Part A: Answer all questions 10 x 2 = 20 Marks
1. Find out the direction of gas (O2 and CO2) exchange between alveoli and capillary
Alveoli Capillary
pO2= 149 pO2= 192
pCO2= 86 pCO2= 39
Ans: O2 from capillary to alveoli and CO2 from alveoli to capillary
2. A scientist does not want to use cell culture (in vitro) or animal (in vivo experiments)
to assess the efficacy of a newly synthesized compound as a drug on lung
disorders. How can he evaluate the compound’s effect on a system that closely
resembles (mimics) the structure and function of a real lung?
Ans: LUNG-ON-A-CHIP
3. If you are asked to prepare a water purification system by taking the clue from the
human excretory system, what are the features of the renal filtration system that
you will utilize?
Ans: Features: Filtration, Reabsorption of pure water, Segregation/isolation
of pollutants/impurities and Removal of impurities
4. The use of human embryonic stem cells raises ethical issues world-wide. Comment
on the ethical dilemma and suggest alternate sources for stem cell research and
therapy.
Ans: The ethical dilemma and issue is that to obtain embryonic stem cells,
the early embryo has to be destroyed which means destroying a potential
human life. The alternate sources can be Adult stem cells.
5. Justin is an athlete and is engaged in a strenuous workout to get himself ready for
a sports competition next month. During his workouts, he sweats profusely that
results in a decrease in his blood plasma concentration. State the mechanism
through which the body can increase the plasma volume.
Ans: Hypothalamus stimulation Posterior pituitary stimulation
ADH Reabsorption of water from kidneys Increase in plasma
Volume
6. When a person has dehydration, Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) or electrol is
prescribed. Based on your knowledge of the renal system, state why is it important
Ans: To maintain electrolyte balance in the system
7. Normal rate of breathing in human is 12 to 16 per minute. If partial pressure of CO 2
has increased in blood due to increased tissue metabolism, how would this
increased CO2 levels effect the rate of breathing?
Ans: Increased CO2 levels will increase the rate and depth of breathing that in-turn
expels out the excess CO2
8. Mechanical Ventilators play an important role in saving lives, both in hospitals and
ambulances. Compare the ventilator breathing process with that of a natural
breathing process?
Ans: Normal breathing is based on negative pressure and mechanical ventilator
breathing is based on positive pressure.
Part B: Answer ANY TWO Questions (2 X 15 = 30)
9. Your circulatory, respiratory and renal system are all interconnected.
a) Illustrate using a flow diagram, how these systems are related. (5)
Ans: Kidneys and Lungs have a close relationship with Cardiovascular
system
Lungs: breathes in oxygen and gives it to the blood for Circulatory system to
carry throughout the body; and takes unneeded carbon-dioxide (CO2) from
the blood and breathes that out.
Kidneys: filter through blood to take out the waste and get it
eventually out of the body
b) In the city of Bentham, the nuclear power station uses water along with a toxic
chemical to cool down the nuclear reactor. Before letting the water into sea, the
water needs to be cooled down and stripped of the toxic chemical. Using the
concepts learnt from circulatory, respiratory and renal system design a water
treatment plant for the nuclear power station. (5)
Ans:
Overview:
Circulatory System
Pumps (like the heart) ensure continuous water flow through the system.
A network of pipes (analogous to blood vessels) distributes water to different
sections.
Respiratory System
Gas exchange in the lungs resembles removing harmful gases or adding necessary
ones, such as degassing oxygen or adding pH stabilizers.
Renal System
Filtration (similar to kidneys) removes impurities, radioactive isotopes, and heavy
metals.
A regulatory mechanism ensures the correct balance of minerals and chemical
composition.
Key Design Components
1. Pumping Station (Inspired by the Heart)
Pumps circulate water through the treatment facility.
Redundant systems ensure reliability, similar to how the heart has two sides for
oxygenated and deoxygenated blood.
2. Pre-Treatment Section (Inspired by Lungs)
Degassing Units: Remove harmful gases such as oxygen and hydrogen to prevent
corrosion in reactors.
Aeration Chambers: Adjust gas concentrations to optimize pH and chemical
balance.
3. Filtration Unit (Inspired by Kidneys)
Primary Filtration: Removes debris and large particles using mesh or sand filters.
Advanced Ion Exchange: Removes radioactive isotopes (e.g., cesium, strontium)
by exchanging ions in the water with safe ones.
Reverse Osmosis: Provides ultra-fine filtration to remove remaining impurities at
a molecular level.
Activated Carbon Filters: Capture organic contaminants and residual chemicals.
4. Monitoring and Control Systems (Inspired by Homeostasis)
Sensors continuously monitor water quality, including pH, temperature,
radioactivity, and mineral balance.
Automated feedback mechanisms adjust chemical inputs or filtration rates,
maintaining stability.
5. Cooling and Recirculation System
Similar to blood being oxygenated and recirculated, treated water is cooled and
returned to the reactor for reuse.
10. Bioprinting can produce living tissue, bone, blood vessels and, potentially, whole
organs for use in medical procedures, training and testing
a) Mention the similarities and differences between 3D printing and 3D bioprinting?
(2)
b) What are the major steps involved in 3D bioprinting? (5)
c) What are the components of ‘bioink’ used for printing human
tissues/organs? (3)
d) Assume a patient has lost his left external ear. What are the major steps you
should follow to prepare a similar model using 3D bioprinting?
(5)
Ans:
a) Both the processes build 3D object layer by layer from a 3D model. Among the
two, only 3D bioprinting uses cells and biologics to construct a living tissue
b) Pre-processing, Processing and Post- processing
c) Comprises of cells, hydrogel (biomaterial-Synthetic/Natural polymers) and growth
factors
d) 1. Imaging 2. Design approach 3. Material selection 4. Cell selection 5.
Bioprinting 6. Application
11. Describe a cost-effective drug development strategy that would reduce the usage
of animals. Elaborate the strategy along with its merits and de-merits
Ans: Organ on a chip method
Slide No. 2: Definition of OOC
Slide No.3: Need for OOC
Slide No. 9, 10: About OOC
Slide No.13: In-depth knowledge of drug using OOC
Slide No. 35: Applications of OOC
Slide No. 36: Merits: Speeding up research, well-mimicked micro environment and
technological advantage
Slide No. 37: Demerits: Surface effects, very little mixing during laminar flow and
portability issue.
12. a) Dr. Meena was asked to create an artificial kidney for a clinical trial study. Can
you suggest an advanced technology and the steps which she need to follow for
creating the organ? What kind of cells she need to arrange and how she can use
it for making the artificial kidney? (7)
Ans: Renal system
Slide No.s: 23,24 and 25
b) Less than 50 per cent of the population in India has access to safely managed
drinking water. Being a member of the Scientific committee of Swatch Bharath
Abiyan, you have been asked to identify a suitable engineering solution to supply
healthy water to all. By mimicking the biological system, design a purification
system for converting the available water potable. Compare the engineered
system designed by you with the biological system. (8)
Ans: 1. Explain about Renal system (Filtration, reabsorption, Secretion and
Excretion)
2. Aquaporin mechanism (Proteins)
13. SARS CoV-2 is known to infect the lung epithelial cells. The mechanism of virus
infection and the immune response against the virus is not clearly understood.
Also, the potential drug molecule’s efficacy in inhibiting the virus replication needs
to be tested. But no suitable animal model is available to conduct these
experiments. You are given responsibility to find out the mechanism of virus
infection, immune response, and effect of drug on the virus replication. Design and
explain the methodology you would adapt to achieve the goals.
Ans: Organ on a chip method; Elaborate your answer based on Slide No.13
