Introduction to Bioengineering

• Introduction to the basic structure and function of cells and tissues.
• How to measure from biological systems (Instrumentation / Sensors / Imaging)
• What information can be collected from biological systems (-omics, dynamics).
• How to analyze information measured from biological systems.
• How to model biological systems (In silico approaches: Computational design)
• How to create and alter cell function (Cell Engineering / Synthetic Biology)
• How to create tissues and solitary organs (Tissue Engineering / 3D printing)
• Microfluidics and Organoids / Biochips as the biology workbench of the future

After successful completion of the module students are able to understand i) the basic principles of molecular biology and physiology relevant to bioengineering (BE) and biomedical engineering (BME). ii) They know what information can be extracted from biological systems with sensor, imaging and -omics methods and iii) how this information can be processed using in silico approaches. iv) This knowledge allows them to understand how Bio(medical) engineering questions are addressed today on the level of genes, cells and whole artificial organs.

Further, completion of the module will allow the students to assess the knowledge gained in their respective discipline in respect to BE and BME. E.g. “how approaches they learned to conceptualize logic-gated circuits are similar in reengineering signaling networks in a cell” or “how physical laws, especially on thermodynamics, fluid dynamics and quantum mechanics can be used to describe biological systems and predict bioengineering outcome”. This understanding of how concepts in the respective disciplines are similar to concepts in BE and BME and where they differ eventually enables the student to apply their specialized knowledge to address problems in biological and biomedical discovery and clinical need. Further, this understanding of the relationships between the disciplines course also serve as a guide on how to develop a concise career path within Life Sciences and also points to the enormous invention and innovation potential of this exciting scientific junction that can lead to significant scientific or entrepreneurship success.

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The module consists of 13 lectures (90 min each) that will deliver the basic concepts of different aspects of Bio (medical) engineering and 13 exercise (90 min each) sessions where basic principles and tools of bioengineering and biomedical engineering are explored in more detail. Within the exercise sessions, tours of bioengineering laboratories and explanations of critical current research topics are also given. Also included in the exercise sessions are talks on entrepreneurship and scientific success case studies in this field. The lecture presents the basic principles of different BE / BME directions and links the knowledge of different engineering and natural sciences with the BE / BME disciplines. Each lecture is conceptualized with ample (approx. 15 min) time for questions and discussions within the plenum.

• Presentations
• recent publications

• Bronzino, Joseph D., and Donald R. Peterson. Biomedical engineering fundamentals. CRC press, 2014.
• Kutz, Myer. Standard handbook of biomedical engineering and design. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2003.
• Zouridakis, George. Biomedical Technology and Devices. CRC Press, 2013
• Yock, Paul G., et al. Biodesign: the process of innovating medical technologies. Cambridge University Press, 2015.
• Bronzino, Joseph D., ed. Medical devices and systems. CRC Press, 2006.

Due to the CoViD19-pandemic we will change the examination format from an on-site exam
to a remote open-book “Übungsleistung” in accordance with §13a APSO. We will announce
the details of the “Übungsleistung” including a dry-run at the latest 2 weeks prior to the
scheduled examination date. The dry-run will allow students to check on their technical
capabilities and if necessary establish those.
English Version:
Process of the Examination:
Electronic exercise sheet:
• Fill-in .pdf, useable with Acrobat reader.
• Password protected.
• ~20 questions with space for ~4 lines of written answer
• Fill in for name and matriculation number
• Checkbox stating that the student conducted the exercise unaided
Overall Process:
• 1 week prior to the exam we will have a test-run to establish the technical capabilities.
All will be as in the final exam only that the student fills a dummy .pdf with name and
matriculation number and with that states that the technical requirements are given.
• We announce that in case of very identical answer phrases and on a random basis we
conduct short oral tests. Those tests are meant to check if the student is capable of
explaining the answer given in the exercise. The oral test cannot change the grade only
fail the student if misconduct is apparent.
Process of the exercise (for test-run and exercise):
• 2 h prior to start of the exercise we distribute the password protected .pdf per mail to
the TUM address.
• 2 h prior to start of the exercise we open a rocket chat group and invite all students
registered for the exercise. Each student confirms presence and receiving of messages
by sending a message “ok”.
• At the start of the exercise we sent the passwort for the .pdf via Rocket-Chat
• The time for the exam will be 30 min.
• After answering questions in the .pdf the student sends the .pdf with the subject line
„Bioeng Exercise“ back to us using their TUM mail account. For checking the time, the
timestamp of the mail header counts. A grace period of 5 min is possible.
• For checking the corrections of the exercise, the student can request the evaluated –
not editable - .pdf. Requests for re-evaluation have to be handed in with a second .pdf.

For example, the exam might test if the basic principles of molecular biology and physiology relevant to bioengineering and biomedical engineering have been understood, if the examinee possesses knowledge about the information that can be extracted from biological systems with sensor, imaging and -omics methods or if s/he has understood how Bio(medical) engineering questions are addressed today on the level of genes, cells and whole artificial organs.