Title Boilogy for Engineers Notes- Module 01 (1).pdf ✅

Biology for Engineers Notes Module – 01 INTRODUCTION TO BIOLOGY: The cell: the basic unit of life, Structure and functions of a cell. The Plant Cell and animal cell, Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic cell, Stem cells and their application. Biomolecules: Properties and functions of Carbohydrates, Nucleic acids, proteins, lipids. Importance of special biomolecules; Enzymes (Classification with one example each), Properties and functions: vitamins and hormones. Introduction to Biology: Cell: Cells are the fundamental units of life and they are made up of many smaller parts that work together. 1. Every living organism, from the simplest bacteria to giant whales, is made up of cells. Even single-celled organisms like amoebas are complete organisms in themselves, carrying out all necessary functions within a single cell. 2. Multicellular organisms, like humans and plants, are composed of trillions of cells working together in a highly coordinated way. Each cell type is specialized for a particular function, like muscle contraction in muscle cells or nerve impulse transmission in nerve cells. Understanding cells is critical for various fields: 1. Medicine: Studying cells helps us understand diseases like cancer, which arise from abnormal cell growth. 2. Biotechnology: Genetic engineering involves manipulating cells to produce new products or treatments. 3. Agriculture: Understanding plant cells is crucial for improving crop yields and developing resistance to diseases.
Structure and Function: The common Main Components 1. Plasma Membrane (Cell Membrane): 2. Cytoplasm: 3. Ribosomes: 4. DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid) Fig. Structure of cell 1. Plasma Membrane (Cell Membrane): This acts like a gatekeeper, controlling the flow of materials entering and leaving the cell. It's a thin phospholipid bilayer that separates the cell's interior from the surrounding environment. 2. Cytoplasm: This jelly-like substance fills the cell and suspends all the other organelles. It's the site of many cellular processes, like metabolism, that keep the cell functioning.
3. Ribosomes: These tiny particles are responsible for protein synthesis, assembling proteins based on instructions from DNA. 4. DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid): The genetic material containing the instructions for building and maintaining the organism. It's usually found in a chromosome form. There are two main types of cells: 1. Prokaryotic cell 2. Eukaryotic cell 1. Prokaryotic cell Prokaryotic cells are the simplest and oldest type of cell. They are found in bacteria and archaea, which are single-celled organisms. Prokaryotic cells are much smaller than eukaryotic cells (plant and animal cells). Fig. Prokaryotic Cell Structure
Structure of Prokaryotic Cells: Prokaryotic cells have a simpler structure compared to eukaryotic cells. They lack a membrane- bound nucleus and most membrane-bound organelles. Here are the key components of a prokaryotic cell:  Plasma Membrane: The outer boundary of the cell, controlling what enters and leaves.  Cytoplasm: The jelly-like substance filling the cell, where most cellular processes occur.  Ribosomes: Tiny particles responsible for protein synthesis.  DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid): The genetic material containing the instructions for building and maintaining the organism. It's found in a single, circular chromosome located in the cytoplasm.  Cell Wall (in some prokaryotes): Provides structural support and protection.  Capsule (in some prokaryotes): A sticky outer layer that helps with attachment or protection.  Flagella (in some prokaryotes): Hair-like structures for movement. Functions of Prokaryotic Cells: Prokaryotic cells carry out all the essential functions of life, even though they are simple. These functions include:  Growth and reproduction: Prokaryotic cells can grow and reproduce by binary fission, a process where a single cell divides into two identical daughter cells.  Metabolism: They can break down nutrients from their environment to obtain energy and use those building blocks to construct new cellular components.