AGRICULTURAL
UNIVERSITY OF ATHENS
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Physics of Life

Physics of Life

Content

Theory:
Ι) Introduction. Differences and points of contact between Physics and Biology. The Role of Physical Laws in Biological Processes. Microcosm – Macrocosm. Recognition of the different degrees of organization of matter. Reductionism – Determinism – Randomness – Complexity. Physical Sizes – Units – Scales.
ΙΙ) The Significance of Size in the Phenomenon of Life. Mass-Energy transfer in thermodynamic systems Allometry and size scale. Allometric behavior in basal metabolic rate. The Significance of Size in the Phenomenon of Life, Law of the Square-Cube. Thermodynamic systems. Equilibrium vs steady state. Mass Exchange: Diffusion, Energy Balance (Planet Earth – Human)
ΙΙΙ) Statistical thermodynamics. Basic hypotheses, microstates - macrostates and statistical entropy. Statistical entropy and thermodynamic entropy (Carnot cycle, reversible irreversible changes). 2nd Thermodynamic law and the direction of time. Statistical weights and the distribution function. Energy distribution. Examples – applications in biological systems.
IV) Stochastic dynamics – Applications Stochastic Processes. Random Walks. Basic equations. Brownian motion. Diffusion and continuous stochastic processes. Diffusion into cells.
V) Electric Forces and Fields. Electric charge and charge maintenance. Coulomb's Law. Conductors and Insulators. Electric fields. Principles of electrophoresis: Macromolecular charges in solution. Modern methods of electrophoresis.
VI) Electric Potential Energy and Electric Potential. Intermolecular no-covalent interactions Electric potential energy. Electric potential. Electric dipoles and charge distributions. Mapping the electrical potential of the human body: Heart, muscles and brain. Atomic and molecular no-covalent interactions. Static electrical properties inside matter.
VII) Dielectric medium, Capacitors and Membranes. Electric Current and Electric Membrane Currents. Capacitors and membranes. Membrane channels part I. Electric current and resistance. Applications of Ohm's law and electrical measurements. Electric membrane currents. Overview of Nerve Structure and Function: Technical Measurements. Electrical properties of neurons. Membrane channels part II.
VIII) Magnetic Fields - Electromagnetic Induction and Radiation. Magnetic fields and forces. Forces and torque on a magnetic dipole. The Stern-Gerlach experiment and electron spin. Magnetic properties of materials. Creating magnetic fields. Magnetic moment of the nucleus and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance. Applications: NMR, MRI. Ampere's law. The phenomenon of electromagnetic induction and Faraday's law. Maxwell's equations – Electromagnetic radiation.
IX) Quantum Mechanics. Overview of quantum theory. Fundamentals of quantum mechanics. How life is affected by quantum phenomena?
Assignments
1. Allometric Equations 2. Energy Balances 3. Statistical Physics 4. Diffusion 5. Electric forces and fields 6. Electric potential energy and Electric potential 7. Electric current, Capacitors, Membranes
Laboratory Exercises
1. Brownian motion - Diffusion 2. Electric charges and fields 3. Polarity of molecules, 4. Salting out - Intermolecular Interactions 5. Capacitors 6. Nernst-Goldman Membrane Potential Equation - Propagation of electrical signal in neurons 7. Optical Tweezers

Learning outcomes

The course aims to introduce students to the basic concepts of the interdisciplinary field of Biological Physics.

It is an introductory interdisciplinary course that offers an overview of Physics related to Biology and addresses one of the greatest challenges of the 21st century: the meeting of Physics with Biology. The aim of the course is to deepen students' understanding of the fundamental laws of Physics and how they interpret and also set limitations on the evolution of biological phenomena.

The course material offers students an overview of key physics concepts related to biological applications ranging from the properties of proteins and processes in the cell. It also examines general issues of common interest, such as reductionism, determinism, randomness, and the balance between order and disorder, where the Physical view is often misinterpreted. There are descriptive sections that are sufficient for understanding general ideas and sections that are more detailed for a deeper understanding of ideas expressed in terms of mathematical equations.

Upon successful completion of the course, the student

(1) will have delved into concepts of Physics which are a necessary background in the study of biological phenomena.

(2) will be able to use simple mathematical models to express Physical Laws but also distinguish the abstract nature of Physics models from more complex biological systems

(3) will be able to carefully implement the Physical Laws to the study of biological systems, understanding the usability and the possibilities of their application in such complex systems.

(4) will have realized the limitations that the Laws of Physics place on the evolution of biological phenomena and he/she will have immersed him/herself in concepts such as epimerocracy, reductionism, determinism and randomness.

(5) will have been introduced to an interdisciplinary field of great interest and perspective for the continuation of his/her undergraduate and postgraduate studies but also for the research and development of innovative biotechnological applications.

Bibliography

1. Principles in Physical Biochemistry (van Holde, Johnson, Ho) 2nd Edition
2. Newman, Jay. Physics for Life Sciences

Faculty

NEWSLETTER

Biotechnology is a rapidly advancing discipline which aims at exploitting the progress in life and physical sciences as well as other related fields, in developing new and advanced products, processes and services
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