Lesson 2.1 – Biotechical Engineering History and Industry

Steve Harris PLTW – Biotechnical Engineering

1. What is biotechnical engineering?

• Biotechnical engineering involves the application of biological and engineering concepts in order to design materials and processes that directly measure, repair, improve, and extend living systems.

2. How did important events build on previous knowledge?

• Historically, the use of engineering concepts has aided scientists to further their knowledge of biological information and engineers by using scientific principles to enhance their design solutions.

3. Which events, people, or ideas related to biotechnical engineering are most important to remember? Why? • Significant discoveries relating to cells, DNA, genetics and biochemistry are most important, such as: Leeuwenhoek’s and Hooke’s discovery of microorganisms and development of simple microscopes, Jenner’s discovery of vaccination, Koch’s postulates of disease cause and behavior, Pasteur’s pasteurization methods, Mendel’s discovery of the principles of genetics, Watson and Crick model of DNA, Genetic engineering concepts of DNA by Cohen and Boyer, and the international effort to map human genome.

4. What industries work with or mainly develop biotechnically engineered products? • Biotechnology has applications in such areas as agriculture, pharmaceuticals, food and beverages, medicine, energy, the environment, and genetic engineering.

5. Explain how biotechnical-engineered products impact the development and production of products and services that may improve or extend life. • Biotech engineering is crucial to developing new and unknown treatments and biological tools for human benefit such as: provides insulin for diabetics, grows tissues for human use and implantation, develops vaccines and antibiotics, makes surgery more efficient and safer.

6. Explain how world events impact biotechnological advances.

• Biotechnological discoveries in the world impact the economic, political, and cultural issues by the development and use of technology.

7. What areas of biotechnical engineering have a direct impact on your personal life and how does that affect you? • Answers will vary.