2/9/2021
BIOLOGY/ BIOLOGY FOR
ENGINEERS STUDY
MATERIAL OF UNIT-1
AS PER MAKAUT-WB SYLLABUS OF BTECH CIVIL/
MECHANICAL/ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING 3RD SEMESTER
Bipasha MridhaGhosh
ASST. PROFESSOR OF BASIC SCIENCE DEPARTMENT
NSHM SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY-DGP
Module No. 1
SYLLABUS OF UNIT-1
Description of Topic
Introduction 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.
THE ROLE OF BIOLOGY IN AN ENGINEERING PROGRAM
Biology may not be a typical subject in the traditional engineering disciplines (i.e., civil, electrical, or
mechanical), however, it is a fundamental component of disciplines , but now a days Biology is
included in to Engineering subjects because it acts as an eye opener. It provokes thought processes
and leads toward discovery of new instruments or game changing theory or hypothesis. Even mixing
of Biology and engineering gave birth of a new branch of engineering called Biosystems engineering.
It emphasizes the application of engineering principles to biologically-based systems (i.e. systems that
include plants, animals, microorganisms, or humans). A biosystems engineering program is designed
to give students knowledge of the fundamental principles of engineering and to introduce biological
concepts to enable these engineers to successfully interact with relevant professionals when solving
engineering problems involving biological systems. The Engineering can influence (agricultural,
biomedical, bioprocessing, environmental, and sustainable building systems) that can be taken within
the biology within engineering program.
Engineers are also designing biological circuits combined with tailor-made proteins as sensors to act as
input/output devices, and genetic networks to calculate appropriate responses to a given input and to
control gene activity. Their ultimate aim is to create a toolbox of biological circuits that can be combined
in a living cell, much as standard circuits are put together on a computer motherboard (Ferber, 2004).
Collins' team rewired two mutually inhibitory repressor genes to create what is known in electrical
engineering as a ‘flip-flop' circuit (Gardner et al, 2000), a switch that can alternate between two
different states. Keasling's project to create artemisin-producing bacteria is ambitious as well, as it
involves creating new biochemical pathways by inserting plant and yeast genes into the bacterial
genome and placing them under the tight control of regulatory networks. Scientists have also managed
to synthesize whole viruses from single nucleotides and cell-free extracts (Cello et al, 2002; Smith et
al, 2003).
What Is Biomimicry?
Biomimicry (literally: imitation of the living ) aims to take inspiration from natural selection solutions
adopted by nature and translate the principles to human engineering. The biomimicry approach aims to
favor “choices” tested by nature which had millions of years to understand what works best and what
doesn’t. Designs following biometrics will ultimately allow human productions to be more
efficient, resilient and sustainable.
TWO EXAMPLES ARE AS FOLLOWS:
o Difference Between Eye And Camera
Eye vs Camera
Eye is an organ of sight while a camera is equipment that is used to record images.
The first and the foremost difference between an eye and a camera is that an eye cannot record an image.
The eyes use living cells to detect and interpret the light and convert these into electrical signals that
are relayed to the brain and processed into an image. The camera on the other hand uses a diaphragm
from where the image is recorded on film or like in modern cameras on tape or digitally.
A camera sees in 2 dimensions while the eye sees in 3 dimensions. This means that when we see with
our eyes we see height, width and depth. With a camera we only see height and width. There is no way
to have the depth in the picture as a photograph is a flat medium. This is mainly achieved by the
stereoscopic vision of the eye. A simple demonstration of this can be trying to bring the forefingers of
both hands to meet from the sides. This is much simpler to do with both eyes open than with only one
eye or almost impossible with a camera.
While changing the focus the retina and parts of the pupil adjust the size accordingly. However, in a
camera the focus is changed by the movement of the lens. Eye has a blind spot which is also known as
scotoma, whereas, the cameras do not have any such limitations. The eye can also adapt itself to the
dark and within a few seconds one can get start seeing better in the dark. However, if a camera is not
equipped to capture images in the dark it can never get accustomed.
The eye is highly sensitive to the dust and foreign particles settling on the outer film. In a camera there
is no such problem as any dust can simply be wiped off the lens.
Summary
1. Eye is a live organ for sight whereas a camera is an equipment to capture images.
2. Eye uses live cells to detect light while the camera uses a diaphragm to detect light and capture
images.
3. Stereoscopic vision of eyes allows 3 dimensional images while camera captures only 2 dimensional
images.
4. The pupil adjusts the size while focusing while in a camera lens moves to change focus.
5. Eyes have blind spots while cameras do not.
Similarities Between Birds And Aircraft
Birds and aircraft are amazing because of their common attribute, flight.
Similarities between birds and aircraft
Humans must have gained the inspiration of flight from birds, since birds were the only living creatures
(putting aside the insects) gifted with the skill of flight. The early days aircraft prototypes contained
movable wings as birds. We can be much inclined to this ‘bird inspired airplane’ hypothesis even more
enlisting similarities between aircraft and birds. So here are 5 similarities between birds and aircraft.
1. The take off (lift)
Birds take off in various ways. Some birds run just before flight to create an air lift (upward force),
some flap their wings and some just jump off and glide. The flapping of their wings to swipe the air
below as well as their speed during the run results the pressure below the birds to be higher and that of
above to be lower. So, this creates an air lift which pushes the birds upward.The similar kind of thing
occur in an aircraft. In helicopter, the rotor pushes the air downwards as do wings in a bird. Also in
airplane, the speed in the runway creates the pressure difference, which is responsible for creating the
lift enough for flight. The structural design is actually more important for the lift.
2. The shape and structure
The structure of birds and aircraft is quite similar. Both have streamlined body structure which is
necessary for flight. The body is made up of light materials in case of aircraft whereas birds have light
bones and feathers in their body.The wings make birds and aircraft even closer, as both of them use
wings for flight as well as the shape of it. Also, the front part of aircraft is pointed as the front part of
bird (beak). This is responsible for creating them more aerodynamic and helps in forward movement
by sweeping the air.
3. Flight techniques – Hovering and gliding
There are various flight techniques that aircraft practice as the birds do. Both birds and winged aircraft
can glide in the air for a longer distance. They can also use gliding as an energy efficient mode. During
gliding almost no energy is spent by birds whereas the aircraft also use minimum of energy. Also the
helicopters hover as different birds do. The diving technique used by birds is also used in airshows.
Most of the flight techniques are adopted from the observation of birds as human strive to outwit birds
in flying.
4. Movement in the air
Aircraft use different movable parts in their wings and tails to movement or simply change direction to
direct the movement like rudder, elevator and ailerons. They control horizontal and vertical movement
as well as tilting. Likewise, the tail of birds are responsible for the makeovers and the entire movement
since both parts of birds are completely movable unlike aircraft.
5. Landing
Aircraft and birds both gain or lose elevation with the variation of the drag force that acts downward
and the lift force that acts upwards. The parts that control the movement are the things that enable them
to create such variation finally enabling them to land as well as take off. Both of them take control
during the landing process by the use of their motion controllers. Birds usually generate a resistance by
flapping their wings while the aircraft move the ailerons, elevator and apply brakes. Apart from these
similarities, both are different in terms of many other things. Even we can sort many differences out in
those above similarities when we scrutinize these two things more. Aircraft have evolved much from
where they have started. So, the early bird inspired aircraft were more bird like than these modern
evolved aircraft that we observe today.
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN AIRPLANE AND BIRD’S STRUCTURES
Airplane's Wing:
The structure of the wing contains a wingtip, the wing flaps, a spar, the fuel tanks, the ribs, an aileron,
the stringers, and the skin of the wing.
Bird's Wing
The structure of the wing attains a terminal phalanx, basal phalanx, metacarpus, unare, radiale, ulna,
radius, numerous, poracoid, blade of scapula, tertials, primaries, and secondaries.
Airplanes
Airplanes lift themselves up with a propeller that circulates in one motion.
Airplanes are built with engines, electrical wires, and cables to operate.
Airplanes use lights to reach to their designated destination.
Airplanes require fuel to operate.
Airplanes can twist and turn but can't change their wingspan shape.
The airplane's wings only provide lift, while the engines or gravity would give thrust.
Confirming Robert Brown's Observations of Brownian Movement
Robert Brown (1773-1858) was a distinguished microscopist and botanist. He discovered the pollen
grains movement under microscopical investigation, and carefully documented it and named as drunken
movement or Drunken Sailor movement. As he found that pollen grains are moving randomly and
colliding with each other and again moved in different direction like drunk people. This phenomenon
now known as Brownian movement. Brownian motion, also called Brownian movement, any of
various physical phenomena in which some quantity is constantly undergoing small, random
fluctuations. It was named for the Scottish botanist Robert Brown, the first to study such fluctuations
(1827).
The history of thermodynamics as a scientific discipline generally begins with Otto von Guericke who,
in 1650, built and designed the world's first vacuum pump and demonstrated a vacuum using
his Magdeburg hemispheres. Guericke was driven to make a vacuum in order to disprove Aristotle's
long-held supposition that 'nature abhors a vacuum'. Shortly after Guericke, the Anglo-Irish physicist
and chemist Robert Boyle had learned of Guericke's designs and, in 1656, in coordination with English
scientist Robert Hooke, built an air pump Julius Robert von Mayer (25 November 1814 – 20 March
1878) was a German physician, chemist and physicist and one of the founders of thermodynamics. He
is best known for enunciating in 1841 one of the original statements of the conservation of energy or
what is now known as one of the first versions of the first law of thermodynamics, namely that "energy
can be neither created nor destroyed".
Assignment:
Answer the following questions:
1) Differentiate between Eye and camera?
2) Differentiate between Bird flying and Air craft flying?
3) Mention similarities between Bird and Aircraft flying process?
4) Find out similarities between eye and camera?
5) What is Brownian Movement? Why it was called drunken movement?
6) How nature study is involved in discovery of Brownian movement.
Search and Answer
How biomimicry solved the following problems
a. Sound level in Bullet Train
b. Sticky grass seed to Million dollar ideas
c. Dispersal of Daisy seed to Parachute
d. Dragonfly to Helicopter to War weapons
