer

By Darci Kimball, Laurel Barchas, Doug Brownfield

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Suggested time frame:Five to ten class periods

Course level: Advanced Biology, AP/IB level Biology, biotech classes, college level
Biology

Inquiry teaching: Read how to modify the curriculum for inquiry teaching

• Download Unit Three Outline of Lesson [pdf]
• Download Unit Three Teacher Background Information [pdf]
• Download Unit Three Teacher Glossary [pdf] (refers to terms in Teacher Background Information document)
• Download Unit Three Student Glossary [pdf]
• Download Unit Three Bibliography [pdf]
• Download Unit Three PowerPoint presentation [ppt]
• Go to Introductory Lesson download page
   

Brief Outline of Unit 3 with download links

I. Invitation

A. Animation-immune cells and colony stimulating factors

B. Review genetic processes by viewing animations of transcription and translation

1. Practice transcription and translation with interactive animations

C. AP extension activity

1. Microenvironment array activity; how does a cell with one genotype give rise to cells with different phenotypes?

i. Download Unit Three Appendix A, Microenvironment Array Activity Handout: From Genotypes to Phenotypes
ii. Download Unit Three Appendix A, Instructions for Microenvironment Array Activity

II. Exploration

A. Cell Fate and behavior

1. Lecture-How cell phenotype comes from genotype; transcription and translation; how a cell knows what to become; Central Dogma of Biology

i. Download Appendix B, Central Dogma of Biology Handout

2. Jigsaw reading activity
3. Lab exercise-RNAi and Genetics Lab Kit from BioBridge at UCSD
4. AP extension-cell invasions video, cell behavior

B. Micro-environment and Cancer

1. Lecture and supplementary ppt slides; normal microenvironment
2. Aberrant gene expression and abnormal microenvironment
3. Readings of varying levels of difficulty and discussion of contents
4. AP extension discussions

III. Application

A. Lecture-Progenitor cells, Human mammary gland

1. The role of microenvironment in normal development and cancer

B. Inspect videos of arrays

1. cDNA array animation
2. ELISA animation

C. Readings on immunocytochemistry topics

1. Understand use of fluorescently-tagged antibodies
2. Mammary gland images from LaBarge lab

i. download Unit Three Appendix C, mammary gland images [ppt]

3. Fluorescently-tagged stem cell pictures

i. download from CIRM’s flickr page

D. Visualize breast stem cells, control of breast stem cells and origins of breast cancer with animations

E. Prepare short paper summarizing the Microenvironment Array (MEArray)

1. Signals from the microenvironment

F. Design a MEArray research project

1. Understand how scientists test putative ME factor affects on mammary gland progenitor cells using MEArray technology

i. Download Unit Three Appendix D, MEArray Teacher Guide

G. AP Extension questions

1. Forces and cell fate decisions.
2. How can effects of forces on stem or progenitor cells be tested
3. Cell fate determination research
 

IV. Assessment

A. Essay questions or exam to test understanding of listed topics
B. AP thought questions or web research project to answer listed questions