Advanced Biophysics

URL study guide

https://studiegids.vu.nl/en/courses/2024-2025/X_422583

Course Objective

Learning objectives * Understand the physics underlying the biological problems and biophysical research methods featured in this course * Be able to explain how these methods can be exploited to address specific biological problems and identify strengths and weaknesses of methods in biological context * Critically reflect on your understanding of methods application in assigned literature and formulate relevant questions * Analyze scientific literature that uses the discussed methodologies to addresses biological problems and reflect on suitability of used methods * Communicate and present your literature analysis and critically reflect on analyses by other students

Course Content

Life is, by its very definition, a dynamic quantity. In this course an overview is given of current biophysics, biophotonics, and biomedical research fields that investigate the dynamic processes that take place in biomolecules, membranes, cells and tissues and are indispensable for biological functionality. This course aims to highlight the 'what', 'why' and 'how' of these research fields: what are the established and new biophysical insights, why are these insights important and interesting, and how are these results being obtained. The following biophysical/biomedical topics and techniques are featured in this course:
• DNA processing and dynamics o Topics: DNA structure and stability, DNA/RNA polymerase, DNA architectural proteins, DNA repair. o Techniques: optical tweezers, AFM, tethered particle motion, magnetic tweezers, superresolution imaging.
• Protein dynamics o Topics: Photoactive proteins, light-driven enzymes, Motor proteins, optogenetics. o Techniques: infrared spectroscopy, time-resolved spectroscopy, laser techniques
• Membrane dynamics o Topics: Photosynthesis, membrane protein diffusion, Neuroimaging. o Techniques: AFM, single molecule, nonlinear imaging, polarized spectroscopy.
• Cell/tissue dynamics o Topics: Optical and/or mechanical characterization of tissue or cells. o Techniques: (Fluorescence) microscopy, optical coherence microscopy, mechanical analysis.

Teaching Methods

Lectures, guest lectures, literature essay and assignments, oral literature presentation

Method of Assessment

Literature assignmentsEssay (literature or research proposal) (70% final grade)Essays from two other students peer review (10% final grade)Oral literature presentation (20% final grade)

Literature

Notes, handouts and papers.

Target Audience

mMNS-PoL, mPhys-LSBP, mPhys-PLH

Entry Requirements

BSc. Physics, BSc. Medical Natural Sciences, BSc Chemistry orcomparable. For MNS students to participate in this course, it is advised to have successfully completed the course Microscopie en spectroscopie voor MNW (X_420586) and Mechanics and Thermodynamics in the Cell (X_422589).