Soft and Biological Matter - Introduction to States and Structures in Living Systems - Lecture 1

Explore the fascinating intersection of biology and physics in this comprehensive lecture on soft and biological matter. Delve into fundamental questions about the composition and organization of the world, examining phases of matter, emergent properties, and the unique characteristics of living systems. Investigate key concepts like polymers, anisotropic objects, and stochasticity in chemical reactions. Gain insights into Brownian motion, diffusion, and reaction-diffusion systems, including Turing patterns and their applications in biological contexts. Designed for graduate-level students with a background in physics or mathematics, this lecture offers a deep dive into the physical constraints and evolutionary adaptations of living organisms, providing a solid foundation for understanding the complex interplay between biology and physics.

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Soft and Biological Matter
WHAT IS THE WORLD MADE OF? HOW IS THE WORLD PUT TOGETHER?
Phases of matter
How to characterize ordering?
Structure
Emergent Properties
POLYMERS
ANISOTROPIC OBJECTS
WHAT ABOUT LIVING SYSTEMS? WHAT STATES OF MATTER?
WHAT EMERGENT STRUCTURES & THEIR PROPERTIES IN LIVING SYSTEMS....?
REVOLUTIONS IN BIOLOGY
STOCHASTICITY IN CHEMICAL REACTIONS
BROWNIAN-MOTION / DIFFUSION
BROWNIAN MOTION OF POLLEN GRAINS
RANDOM WALK MODEL
DIFFUSION
REACTION-DIFFUSION SYSTEMS & PATTERN FORMATION
TURING PATTERNS
TURING PATTERNS BRUSSELATOR
REACTION-DIFFUSION PATTERNS
CELL POLARITY PATTERN IN C. ELEGANS ZYGOTES
Q&A