HAH704P Physics of Biological Systems (2 ECTS)

Overview

Description:
This TU provides an introduction to the physics of biological systems. The following topics will be covered in this course: 

– Formation of biomolecules: Interactions between molecules; Gibbs energy; Biological polymers: amino acids, peptides, nucleic acids; Proteins: primary, secondary, and tertiary structures; Aggregation of colloids and vesicles.  

– Biophysics of biological membranes: Biological molecules in solution, chemical potential; Electric double layer; Structure of biological membranes; Physics of transport across membranes: passive and active transport; Energy barrier model; Membrane potentials: Donnan, Nerst, Goldmann; Molecular description of action potential propagation. 

– Fluid flow: Fluid transport; Fick’s law, Hagen–Poiseuille’s law; flow of biological fluids, laminar and turbulent flow.

Objectives:
This course aims to train students to apply the laws of physics to biology in order to: understand the physical interactions underlying the formation of biomolecules; calculate the Gibbs energy associated with a protein’s conformational change; understand the physics of transport across biological membranes; calculate the resting potential of membranes; and understand the physics of biological fluid flow. 

Hourly volumes:

Lectures: 9:00 p.m.
; Tutorials: 12:00 a.m.
; Lab: 0 hours
; Fieldwork: 0 hours

Required prerequisites:

A bachelor's degree (L3) in science or health.

Recommended prerequisites:

All is well

More information

Assessment:

Final Written Exam 

Contacts

Project Leader: S. Cronenberger, Cs. Gergely-L2C, UM
Administrative Contact(s): Claudie Fabry