Biology & Engineering Module 1

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Questions and Answers

What distinguishes engineering from science?

Engineering is centered around inquiry, while science focuses on design.

Science seeks to apply knowledge, while engineering focuses on generating new knowledge.

Science primarily deals with the integration of parts, while engineering focuses on the analysis of parts.

Science is fundamentally about inquiry; engineering is primarily about design. (correct)

What was a key goal of the Human Genome Project?

To create a database for all protein structures

To understand the genetic basis of all known diseases

To map all the genes in the human genome (correct)

To develop new technologies for genetic engineering

How did the Human Genome Project impact cancer research?

By developing new cancer treatments focused on radiation therapy.

By showing that cancer is primarily an environmental disease and not genetic.

By discovering new preventive measures for all types of cancer.

By enhancing understanding through analyzing cancer genomes, leading to personalized medicine. (correct)

What is the approximate number of genes in the human genome?

Between 20,000 and 25,000 (C) Signup and view all the answers

According to the content, what is the primary function of a gene?

To provide instructions for making proteins or RNA molecules (D) Signup and view all the answers

What does comparative genomics, as part of the Human Genome Project, involve?

Comparing human genes with those of other species (B) Signup and view all the answers

How does the content define the term 'genome'?

The complete set of genes or genetic material present in a cell or organism (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which of these best describes the relationship between a scientist, technologist and an engineer?

A scientist and technologist together form the role of an engineer (A) Signup and view all the answers

What functional group is present in the unique amino acid (DOPA) that contributes to strong underwater adhesion?

Catechol (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is a known limitation of the adhesive protein mentioned in the context with respect to its function?

It is ineffective under water. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a bio-inspired innovation mentioned in the document?

High-speed trains inspired by hummingbirds (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the connection between the Shinkansen Bullet Train and the kingfisher?

The train's streamlined design is inspired by the kingfisher's beak. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What was the inspiration behind the invention of Velcro?

Burrs (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is a key characteristic of the adhesive protein mentioned, in addition to its adhesion properties?

It contains formaldehyde which is a carcinogen (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which animal’s natural structure inspired the development of an 'AC-free' building design?

Termite (D) Signup and view all the answers

What unique feature of peacock feathers is mentioned as inspiration for a specific technology?

Their iridescent color without pigments (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the approximate size difference between a marine mussel and a Namib beetle?

The marine mussel is about 1-2 cm larger than the Namib beetle. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which of these organisms is the smallest, according to the provided material?

Coronavirus (D) Signup and view all the answers

If a tardigrade loses 95% of its water, what state will it enter?

Suspended animation (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which of these is NOT a capability of tardigrades listed in the text?

Surviving under intense pressure (C) Signup and view all the answers

What inspired the development of next-generation cameras according to the provided material?

Fruit flies, moths, and crabs (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is one problem the text mentions that marine mussels can offer solutions for?

Underwater adhesion (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the approximate size of a barn owl?

Around 30-40 cm (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which of these sizes is closest to that of the Drosophila melanogaster (fruit fly)?

3 mm (D) Signup and view all the answers

Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Biology & Engineering Approaches

Module 1, taught by Dr. Priyanka Singh, Department of Bioscience & Bioengineering, IITJ.

What is Engineering?

Engineering involves studying existing things (science) and theories, alongside the needs of society and nature, to create tools and solve problems.
It also involves creating things that don't exist (technology), using the knowledge and tools from the needs and resources that exist.
Engineers combine scientific understanding with technological know-how to address needs.

Chemical Engineering

Chemical engineering draws from chemistry, physical chemistry, biology, mathematics, and physics.
It's heavily influenced by various industries including energy, materials, petrochemicals, and pharmaceuticals.

Design Process in Engineering

Engineering design involves analysis and synthesis.
Analysis focuses on identifying needs, evaluating existing solutions, and choosing the best approaches.
Synthesis involves formulating requirements, generating ideas, creating models/prototypes, and making detailed decisions.

Difference Between Science and Engineering

Science seeks to understand the natural world through inquiry
Engineering designs solutions based on scientific understanding.

Data Scientist vs Data Engineer

Data Scientist: Analyzes and interprets complex data to uncover insights; uses statistical models, machine learning, and analytics; focuses on forecasting and predictive modeling; skilled in Python, R, and data visualization tools.
Data Engineer: Designs, builds, and maintains data infrastructure; works with ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) and data pipelines; focuses on data collection, storage, and accessibility; skilled in SQL, data warehousing, and big data tools (Hadoop, Spark).

Biology/Medicine-Engineering Landscape

Biotechnology uses living organisms (and their derivatives) to develop products and processes.
Bioengineering is a broad field involving different technologies applied to biology.
Biomedical engineering applies engineering principles to medicine and human health. This field covers various areas like biomaterials, tissue engineering, and more.

Bioengineering: New Interface of Engineering and Biology

The 1950s saw the discovery of the DNA double helix, kicking off the first biotech revolution.
The Human Genome Project in the 1990s dramatically advanced our understanding of genetics.
The 2000s saw advancements in synthetic biology.

Human Genome Project: 1990-2003

The Human Genome Project (HGP) mapped all human genes, greatly improving our understanding of human genetics.
Comparative genomics compared human genes to those of other species to understand similarities, genetics, evolutionary history, etcetera
The HGP impacted medical research, especially in understanding and treating cancer, and enabling personalized medicine.

Genome and Gene

A genome is the complete set of genetic material in an organism.
A gene is a segment of DNA that provides instructions for proteins and RNA.
An average human genome contains 25,000 genes, and each gene typically codes for three proteins.
Human cells contain about 6 feet of DNA in each cell and over 10 trillion cells in the body.

The Bio Revolution

McKinsey predicts a biotech revolution reaching $4 trillion per year by the 2030s.
This revolution will affect human health and transform agriculture.

Neuralink Brain Chip

A chip designed to allow signals and functions from the brain to be recorded and used to control external technologies.

Nature's Curiosities

Examples of animals and biological entities in nature with specific size characteristics were given.

Get Curious

Tardigrades, microscopic animals, have remarkable survival abilities like suspending their life processes and tolerating extreme environmental conditions.

Nature's Innovations for Today's Solutions

Many biological systems have remarkable survival abilities like anoxybiosis, cryptobiosis, anhydrobiosis, and osmobiosis.
Nature's innovations inspire many technologies designed to address today's challenges.

Next-generation Cameras

Researchers have found inspiration in animals like fruit flies, moths, and crabs, to develop tiny compound-eye cameras.

Problem with Smart Glues

Some smart glues contain formaldehyde, a carcinogen.
Also, these glues are irreversible and ineffective underwater.

From Basics to Bio-Inspired Designs

Various natural designs, such as color-changing fibers from hogberries, elephant-inspired handling, woodpecker-inspired shock absorbers, and peacock feather-inspired paint, are being considered for use and design in various applications and technologies by human engineers.

Living Systems as Natural Bioengineers

Nature's ingenious designs offer inspiration for new technologies, including the design of the Shinkansen bullet train from bird beaks and Velcro from burrs.

Engineering Marvels

Animal features inspire engineering innovations including the boxfish's shape giving ideas for next-generation vehicles and termite houses inspiring architectural designs of buildings that do not use climate control.

Inspiration from Spiders for Mission Mars

Scientists developed a robot rover inspired by spiders for exploring Mars.
Spiders' unique method of movement (rolling) that inspired a new robot design.

More Robotics Inspirations from Nature

Self-propelled robots, flexible robots, soft grippers, balancing robots, repairing robots, swim and algae-inspired robots, and various other robots are inspired by nature.

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Description

Explore the interplay between biology and chemical engineering in this quiz. Taught by Dr. Priyanka Singh at IITJ, learn about engineering principles, the design process, and the vital role of chemical engineering across various industries. Test your understanding of these foundational concepts!