BIOPHYSICS OF MOLECULES AND MOLECULAR MACHINES

PHYSICS 146A/230A

Quarter: Fall Quarter 2005



Schedule 


Outline

In this course, we will focus on biological transport phenomena, i.e., diffusion (passive transport), diffusion-facilitated and active transport. Examples will be drawn from modern biophysics research (e.g. ion channels, molecular motors, pumps). Different molecular-level transport phenomena will be integrated into a more systemic view when covering action potentials (Hodgkin-Huxley) in the final two weeks. Students will learn how to calculate diffusion processes in biological settings. The course also covers modern
experimental techniques for imaging and measuring transport processes and provides an overview of state-of-the-art molecular dynamics techniques.

Lecture notes will be provided during the course and based in part on the books by Howard Berg: Random Walks in Biology and Philip Nelson: Biological Physics.

The grade will be based on class participation (30 percent), midterm (30 percent) and final exam (40 percent). Undergraduate students  will have easier examinations than graduate students.


Instructor Information

Zuzanna Siwy
FRH 2182
Tel: 824-8290
Email: ZSIWY

Thorsten Ritz           
FRH 2127
Tel: 824-4345
Email: TRITZ
WWW: http://www.physics.uci.edu/~tritz