By the end of this section, you will be able to:Explain why and how passive transport occursUnderstand the processes of osmosis and diffusionDefine tonicity and describe its relevance to passive transport

By the end of this section, you will be able to:Discuss the role of carbohydrates in cells and in the extracellular materials of animals and plantsExplain the classifications of carbohydratesList common monosaccharides, disaccharides, and polysaccharides

By the end of this section, you will be able to:Describe the four major types of lipidsExplain the role of fats in storing energyDifferentiate between saturated and unsaturated fatty acidsDescribe phospholipids and their role in cellsDefine the basic structure of a steroid and some functions of steroidsExplain the how cholesterol helps to maintain the fluid nature of the plasma membrane

By the end of this section, you will be able to:Describe the structure of nucleic acids and define the two types of nucleic acidsExplain the structure and role of DNAExplain the structure and roles of RNA

By the end of this section, you will be able to:Describe the functions proteins perform in the cell and in tissuesDiscuss the relationship between amino acids and proteinsExplain the four levels of protein organizationDescribe the ways in which protein shape and function are linked

By the end of this section, you will be able to:Understand the synthesis of macromoleculesExplain dehydration (or condensation) and hydrolysis reactions

By the end of this section, you will be able to:Define matter and elementsDescribe the interrelationship between protons, neutrons, and electronsCompare the ways in which electrons can be donated or shared between atomsExplain the ways in which naturally occurring elements combine to create molecules, cells, tissues, organ systems, and organisms

By the end of this section, you will be able to:Explain why carbon is important for lifeDescribe the role of functional groups in biological molecules

By the end of this section, you will be able to:Describe the properties of water that are critical to maintaining lifeExplain why water is an excellent solvent Provide examples of water’s cohesive and adhesive propertiesDiscuss the role of acids, bases, and buffers in homeostasis

By the end of this section, you will be able to:Identify the shared characteristics of the natural sciencesSummarize the steps of the scientific methodCompare inductive reasoning with deductive reasoningDescribe the goals of basic science and applied science

By the end of this section, you will be able to:Identify and describe the properties of lifeDescribe the levels of organization among living thingsRecognize and interpret a phylogenetic treeList examples of different sub disciplines in biology

Biomass is a semi-renewable energy resource that comes from plants and animals. Biomass can be burned directly for heat or converted to liquid and gaseous fuels for transportation and electricity generation. Humans have been using biomass for heating, cooking, and lighting for thousands of years and 2.4 billion people still use this form of “traditional” biomass. Today, biomass is also used at commercial scale for heating and electricity generation as well as in liquid form for transportation. Advocates for biomass argue it is carbon neutral, but some types of bioenergy actually increase greenhouse gas emissions.

Students will explore the biome in which they live while comparing it to other major biomes around the world.Standard(s): 5.L.2.1 Compare the characteristics of several common ecosystems

Health technology innovation in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), including countries in Africa, falls far short of meeting the healthcare needs of these settings. The result is a heavy reliance on products and technologies imported from industrialised countries that are often not suited to, or sustainable for, LMICs.

Appropriate healthcare products for LMICs are best developed in these countries, where local knowledge and understanding of needs, context and available resources may be incorporated into designs and implementation plans. The objectives for enabling health technology development in LMICs include: 1) expanding the base of expertise through research training programmes with a problem-solving focus; 2) stimulating new knowledge, approaches and solutions by enabling innovation; and 3) integrating research communities within and across institutions to build critical mass.

The field of biomedical engineering is central to health technology innovation. This book is a response to the need for biomedical engineering capacity in Africa. It is grounded in the African context. It serves as a resource for academics and students in biomedical engineering, for those interested in entering the field in any capacity and for practitioners at every stage of product development. University leaders intent on establishing new biomedical engineering programmes or departments, may draw on the content for guidance on structuring their offerings. The book reaches beyond Africa, as it is relevant to other LMIC settings, and provides insights to guide global health initiatives focused on technology innovation.