Introduction:

Biology is the study of living organisms and their interactions with each other and their environments. For engineers, understanding biology can provide valuable insights into designing and creating technologies, systems, and solutions that interact with or are inspired by living organisms. This interdisciplinary approach, known as bioengineering or biomedical engineering, has led to numerous innovations in fields such as healthcare, agriculture, energy, and environmental sustainability. Here are some key concepts in biology that engineers should be familiar with:

1. Cell Biology: Cells are the basic structural and functional units of life. Understanding cell structure, function, and processes such as metabolism, reproduction, and communication is crucial for designing biological technologies and understanding how living systems operate.

2. Genetics and Molecular Biology: Genetics is the study of genes, heredity, and variation in living organisms. Molecular biology focuses on the structure and function of biomolecules like DNA, RNA, and proteins. Engineers can apply genetic engineering techniques to manipulate genes and design organisms with desired traits, as well as utilize biomolecules for various applications such as drug delivery and biosensors.

3. Biomechanics: Biomechanics examines the structure and function of biological systems from a mechanical perspective. This includes studying how organisms move, how forces affect biological tissues, and how mechanical principles can be applied to design prosthetics, implants, and other medical devices.

4. Bioinformatics: Bioinformatics involves the use of computational tools and techniques to analyze biological data, such as DNA sequences, protein structures, and gene expression patterns. Engineers can leverage bioinformatics to model and simulate biological systems, identify potential drug targets, and optimize biological processes.

5. Ecology and Environmental Biology: Ecology explores the interactions between organisms and their environments, including ecosystems, communities, and populations. Understanding ecological principles is essential for developing sustainable technologies and mitigating environmental impacts.

6. Biotechnology: Biotechnology encompasses a wide range of technologies that use biological systems or living organisms to develop products and processes. This includes applications such as biopharmaceuticals, biofuels, bioremediation, and agricultural biotechnology.

7. Synthetic Biology: Synthetic biology involves engineering biological systems for specific purposes by designing or redesigning genetic components and pathways. Engineers in this field aim to create novel organisms with customized functions, such as producing valuable chemicals or materials.

8. Neuroscience: Neuroscience investigates the structure and function of the nervous system, including the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves. Engineers interested in neuroengineering can develop technologies for neural interfacing, brain-computer interfaces, neuroprosthetics, and neural implants.

By integrating principles from biology with engineering methodologies, engineers can tackle complex challenges and develop innovative solutions that benefit society and the environment. This interdisciplinary approach not only fosters technological advancement but also contributes to our understanding of living systems and their remarkable capabilities.

1. BFE: Course Syllabus: BBOK407, BBOC407

2. About the Course : Prerequisites, CLO, CO, PO, PSO, PEO,CO-PO-PSO Mapping

3. Lesson Plan

• T1: Biology for Engineers, Rajendra Singh C and Rathnakar Rao N, Rajendra Singh C and Rathnakar Rao N Publishing, Bengaluru, 2023.

• T2: Human Physiology, Stuart Fox, Krista Rompolski, McGraw-Hill eBook. 16th Edition, 2022

• T3: Biology for Engineers, Thyagarajan S., Selvamurugan N., Rajesh M.P., Nazeer R.A., Thilagaraj W., Barathi S., and Jaganthan M.K., Tata McGraw-Hill, New Delhi, 2012.

• T4: Biology for Engineers, Arthur T. Johnson, CRC Press, Taylor and Francis, 2011

• T5: Biomedical Instrumentation, Leslie Cromwell, Prentice Hall 2011.

• T6: Biology for Engineers, Sohini Singh and Tanu Allen, Vayu Education of India, New Delhi, 2014.

• T7: Biomimetics: Nature-Based Innovation, Yoseph Bar-Cohen, 1st edition, 2012, CRC Press.

• T8: Bio-Inspired Artificial Intelligence: Theories, Methods and Technologies, D. Floreano and C. Mattiussi, MIT Press, 2008.

• T9: Bioremediation of heavy metals: bacterial participation, by C R Sunilkumar, N GeethaA C Udayashankar Lambert Academic Publishing, 2019.

• T10: 3D Bioprinting: Fundamentals, Principles and Applications by Ibrahim Ozbolat, Academic Press, 2016.

• T11: Electronic Noses and Tongues in Food Science, Maria Rodriguez Mende, Academic Press, 2016

https://nptel.ac.in/courses/121106008   

https://freevideolectures.com/course/4877/nptel-biology-engineers-other-non-biologists   

https://ocw.mit.edu/courses/20-020-introduction-to-biological-engineering-design-spring-2009    

https://ocw.mit.edu/courses/20-010j-introduction-to-bioengineering-be-010j-spring-2006   

https://www.coursera.org/courses?query=biology   

https://onlinecourses.nptel.ac.in/noc19_ge31/preview   

https://www.classcentral.com/subject/biology   

https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/biology-basic-concepts