OVERVIEW

Causes of Human Disease: Exploring Cancer and Genetic Disease is organized by FutureLearn.

Duration: 2 Weeks

Description:
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 reproduce. On 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 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.