2024 Faculty Courses School of Environment and Society Undergraduate major in Transdisciplinary Science and Engineering
Biological engineering J
- Academic unit or major
- Undergraduate major in Transdisciplinary Science and Engineering
- Instructor(s)
- Takashi Nakamura / Mikio Shimada
- Class Format
- Lecture (Face-to-face)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 7-8 Mon / 7-8 Thu
- Class
- J
- Course Code
- TSE.A206
- Number of credits
- 200
- Course offered
- 2024
- Offered quarter
- 3Q
- Syllabus updated
- Mar 17, 2025
- Language
- Japanese
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
It is said that interaction between human and microorganisms started around BC5000. At that time, the presence of microorganisms was not recognized, however, fermented foods were empirically produced. Microorganisms were discovered in the 17th century and the role of microorganisms in fermentation was clarified during the 19th century, and following this, various beneficial materials started to be produced. After that, the techniques for animal cell and plant cell cultivation were developed, and together with the rapid progress in the molecular biology, techniques where biological functions could be applied became widespread in the fields of materials production, agriculture, environment and medical care. Students will learn the basics of bioengineering- from cultivation of the organisms to the control and application of their function.
Course description and aims
Students will learn the basics of the bioengineering from cultivation of the organisms to the control and application of their function. Firstly, students will understand the characteristics of microbial growth and learn quantitative expression of the pure culture of microorganisms. The cultivation of animal and plant cells has many similar techniques to the cultivation of microorganisms, and this course will clarify the characteristics of cultivating each type of cell. Subsequently, students will understand the methods for the control of the biological function, including genetic manipulation techniques and practical examples of industrial applications of biological functions. Concerning environmental applications, students will acquire the ability to quantitatively express the role of the microbial community, where various microorganisms coexist with complicated interactions in their role in material recycling and conservation of ecosystems.
Keywords
Microorganisms, Enzymes, Kinetics, Metabolism, Bioreactors, Genetic enginerring, Ecological modeling
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
In the introduction to each class, a summary of the previous lecture is given. After that, the main points of the lecture on that day are discussed in detail. Students are asked to provide solutions to some of the questions that have been posed as necessary. Always check the required learning for each class and be sure to complete them as part of preparation and review.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Variety and diversity of microorganisms | Understand the variety and diversity of microorganisms |
| Class 2 | Metabolisms of microorganisms | Understand the overview of the metabolisms of microorganisms |
| Class 3 | Microbial growth and cultivation conditions | Understand microbial growth and cultivation conditions |
| Class 4 | Enzyme kinetics | Acquire the skill for numerical expression of enzyme kinetics |
| Class 5 | Microbial kinetics | Acquire the skill for numerical expression of microbial growth rate |
| Class 6 | Cultivation methods for microorganisms | Understand the types of bioreactor and cultivation methods for microorganisms |
| Class 7 | Immobilized biocatalyst | Understand the characteristics of the immobilized biocatalyst |
| Class 8 | Energy metabolism and photosynthesis | Understand how cells obtain energy from food to survive and how plants obtain energy from light |
| Class 9 | Genetic engineering techniques (1) | Understand an overview of genetic manipulation technology |
| Class 10 | Genetic engineering techniques (2) | Understand the principles of DNA sequencing and how to analyze gene function |
| Class 11 | Cell engineering technology (1) | Understand cell characteristics and handling |
| Class 12 | Cell engineering technology (2) | Understand techniques for manipulating cells, methods for creating knockout cells and iPS cells |
| Class 13 | Immune system related to biotechnology | Explain how the immune system works and how antibodies are produced |
| Class 14 | Use, safety, ethics, and legal compliance in biotechnology | Explain the laws and regulations necessary for genetic modification experiments and the rules to be followed |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.
Textbook(s)
Text book specified by the instructor.
Reference books, course materials, etc.
Handouts will be distributed at the beginning of class when necessary and elaborated on using PowerPoint slides. PowerPoint documents that are to be used in class will be made available in advance via the T2SCHOLA. Students are expected to use these documents for preparation and review purposes.
Evaluation methods and criteria
Learning achievement is evaluated by combining results from exercise problems and reports.
Related courses
- GEG.E512 ： Utilization of Resources and Wastes for Environment
- TSE.A312 ： Introduction to global and local ecology
- GEG.E401 ： Global Environmental System and Ecosystem Dynamics
Prerequisites
None required.
Contact information (e-mail and phone) Notice : Please replace from ”[at]” to ”@”(half-width character).
Yoshihisa Matsumoto (matsumoto.y.ac[at]m.titech.ac.jp)
Sasipa Boonyubol (boonyubol.s.aa[at]m.titech.ac.jp)