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Reg. No.:
Name :
Mid Term Examinations- December 2020
Programme
:
B.Tech – Bioengineering
Semester
:
Interim 2020-2021
Course
:
Biosensors and MEMS
Code
:
BIO3015
Faculty
:
Dr. Pallavi Dnyandeo Halkare
Slot/Class No.
:
D11 /1080
Time
:
1½ hours
Max. Marks
:
50
Answer all the Questions
Q. No.
Question Description
Marks
1
Dexter is planning to work on the development of biosensors for detection of E.coli bacteria in
water samples (let’s assume RI of water samples = 1.33). In his lab he has bacteriophages,
antibodies, and aptamers, all of these are specific to E.coli bacteria and can be used as bio-
receptors. In addition to this, he also has optical fibres, UV source (40-400 nm) and a
spectrometer. According to you, which bio-receptor among the ones available in his lab he
should use and why? Also, identify the transduction principle involved in carrying out the
detection and explain it with a neat diagram and necessary equations.
10
2
Consider the following situations and propose a suitable bio-receptor to be used in the
biosensor. Briefly, justify your answer.
a. Oswald with Madame Butterfly, and his other friends is residing in the Big City. Due
to a newly setup battery manufacturing plant besides the river flowing through their
city, the water quality is deteriorating. Oswald believes that the industrial waste is being
discharged into the river water. To ascertain this, he plans to use a biosensor for
checking the water quality. Identify the bio-receptor that Oswald can use to check the
presence/absence of toxins like heavy metal ions in water. Justify your answer.
b. Dr. Tony Stark has a fully furnished laboratory. He plans to develop a biosensor for
detection of estrogen. He has a fluorophore and a quencher combination in his lab. But,
he is confused between the different bio-receptors: aptamers, MIPs and aequorin
molecules. Propose a suitable bio-receptor that can be tagged with a fluorophore and
quencher and can in turn be used for the detection of estrogen? Justify your answer.
c. Gaara reports symptoms such as vomiting, dehydration, diarrhea, etc. to Dr. Sakura. Dr.
Sakura is a biosensors scientist and a renowned physician. He is planning to develop a
biosensor for detection of the causative organism. Identify the causative organism here
and suggest a suitable receptor that Dr. Sakura can use in the present context? Justify
your answer
10
3
Joey and Chandler are introduced to a new and interesting course, “Biosensors and MEMS”.
As a part of this course, they should be briefed about “biochips” and “biosensors”. Imagine
yourself as their instructor and point out the differences between biochips and biosensors to
them. (Any 2 differences)
In the MEMS section, you plan to teach them about the scaling laws. Explain what are scaling
laws to the students and using a suitable example (of a cube) prove to them how surface area
to volume ratio changes with the size of an object.
10
