531-301 Cellular Basis of Disease

Basic Principles of Pathology 531-201; Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 521-211/221 and 521-212/222;

(for pathology majors) 531-302 Techniques for Investigation of Disease.

Recommended: Anatomy and cell biology 516-201; biochemistry and molecular biology 521-301 and/or 521-302; or microbiology and immunology 526-304 plus 526-324.

Students completing this subject will:

• extend and deepen studies of the principles of pathology begun in 531-201, through the scientific study of the causes, mechanisms of development and the possible outcomes of disease;

• understand the cellular and molecular basis of defence and repair processes commonly used by the body when a malfunction of a tissue/organ occurs;

• appreciate the spectrum and limitations of the possible biological mechanisms of response to injury, and be able to relate these mechanisms to those which have been established as the basis of normal cell/molecular biology; and

• gain a deeper theoretical and practical understanding of the way in which questions about disease processes are formulated and investigation of these questions is carried.

The topics to be studied are cell injury, inflammation, regeneration, repair and fibrosis in particular disease contexts; infectious disease; immunopathology; haemo-dynamic disorders; vascular disease and shock; neoplasia; nutritional pathology; environmental pathology; aging; and genetic disease and diagnosis.

A 3-hour end-of-semester written examination worth 70% of total marks; two multiple choice question tests to be held during the semester worth 15% each of total marks.

• R S Cotran, Robbins Pathologic Basis of Disease. latest edition, Saunders.
  or
  E Rubin and J L Farber, Pathology. latest edition, Lippincott.