Nanotechnology
In GCSE Biology curriculum, nanotechnology means manipulating and using particles of materials that are very small – about the size of some molecules.
Nanotechnology can be used in food packaging. For example, silver nanoparticles are anti-microbial and can be used to prevent harmful bacteria from growing inside food packaging. This extends the shelf life of the food.
Nanotechnology can also be used to build biosensors into packaging. These help to identify when food has started to deteriorate as a result of microorganisms releasing harmful substances as they break down the food.
Stem Cells
Stem cells are being used to reverse damage to the body.
This is common that In GCSE Biology, stem cells can help to treat leukaemia, a disease that kills white blood cells – traditionally a leukaemia patient would need to have their own bone marrow removed and replaced with that from a tissue-matched donor.
However, using stem cells that have been harvested from the patient’s own body has a significant advantage – it means that the patient has new complement of blood cells that are genetically the same as him/her.
Biomedical Engineering
Usually in GCSE Biology, biomedical engineering involves solving medical problems using new materials and man-made parts.
The human heart has its own pacemaker, which sends an electrical signal to the heart muscle cells that makes them contract at the right time. In some people, this natural pacemaker doesn’t work properly. Doctors can insert an artificial pacemaker into a patient’s chest which controls the contraction of the heart.
Heart valves can sometimes become faulty. If this happens it can stop the heart from effectively pumping blood to the lungs and body.
In GCSE Biology, doctors can now replace faulty heart valves with artificial valves. To do this the patient must first be connected to a heart-lung machine to maintain circulation. The heart is then stopped by the surgeon, cut open, and the damaged valve is replaced.
Pictures from https://getrevising.co.uk/resources/biology_b7_ocr_21st_century & Strikingly.com & https://www.gcu.edu/blog/medical-studies-sciences/how-become-biomedical-engineer
End of the topic!
Drafted by Gina (Biology)