BME FINAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Provide a definition for the term biomedical engineering and list top 3 subspecialty areas
- Answers - To the understanding of biological systems, to advance the practice of
medicine, and to develop therapeutic technologies and devices.
list 5 technical subspecialties of bio-med engineering. - Answers - biomaterials, bio
imaging, biomechanics, bioprocessing, R&D, manufacturing engineer.
list four main types of biological polymers and provide a simple chemical example for
each. - Answers - lipids- Methyl group
Polysaccharides- vast array of monosaccharides
Nucleic acids- 5 primary Nucleotides
Proteins- 20 amino acids
look at structures in diagram guide
describe what is meant by the term base pairing and describe the base pairing rules for
DNA and RNA. - Answers - the combination of hydrogen bonds that holds together
based on complementary strands of DNA or along the RNA strand. (B) G&C, A&T for
DNA, G&C, A&U for RNA
Describe polymerase chain reaction and the steps involved (PCR) and (B) list 2
applications for this technique. - Answers - (A)a cylindrical method for replicating short
strands of DNA using a heat stable polymerase
Steps- heat to unwind, lower heat to allow primer binding, increase heat to allow stable
polymerase to add nucleotides to the growing strand, repeat until desired amount is
obtained. (B)Forensic and paternity test.
Describe why PH regulation is important in processes involving protein function -
Answers - Ph regulation allow proteins to function properly, changing PH can cause the
protein to denature and structure. (B) Proteins function depends on it structure.
What is the difference between the term genome and the term proteome, which is
larger? - Answers - Genome is an organisms complete set of DNA, Proteome is the
entire set of proteins expressed by the genome, cell, tissue or organism.
(B)Proteome is larger because the protein encoded by a specific gene can be altered in
multiple ways via post-translational modifications.
Explain what is meant by the terms cell culture and cell culture media - Answers - cell
culture- growht of cell in an artificial environment
Cell media- sterile liquid that cells are grown in, provides nutrients, Proper PH and salts.
Explain how the life cycle of primary cells differs from that of immortalized cell lines. -
Answers - Primary cells may only divide a limited number of times, while immortalized
cells have undergone oncogenic transformation and can divide infinity
Provide a definition for the term biomedical engineering and list top 3 subspecialty areas
- Answers - To the understanding of biological systems, to advance the practice of
medicine, and to develop therapeutic technologies and devices.
list 5 technical subspecialties of bio-med engineering. - Answers - biomaterials, bio
imaging, biomechanics, bioprocessing, R&D, manufacturing engineer.
list four main types of biological polymers and provide a simple chemical example for
each. - Answers - lipids- Methyl group
Polysaccharides- vast array of monosaccharides
Nucleic acids- 5 primary Nucleotides
Proteins- 20 amino acids
look at structures in diagram guide
describe what is meant by the term base pairing and describe the base pairing rules for
DNA and RNA. - Answers - the combination of hydrogen bonds that holds together
based on complementary strands of DNA or along the RNA strand. (B) G&C, A&T for
DNA, G&C, A&U for RNA
Describe polymerase chain reaction and the steps involved (PCR) and (B) list 2
applications for this technique. - Answers - (A)a cylindrical method for replicating short
strands of DNA using a heat stable polymerase
Steps- heat to unwind, lower heat to allow primer binding, increase heat to allow stable
polymerase to add nucleotides to the growing strand, repeat until desired amount is
obtained. (B)Forensic and paternity test.
Describe why PH regulation is important in processes involving protein function -
Answers - Ph regulation allow proteins to function properly, changing PH can cause the
protein to denature and structure. (B) Proteins function depends on it structure.
What is the difference between the term genome and the term proteome, which is
larger? - Answers - Genome is an organisms complete set of DNA, Proteome is the
entire set of proteins expressed by the genome, cell, tissue or organism.
(B)Proteome is larger because the protein encoded by a specific gene can be altered in
multiple ways via post-translational modifications.
Explain what is meant by the terms cell culture and cell culture media - Answers - cell
culture- growht of cell in an artificial environment
Cell media- sterile liquid that cells are grown in, provides nutrients, Proper PH and salts.
Explain how the life cycle of primary cells differs from that of immortalized cell lines. -
Answers - Primary cells may only divide a limited number of times, while immortalized
cells have undergone oncogenic transformation and can divide infinity
