What if we understood the genetic causes of cancer?

Suitable for secondary, high school and college students, this article and accompanying activity sheet can be used in the classroom, school clubs and at home.

This resource links to KS4 and KS5 biology and genetics.

It can also be used as a careers resource and links to Gatsby Benchmarks:
Gatsby Benchmark 2: Learning from career and labour market information
Gatsby Benchmark 4: Linking curriculum learning to careers

• Cancer is a disease caused by mutations in the genes within our cells. Professor Ian Prior, at the University of Liverpool in the UK, is trying to find out why some gene mutations are more likely to contribute to cancer than others. This knowledge could lead to the development of new treatments for this widespread and deadly disease. This resource introduces students to molecular oncology and how gene mutations can lead to the development of cancer.

• This resource also includes an interview with Ian about his career path, as well as a section dedicated to careers in his field. If your students (or you) have questions for Ian, you/they can send them to him online. All you need to do is to go to the article online (see the Futurum link below), scroll down to the end and type in the question(s). Ian will reply!

• The activity sheet provides ‘talking points’ (based on Bloom’s Taxonomy) and activities to prompt students to reflect on Ian research.

• The PowerPoint summarises the key points in the article and includes additional ‘Talking Points’.

This resource was first published on Futurum Careers, a free online resource and magazine aimed at encouraging 14-19-year-olds worldwide to pursue careers in science, tech, engineering, maths, medicine (STEM) and social sciences, humanities and the arts for people and the economy (SHAPE).

If you like these free resources – or have suggestions for improvements –, please let us know and leave us some feedback. Thank you!