Biophysics

biology
biotechnology
chemistry
mathematics
physics

obligatory courses

Dedicated to the students of the Faculty of Biology, 3rd year of study

Classroom

Experimental, theoretical and methodological foundations of biophysics of molecular components of cells of living organisms. Currently researched issues based on the literature on the subject.

The main aim is to present exhaustively the basis of modern molecular biophysics for the students learning biophysics at the Faculty of Biology (biotechnology). Attending the lecture should make them possible to comprehend structural and dynamical aspects of biological processes involving proteins and nucleic acids in terms of physics, and show them most important biophysical, structural methods.

Program

1. General remarks on biophysics, its history and scope. Quantum and classical description of molecules. Spectroscopic methods for studies of properties of molecules.

2. Mathematics necessary to move from molecular biology to molecular biophysics.

3. Chemical molecules, quantization of their energy states and its use for biophysical research using electromagnetic radiation.

4. Classical and statistical thermodynamics in the description of molecular systems with a constant and variable number of chemical components.

5. Review of experimental methods and computer modeling methods used in molecular biophysics.

6. Water as the molecular environment of life processes.

7. Selected issues of contemporary molecular biophysics:

a. Structure and dynamics of nucleic acids and proteins

b. The influence of pH on biomolecular processes.

c. Enzyme physics.

d. Mechanisms of cell infection by viruses.

e. Gene expression from single molecule experiments.

f. Origin of biological homochirality.

g. Mechanisms of molecular recognition.

Student's effort:

Lecture = 30 h

Self-studying (1 h per week), ca. 15 h

Preparations to pass the examination: ca. 15 h

Total, ca. 60 h

Remarks

Presentation on transparencies available for the participants as xerox copies.

Description prepared by Jan Antosiewicz, January 2019, modified December 2023

1. I. N. Serdyuk, N. R. Zaccai, J. Zaccai, Methods for molecular biophysics. Cambridge Univ. Press, Cambridge 2007 ( pdf version available on the internet)

2. T. A. Waigh, Applied Biophysics, Wiley, West Sussex, England, 2007 ( pdf version available on the internet)

3. Rodney M. J. Cotterill,, Biophysics, An Introduction, Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd,,, New York, 2002 (pdf version available on the internet)

4. Silvanus P. Thompson, and Martin Gardner, Calculus made easy, ST. MARTIN'S PRESS, New York, 1998 ( pdf version available on the internet).

5. Publications cited during lectures and indicated as important.

After completion the course:

KNOWLEDGE

1. The student knows the basic lows and actual, issues of modern molecular biophysics.

2. The student knows the basic experimental and theoretical methods used in molecular biophysics.

3. The student knows basic applications of biophysics in medicine.

SKILLS

1. The student is able to relate biological phenomena to their physical and chemical foundations.

2. The student is able to find a proper biophysical method to solve a biological problem.

SOCIAL ABILITIES

1. The student comprehends significance of constant study of scientific problems and methodology..

2. The student comprehends significance of physical notions and methods in bioscience.

3. The students recognizes ethical approach in scientific work.

Final examination in the form of a test consisting of 30 questions with 4 proposed answers for consideration. The one correct answer for each question should be indicated. The pass mark is 60%.

The attendance list is checked during lectures. Attendance at at least 50% of the lectures is a condition for admission to the exam.

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