Biomedical Engineering BEng/MEng
Biomolecular Processes in Bioengineering 1 ENG1071
- Academic Session: 2026-27
- School: School of Engineering
- Credits: 10
- Level: Level 1 (SCQF level 7)
- Typically Offered: Semester 2
- Available to Visiting Students: No
- Collaborative Online International Learning: No
- Curriculum For Life: No
Short Description
The aim of the course is to provide students with the fundamental concepts of biomolecular engineering. The course will provide the students with an understanding of the structure and function of key molecules in the biological processes of information storage and energy metabolism. The course will introduce the students to how these molecules can be integrated into biomedical engineering applications and tools.
Timetable
2 x 1 hour lectures per week
1 laboratory session
6 x1 hour tutorial sessions
Excluded Courses
None
Co-requisites
None
Assessment
40% continuous assessments delivered as 1 class test (10%) and 2 longer Moodle quizzes using a range of question formats (15% each). In addition, 10 short Moodle quizzes (pass/fail) of which at least 8 need to be passed to gain course credits.
30% Report: Laboratory report
10% group presentation based on journal club.
20% essay.
Course Aims
The aims of this course are to:
■ describe the structure and function of key molecules of biology: enzymes, DNA and ATP;
■ introduce students to how these molecules interact to give rise to fundamental processes of biology: information storage and metabolism;
■ provide students with the basic methodology to study enzymatic reactions;
■ introduce students to the possibilities of integrating knowledge on different molecules to construct bioengineering technologies, illustrated through next generation sequencing methods.
■ Introduce the students to the ethical contexts in biomedical engineering applications.
Intended Learning Outcomes of Course
By the end of this course students will be able to:
■ explain the mechanisms of enzymatic reactions and determine key kinetic properties of these reactions;
■ describe the processes of energy metabolism in mammalian organisms and detail the roles of ATP and enzymes in these processes;
■ explain how DNA can form complex structures and how these structures are used to store information in cells;
■ explain how proteins can recognize DNA molecules;
■ apply the knowledge of the function of enzymes and the structure of DNA with respect to the principle of next generation sequencing methods;
■ explain how knowledge of the DNA sequence can be used in biomedical applications.
■ Outline ethical questions in a range of biomedical engineering applications.