PHYS355: Introduction to Biological Physics

Course Description

This course will introduce fundamentals of biological physics. Biological physics will be defined and the basic concepts will be reviewed. Proteins and nucleic acids will be introduced. Diffusion and random walks and their application to biological systems will be described. Molecular machines such as biological motors will be presented. Folding of biomolecules and gene regulation will be visited. Finally, modern methods such as single molecule techniques and their applications to biomolecules will be discussed.

Textbook

• Phillips, Kondev, and Theriot, Physical Biology of the Cell, Taylor & Francis, Inc. (2009), ISBN 9780815341635.

Reference Texts

• Berg, Stryer, and Tymoczko, Biochemistry, 6th ed., W. H. Freeman, New York (2006).
• Cantor and Schimmel, Biophysical Chemistry, I, II, III, W. H. Freeman, New York (1980).
• Alberts, Roberts, Walter, Johnson, and Lewis, Molecular Biology of the Cell, 5th ed., Taylor & Francis, Inc., New York (2007).

Tentative Outline of the Course

• Definition and basic concepts of biological physics.
• Proteins and nucleic acids.
• Diffusion and random walks and their application to biological systems.
• Kinetics and dynamics in the cell.
• Biological motors and membranes.
• Folding of biomolecules.
• Gene regulation.
• Modern techniques and their applications to biomolecules.