Cellular Biophysics: A Framework for Quantitative Biology

ABOUT THE COURSE:Given than most biological systems are in fact out of equilibrium, this course will touch upon some of the most recent theoretical and experimental approaches to understand the out of equilibrium aspects of biophysics. To this end we make a thermodynamics detour to answer the question posed by Schroedinger: “What is life?” We then consider a diversity of cell types to ask how the hierarchies of molecules and cells integrate. The question of how stochastic processes lead to deterministic outcomes will be briefly touched upon. Research paper reading will highlight case studies of the successful application of physics biological problems.INTENDED-AUDIENCE:3rd year B.Sc, 1-2 year M.Sc. students inBiology and PhysicsPRE-REQUISITES: BSc/BE/BTech 2nd year; BSc level knowledge of Classical mechanics; MSc level knowledge of Cell and molecular biology; MSc level knowledge of Biochemistry; Basic python programmingINDUSTRY-SUPPORT:Microscopy companies, Centrifuge companies, Spectroscopy companies

Week 1: Concepts in fluid dynamics as they apply to cellular scale life Week 2: Diffusion & Macromolecular crowding Week 3: Dynamics of macromolecules: Cytoskeleton Week 4: Molecular motors and Brownian Ratchets Week 5: The rate equation paradigm and genetic networks Week 6: Noise in biological systems Week 7: Turing patterns in embryogenesis Week 8: Mechanics in embryogenesis and Future directions