Foundations of Chemical Reaction Engineering in Biology

Biological systems are governed by complex chemical reactions that dictate how cells grow, signaling path ways function, and genetic material is processed. Understanding these processes requires a structured, quantitative approach to modeling cellular kinetics. This text-only course bridges the gap between chemical engineering principles and molecular biology, giving you the tools to analyze cellular behavior mathematically. By studying the written material, you will transition from qualitative biological concepts to precise mathematical models of cellular dynamics. You will learn to formulate rate equations for genetic circuits, analyze receptor binding, and predict how cells respond to external signals over time. What you'll learn: - Understand the core principles of chemical reaction kinetics applied to biological systems - Model the dynamics of transcription, translation, and gene expression networks - Analyze receptor-ligand binding and internal cellular trafficking pathways - Calculate steady-state approximations and transient responses in cellular systems - Apply modern computational engineering concepts to biological feedback loops The course begins with foundational definitions of biological rates, transport phenomena, and reaction kinetics before moving into practical mathematical modeling of gene networks and receptor dynamics. You will progress through structured text-based lessons that build your analytical skills step-by-step. This course is designed for beginners, engineering students, and life science researchers who want to apply quantitative modeling to biological systems, with no advanced prior engineering experience required. Start building your quantitative understanding of biological systems today.