Biology for Engineers

Unit 1.0: Introduction & Classification

Purpose: To convey that Biology is as important a scientific discipline as Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry • Bring out the fundamental differences between science and engineering by drawing a comparison between eye and camera • Bird flying and aircraft • Mention the most exciting aspect of biology as an independent scientific discipline • Why we need to study biology? • Discuss how biological observations of 18th Century that lead to major discoveries • Examples from Brownian motion and the origin of thermodynamics by referring to the original observation of Robert Brown and Julius Mayor • These examples will highlight the fundamental importance of observations in any scientific inquiry • Purpose: To convey that classification per seis not what biology is all about • The underlying criterion, such as morphological • Biochemical or ecological be highlighted • Hierarchy of life forms at phenomenological level • A common thread weaves this hierarchy Classification • Discuss classification based on (a) cellularity- Unicellular or multicellular • (b) ultrastructure- prokaryotes or eucaryotes • (c) energy and Carbon utilisation -Autotrophs • Heterotrophs • Lithotropes • (d) Ammonia excretion aminotelic • Uricoteliec • Ureotelic • (e) Habitata- acquatic or terrestrial • (e) Molecular taxonomy- three major kingdoms of life • A given organism can come under different category based on classification • Model organisms for the study of biology come from different groups • E. coli • S.cerevisiae • D. Melanogaster • C. elegance • A. Thaliana • M. musculus

Unit 2.0: Genetics

Purpose: To convey that "Genetics is to biology what Newton's laws are to Physical Sciences" • Mendel's laws • Concept of segregation and independent assortment • Concept of allele • Gene mapping • Gene interaction • Epistasis • Meiosis and Mitosis be taught as a part of genetics • Emphasis to be give not to the mechanics of cell division nor the phases but how genetic material passes from parent to offspring • Concepts of recessiveness and dominance • Concept of mapping of phenotype to genes • Discuss about the single gene disorders in humans • Discuss the concept of complementation using human genetics

Unit 3.0: Biomolecules & Enzymes

Purpose: To convey that all forms of life has the same building blocks and yet the manifestations are as diverse as one can imagine • Molecules of life • In this context discuss monomeric units and polymeric structures • Discuss about sugars • Starch and cellulose • Amino acids and proteins • Nucleotides and DNA/RNA • Two carbon units and lipids • Purpose: To convey that without catalysis life would not have existed on earth • Enzymology: How to monitor enzyme catalysed reactions • How does an enzyme catalyze reactions? • Enzyme classification • Mechanism of enzyme action • Discuss at least two examples • Enzyme kinetics and kinetic parameters • Why should we know these parameters to understand biology? • RNA catalysis

Unit 4.0: Information Transfer & Macromolecular analysis

Purpose: The molecular basis of coding and decoding genetic information is universal Molecular basis of information transfer • DNA as a genetic material • Hierarchy of DNA structure- from single stranded to double helix to nucleosomes • Concept of genetic code • Universality and degeneracy of genetic code • Define gene in terms of complementation and recombination • Purpose: How to analyse biological processes at the reductionist level • Proteins- structure and function • Hierarch in protein structure • Primary secondary • Tertiary and quaternary structure • Proteins as enzymes • Transporters • Receptors and structural elements

Unit 5.0: Metabolism

Purpose: The fundamental principles of energy transactions are the same in physical and biological world • Thermodynamics as applied to biological systems • Exothermic and endothermic versus endergonic and exergoinc reactions • Concept of Keqand its relation to standard free energy • Spontaneity • ATP as an energy currency • This should include the breakdown of glucose to CO2+H2O (Glycolysis and Krebs cycle) and synthesis of glucose from CO2and H2O (Photosynthesis) • Energy yielding and energy consuming reactions • Concept of Energy charge