Human Impact on the Environment
What human activity increases carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere?
Burning fossil fuels
In engineering, what are the requirements a solution must meet called?
Answer: Criteria
What type of organism makes its own food?
Producer/Autotroph
What molecule contains genetic information?
What process is used to insert a gene into an organism?
What is the first step in solving an engineering problem?
Define/Identify the problem
Why is biodiversity important in an ecosystem?
It increases ecosystem stability
What are the limits or restrictions placed on a design called?
Constraints
What is the role of decomposers?
Break down dead organisms, recycle nutrients back to the soil
What process is used to insert a gene into an organism?
Genetic engineering
Why do engineers test prototypes?
To evaluate performance and improve designs
How can recycling help conserve natural resources?
It reduces the need for new raw materials
A team must design a water filter that is effective and inexpensive.
Name one criterion and one constraint.
Criterion = cleans water effectively
Constraint = cost
If a predator population increases, what usually happens to the prey population?
Decreases
Why are bacteria often used in biotechnology?
They reproduce quickly and can make useful proteins.
A scientist develops a vaccine to reduce disease spread.
What problem/criteria is the solution trying to address?
Infectious disease
A forest is cleared to build a shopping center. Name ONE likely environmental consequence.
Habitat loss, decreased biodiversity, increased runoff, increased pollution
An engineer chooses a cheaper material even though it is slightly less durable.
What design concept does this demonstrate?
Trade-off
What happens to available energy as you move up an energy pyramid?
Decreases
Scientists insert a human insulin gene into bacteria.
What useful product can the bacteria now make?
Human insulin
A town needs clean drinking water after a flood.
Would a water filtration system be considered a biological engineering solution?
Yes
A city wants to build housing on wetlands. Give ONE benefit and ONE environmental cost.
Benefit: More housing/economic development
Cost: Habitat loss, flooding, reduced biodiversity
A school wants solar panels.
Option A:
Option B:
Identify:
Criterion = electricity produced
Constraint = budget/cost
Trade-off = lower cost but less energy production
A disease kills most of the producers in a food web.
Predict TWO impacts on the ecosystem.
Consumer populations decrease, biodiversity decreases, food web disrupted, etc.
Name ONE benefit and ONE concern of genetic engineering.
Benefits: medicine production, increased food production, disease resistance
Concerns: environmental impacts, ethics, unintended consequences
A coastal town experiences severe erosion.
Engineers propose two solutions:
Solution A
Solution B
Identify: