Bioengineering

1. Bioengineering Foundations of Engineering

2. Bioengineering • Bioengineering is a branch of engineering that applies engineering problem solving to the areas of biology and medicine. • Bioengineering-Agricultural and Environmental studies: The generation to solutions for agricultural, environmental, and natural resource based problems. • BioMedical Engineering: artificial organs, prostheses, instrumentation, medical information systems, and health management and care delivery systems. • Biomechanical: developing the machinery used to assist in bio ag engineering and biomedical engineering: MRI machines, Prosthetics.

3. Bioengineering • Issues affecting Bio-ag-engineering. • Career Info: • University of Georgia more geared toward Biological-Agricultural Engineering (See attached PDF) • Georgia Tech Bioengineering is more geared toward biomedical (http://www.bioengineering.gatech.edu/general/overview.html) • Bioengineering – Agricultural/Environmental • Green alternatives to fossil fuels. • Ethanol generated by the distilling of corn. • Research possibilities of other crops (sugar cane, root plants) to yield greater output of ethanol than corn. • Bioengineering (splicing DNA) corn to yield higher sugar content than normal consumable corn.

4. Ethics • Code of Ethics Handout • Review the Engineering Code of Ethics Handout especially the Canons 1-7. • Based on these canons, read the following scenarios and make an argument for or against the engineering situation presented in each.

5. Bioengineering • Discussion Scenario 1: • University scientists have isolated the gene that makes a morning glory blue, red, pink or yellow. They are able to splice that dna with that of a cotton plant to yield a naturally grown cotton fiber that is already blue, red, pink or yellow. Discuss the economic, ethical, and environmental impacts of this bioengineered cotton. Should it be allowed?

6. Bioengineering • Discussion 2: • The same research team has turned to animal dna. They have isolated the gene responsible for the effervescent glow of a certain variety of jelly fish. They have decided to introduce that gene to the dna of Flemish giant rabbit (large white rabbits used to promote Easter candy). Discuss the economic, ethical, and environmental impacts of this bioengineered cotton. Should it be allowed?

7. Bioengineering • Discussion 3: • Researchers at the University of Georgia have developed a hybrid peanut. It is bioengineered by splicing the dna of another plant that has a genetic disposition to resist afflotoxin. Afflotoxin is a mold that occasional forms on a peanut crop if moist conditions are present and the peanut is not extracted from the dirt in a timely fashion. If present, can render an entire harvest inedible as afflotoxin has been associated with liver diseases that could lead to death. Discuss the economic, ethical, and environmental impacts of this bioengineered cotton. Should it be allowed?

8. Bioengineering • Discussion 4: • Georgia is one of the largest poultry producing states in the nation. Industry sales statistics show that consumers purchase breast meat chicken 5 to one over other parts of the chicken. Researchers have introduced a growth hormone to the feed used by the Georgia Poultry Farmers yielding chickens larger than average breast meat to maximize expenses and increase profits. Discuss the economic, ethical, and environmental impacts of this bioengineered cotton. Should it be allowed?

9. Bioengineering • Biomedical Engineering: artificial organs, prostheses, instrumentation, medical information systems, and health management and care delivery systems. • Drug Discovery • Bioprospecting & Medicinal Chemistry • Medical Genetics & Molecular Diagnostics • Bioengineering & Biocompatible Materials • Cancer, Ageing, & Inflammatory Disease Vaccine & Infectious Diseases

10. Ethics • Code of Ethics Handout • Review the Engineering Code of Ethics Handout especially the Canons 1-7. • Based on these canons, read the following scenarios and make an argument for or against the engineering situation presented in each.

11. Bioengineering • Fyster Corp. is a leading producer of pharmaceuticals. They have research that shows that stem cells can be the source to a variety of human diseases. However, in order to create stem cells, Fyster Corp. would need to artificially cultivate human embryos in a laboratory for the purpose of harvesting these cells. Based on the Code of Ethics, is this an acceptable bioengineering practice?

12. Bioengineering • Fyster Corp, a leading manufacturer of pharmaceuticals is releasing a line of medications proposed to prevent Alzheimer's Disease. Lab studies on animals have shown 60% success in correcting brain tissue. But 40% experienced sever brain damage and resulting a vegetative state. Fyster would like to conduct human research on death row inmates at federal prisons around the United States. Based on the Code of Ethics, is this an acceptable bioengineering practice?

13. Bioengineering • Fyster Corp., a leading producer of pharmaceuticals, marketed a drug which caused dangerously high blood pressure in some patients leading to several strokes and deaths. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned the drug from the US market. However, European agencies have not yet set a ban on the product. Fyster continued to export the drug to European markets contending that the risk factors are heavily outweighed by the benefits and discredited the US ban. Based on the Code of Ethics, is this an acceptable bioengineering practice?

14. Bioengineering • Biomechanical Engineering - according to Stanford University: • Biomechanical Engineering (BME) has research and teaching programs which focus primarily on neuromuscular, musculoskeletal, and cardiovascular biomechanics. • Research in other areas including hearing, vision, ocean and plant biomechanics, biomaterials, biosensors, and imaging informatics are conducted in collaboration with associated faculty in medicine, biology, and engineering. • BME has particularly strong research interactions with Mechanics and Computation and Design in Mechanical Engineering Department, the Division of Orthopaedic Surgery , and the Departments of Surgery, and Radiology in the School of Medicine. • Research in BME is based upon the integration of biology and clinical medicine with engineering mechanics and design. • Clinical and biological observations and data provide the basis of inquiry. • Mathematical modeling and computer simulation are major tools for better organizing these findings and developing a theoretical framework to provide further insights. • Experimental biological, mechanical, and clinical studies are conducted to answer key research questions and to validate theoretical models. • The design and evaluation of medical implants, devices, and procedures is an important aspect of much of this research. From: http://www.stanford.edu/group/biomech/

15. Bioengineering • Biomechanical Engineering Problem Solving Activity: • Problem Statement: Osteoarthritis is a debilitating disease that causes severe pain in the joints. Some people with osteoarthritis have a difficult time grabbing small objects, maintaining grip and controlling their hands. This makes simple everyday tasks that we take for granted very difficult and painful. You are to design a device that can be easily used by osteoarthritis sufferers to plug in and unplug electronic devices. • Biomechanical Engineering Design Challenge

16. Bioengineering • What is osteoarthritis? • What causes this? • What are the recommended cures or treatments? • Whom does it affect more (men, women, ages, etc.) • Analyze the motion of plugging in and unplugging a device. Which muscle groups are affected? • Measure a standard outlet. Measure a standard plug. Measure the average hand. How can this data be used to shape your solution? • Basic Criteria Analysis Excel Spreadsheet