HAH704P Physics of biological systems (2 ECTS)

Presentation

Description:
This TU course provides an introduction to the physics of biological systems. This course will cover: 

- Biomolecule formation: Interactions between molecules; Gibbs energy; Biological polymers: amino acids, peptides, nucleic acids; Proteins: primary, secondary, tertiary structure; Association of colloids, vesicles.  

- Biophysics of biological membranes: Biological molecules in solution, chemical potential; Electrical double layer; Structure of biological membranes; Physics of membrane transport: passive, 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 Law; Laminar and turbulent biological fluid flow.

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

Hourly volumes :

CM : 21 h
TD : 0 h
TP : 0 h
Field : 0 h

Prerequisites :

L3 in science or health.

Recommended prerequisites :

R.A.S

More information

Assessment of knowledge :

Written final examination 

Contact

Manager: S. Cronenberger, Cs. Gergely-L2C, UM
Administrative contact(s) : Claudie Fabry