PHYS30732
Physics of Living Processes
10
Semester 2
Undergraduate
Level 3
Jian Lu
Unit coordinator
1
FHEQ level (Framework for Higher Education Qualifications) ' Last part of a Bachelors '
European Credit Transfer & Accumulation System Rating : 5.0
<p>The Physics of Living Processes</p>
<p>The Physics of Living Processes</p>
<p>To introduce the topic of biological physics and to devevlop an understanding of some physical tools to solve problems in the life sciences. </p>
<p>On completion of the course, students should be able to: </p><p>1. Describe the main domains within a cell and the major types of biological molecule to provide a broad overview of molecular biophysics. </p><p>2. Analayse the behaviour of biological materials using models from soft condensed matter physics to allow quantitative predications to be made. </p><p>3. Compare the main experimental techniques used in biological physics, appraise their usage to solve biological problems and demonstrate an understanding from the perspective of the underlying physical principles. </p><p>4. Construct and interpet a range of basic models that underpin systems biology based on the activity of transcription networks. </p><p>5. Explain the basic models of electrophysiology and describe how they relate to the study of brains and the senses based on the underlying physics principles. </p><p> </p>
<p>1. <strong>Building blocks </strong> (2 lectures)<br />Molecules<br />Cells</p><p>2.<strong> Soft-condensed matter in biology</strong> (10 lectures)<br />Mesoscopic forces<br />Phase transitions<br />Motility<br />Aggregating self-assembly<br />Surface phenomena<br />Biomacromolecules<br />Charged ions and polymers<br />Membranes<br />Rheology<br />Motors</p><p>3. <strong>Experimental techniques </strong> (2 lectures)<br />Photonics techniques, mass spectroscopy, thermodynamics, hydrodynamics, single molecule methods, electron microscopy, NMR, osmotic pressure, chromatography, electrophoresis, sedimentation, rheology, tribology.</p><p>4. <strong>Systems biology </strong> (4 lectures)<br />Chemical kinetics<br />Enzyme kinetics<br />Introduction to systems biology</p><p>5. <strong>Spikes, brains and the senses</strong> (4 lectures)<br />Spikes<br />Physiology of cells and organisms<br />The senses<br />Brains</p>
0
Other
10%
1
Written exam
90%
<p>* Other 10% Tutorial Work/attendance </p>
<p>Tutorial solutions for the example sheets will be marked every week and model answers will be provided.</p>
PHYS10101
Dynamics
Pre-Requisite
Compulsory
PHYS10352
Properties of Matter
Pre-Requisite
Compulsory
PHYS20352
Statistical Mechanics
Pre-Requisite
Compulsory
<p>Follow - Up Units</p><p>PHYS40411 - Frontiers of Solid State Physics</p><p>PHYS40631 - Laser Photomedicine</p><p>PHYS40732 - Biomaterials</p>
N
<p><strong>Recommended texts</strong><br />Waigh, T.A. The Physics of Living Processes: a Mesoscopic Approach (Wiley 2014)</p><p><strong>Supplementary reading</strong><br />Alberts, B. Essential Cell Biology (Garland 2008)<br />Alon, U. Introduction to Systems Biology (CRC 2007)<br />Cotterill, R. Biophysics: An Introduction (Wiley 2002)<br />Hobbie, R.K., Roth B.J. Intermediate Physics for Medicine and Biology (Springer 2007)<br />Nelson, P. Physical Models of Living Systems (Freeman, 2015)<br />Phillips, R. Kondev J., Theriot, J., Garcia H.G., Physical Biology of the Cell (Garland, 2013)<br />Waigh, T.A. Critical Questions in Biological Physics (IOP 2017)</p><p><strong>Recommended website</strong><br />Biologicalphysics.iop.org</p>
Assessment written exam
1.5
Lectures
24
0
74.5