Biophysics 1100-114BFIZ11
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. Thermodynamics and statistical physics in description of macroscopic systems with constant and variable number of chemical components. Boltzmann and Boltzmann-Gibbs laws. Kinetics of chemical reactions and other molecular processes, principle of detailed balance.
3. Biomolecules, from water to biopolymers. Review of basic properties.
4. Spectroscopic methods for studying biomplecules.
5. Microscopis methods, X-ray crystallography and NMR spectroscopy
6. Hydrodynamic methods, relaxation methods, kinetic methods
7. Computer simulation methods
8. Structure and dynamics of nucleic acids and proteins
9. Kinetics of enzymati reactions
10. Biomolecular diffusion
11. Gene expression from single molecule experiments
12. Significance of electrostatic interactions.
13. Imaging of biomolecules, their structure, dynamics and function, medical aspects.
14. Protocells and origins of life
15. Applications in biotechnology.
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 by Ryszard Stolarski, updated by Jan Antosiewicz, January 2019
Type of course
Mode
Prerequisites (description)
Course coordinators
Learning outcomes
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.
Assessment criteria
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.
Practical placement
None
Bibliography
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)
Additional information
Information on level of this course, year of study and semester when the course unit is delivered, types and amount of class hours - can be found in course structure diagrams of apropriate study programmes. This course is related to the following study programmes:
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: