ME 406 COURSE PROFILE

COURSE TOPICS:

Introduction to biological principles: cells, self-replication, complex systems and evolution
Biomolecules: energetics, catabolism and biosynthesis, protein structure-function relationship of protein machines, catalysis; nucleic acids and information
Methods in Biology and Biological Research
Cytoskeleton: microtubules and actinfilaments
Biomolecular motors: force generation, step size analysis, single molecule mechanics
Mechanics of the cytoskeleton: force generation and active polymerization
Cell motility: mechanical models and molecular mechanisms
Mechanics of DNA and RNA
Skeletal muscle: structure, physiology, muscle mechanics, energetics and control, models
Cardiac and insect flight muscle, diversity and adaptations
Hearing: Mechanics and molecular mechanisms
Vision: optics, signal processing from the retina to the visual cortex
Respiration and gas exchange
Mechanics of circulation and blood rheology
Viscoelastic materials
Stiff and fibrous composites
Biological ceramics: from bones to egg shells
Biomimetics
Animal locomotion: swimming, flying, running and crawling, cost of locomotion, neuromuscular control
Scaling problems: from bones to metabolic rates and ecosystems

BULLETIN DESCRIPTION: Fundamental properties of biological systems, followed by a quantitative, mechanical analysis. Topics include mechanics of the cytoskeleton, biological motor molecules, cell motility, muscle, tissue and bio-fluid mechanics, blood rheology, bio-viscoelasticity, biological ceramics, animal mechanics and locomotion, biomimetics, and effects of scaling. Individual topics will be covered on a case by case study basis.

To teach the fundamental principles that characterize life and biosystems [1]
To teach key aspects of molecular mechanisms of cellular function [1]
To teach how biosystems transduce energy and information [1]
To teach biomechanical principles that govern how organs and the human body work [1]
To teach principle and unique properties of biological materials [1,2, 5-11]
To study animal locomotion [1]
To introduce students to cutting-edge bioengineering research methods [9,10,11]
To apply quantitative (undergraduate) engineering knowledge to selected biological systems [1,5]
To introduce engineering students to research opportunities in the life sciences [9]
To relate fundamental bioengineering approaches to health-related biomedical research [8, 9, 10]
To teach how biology impacts engineering and bio-nanotechnology [9, 10]

Understand the basic principles that characterize living system [1, 2].
Understand how molecular mechanisms control cellular function [1-3].
Understand energy transduction in biosystems [3].
Understand the quantitative, mechanistic aspects of organ and human body function [4-6].
Understand how biological systems store and retrieve information [3].
Understand the bioengineering foundations of animal locomotion [6].
Understand the central role of ecosystems and energetics [3-6].
Understand modern, quantitative, experimental research methods in bioengineering [7-10].
Improve technical writing and communication skills [8-11].
Understand the societal impact of bioengineering [10, 11]

Homework problems
Review and critique of selected primary literature
Written term papers
Written Exam

COURSE NUMBER: ME 406	COURSE TITLE: Biomechanics for Eng Students
REQUIRED COURSE OR ELECTIVE COURSE: Elective	TERMS OFFERED: Fall or Winter
TEXTBOOK / REQUIRED MATERIAL:	PRE / CO-REQUISITES: MECHENG 320 and MECHENG 382. II (3 credits)
COGNIZANT FACULTY: E. Meyhofer	COURSE TOPICS: Introduction to biological principles: cells, self-replication, complex systems and evolution Biomolecules: energetics, catabolism and biosynthesis, protein structure-function relationship of protein machines, catalysis; nucleic acids and information Methods in Biology and Biological Research Cytoskeleton: microtubules and actinfilaments Biomolecular motors: force generation, step size analysis, single molecule mechanics Mechanics of the cytoskeleton: force generation and active polymerization Cell motility: mechanical models and molecular mechanisms Mechanics of DNA and RNA Skeletal muscle: structure, physiology, muscle mechanics, energetics and control, models Cardiac and insect flight muscle, diversity and adaptations Hearing: Mechanics and molecular mechanisms Vision: optics, signal processing from the retina to the visual cortex Respiration and gas exchange Mechanics of circulation and blood rheology Viscoelastic materials Stiff and fibrous composites Biological ceramics: from bones to egg shells Biomimetics Animal locomotion: swimming, flying, running and crawling, cost of locomotion, neuromuscular control Scaling problems: from bones to metabolic rates and ecosystems
BULLETIN DESCRIPTION: Fundamental properties of biological systems, followed by a quantitative, mechanical analysis. Topics include mechanics of the cytoskeleton, biological motor molecules, cell motility, muscle, tissue and bio-fluid mechanics, blood rheology, bio-viscoelasticity, biological ceramics, animal mechanics and locomotion, biomimetics, and effects of scaling. Individual topics will be covered on a case by case study basis.
COURSE STRUCTURE/SCHEDULE: Lecture: 2 days per week at 1.5 hours

COURSE OBJECTIVES: for each course objective, links to the Program Outcomes are identified in brackets.	To teach the fundamental principles that characterize life and biosystems [1] To teach key aspects of molecular mechanisms of cellular function [1] To teach how biosystems transduce energy and information [1] To teach biomechanical principles that govern how organs and the human body work [1] To teach principle and unique properties of biological materials [1,2, 5-11] To study animal locomotion [1] To introduce students to cutting-edge bioengineering research methods [9,10,11] To apply quantitative (undergraduate) engineering knowledge to selected biological systems [1,5] To introduce engineering students to research opportunities in the life sciences [9] To relate fundamental bioengineering approaches to health-related biomedical research [8, 9, 10] To teach how biology impacts engineering and bio-nanotechnology [9, 10]
COURSE OUTCOMES: for each course outcome, links to the Course Objectives are identified in brackets.	Understand the basic principles that characterize living system [1, 2]. Understand how molecular mechanisms control cellular function [1-3]. Understand energy transduction in biosystems [3]. Understand the quantitative, mechanistic aspects of organ and human body function [4-6]. Understand how biological systems store and retrieve information [3]. Understand the bioengineering foundations of animal locomotion [6]. Understand the central role of ecosystems and energetics [3-6]. Understand modern, quantitative, experimental research methods in bioengineering [7-10]. Improve technical writing and communication skills [8-11]. Understand the societal impact of bioengineering [10, 11]
ASSESSMENT TOOLS: for each assessment tool, links to the course outcomes are identified	Homework problems Review and critique of selected primary literature Written term papers Written Exam