Expectations for Biological Engineers

we might expect three things from engineers who deal with biological systems  

The knowledge of biological principles and generalizations that can lead to useful products and processes. 

The ability to transfer information known about familiar living systems to those unfamiliar. 

The ability to avoid or mitigate unintended consequences of dealing with any living system. 

Technological advances have made unintended consequences almost inevitable. Like a phantom in a bag that pops out in every direction that isn t held, secondary effects that are masked by primary effects assume much more importance when the primary effects are conquered (Tenner, 1996). Chronic illnesses such as cancer, silicosis, and cumulative trauma disorder probably were not recognized as important because acute illnesses such as typhoid, plague, and pneumonia killed so many. After anesthetics allowed painless surgery, the number of surgical procedures skyrocketed and the total amount of pain experienced by the total human population is higher because of it. 

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