Biology for Engineers: Unit 1 Question Bank

Biomimetics

• The nose of the redesigned Shinkansen bullet train is inspired by the Kingfisher's beak
• Passive cooling in skyscrapers is inspired by Termite Mounds

Biology for Engineers

• Retinal prosthetic developed by scientists is approved by USFDA
• The gene from Bacillus thuringiensis was used to develop genetically modified corn
• Biofertilizers have the potential to replace chemical nitrogen and phosphorus

Microscopy

• Electron Microscope can be used to observe viruses
• SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope), XRD (X-ray Diffraction), FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy), and XPS (X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy) are used for microstructure analysis

Microorganisms

• Pili are hair-like outgrowths that attach to the surface of other bacterial cells
• Peptidoglycan is the structural component present in bacterial cell walls
• Chitin is the structural component present in fungal cell walls
• Gram-positive bacteria have a thick layer of Peptidoglycan
• Gram-negative organisms are very susceptible to antibiotics
• Cell wall thickness of gram-positive organisms is 20-80 nm
• When gram-positive bacteria are stained by Gram staining technique and visualized under the microscope, they look Purple

Viruses

• Virus hijacks a person's cellular machinery to produce clones of itself
• Rhizopus stolonifer is commonly known as black bread mold
• Amanita is not an edible mushroom

Eukaryotes – Plant and Animal Cells

• The Greek word "Eu" means true
• The synthesis of cholesterol is done by the ER
• The molecule that functions as energy for cells is ATP (Adenosine Tri Phosphate)
• The matrix of the mitochondria in animal cells contains DNA and proteins
• The Golgi complex releases vesicles for package and transport of proteins
• Lysosomes are called the suicide bags of the cells
• Smooth ER is involved in the synthesis of lipids
• Centrioles are responsible for the formation of cilia and flagella in eukaryotic cells

Biomolecules

• Lipid is comprised of fatty acids and glycerol
• Palmatic acid is designated as C16
• Fatty acids with no double bonds are saturated
• Phospholipids contain fatty acids, glycerol, and a phosphate group
• Glycolipids contain fatty acids, glycerol, and carbohydrates
• Terpenes are components of essential oils secreted by plants

Cell Cycle and Mitosis

• Interphase is the stage where the cell grows and prepares for mitosis
• In cytokinesis, the cytoplasm divides
• Chromatids are joined by centromeres in prophase
• Centromeres are specialized regions in chromosomes

Photosynthesis

• Photosynthesis doesn't depend on Oxygen
• ATP is a derivative of Adenosine
• The function of DNA polymerase is to replicate DNA
• Glucose breaks down to form two pyruvate molecules in glycolysis
• In the Krebs cycle, pyruvate is broken down to give Hydrogen and Carbon dioxide