Universität Wien

260020 VU Biological Physics (2022S)

5.00 ECTS (3.00 SWS), SPL 26 - Physik
Continuous assessment of course work
Moodle

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 15 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

Note: Because of 'Rector's Day' (no lectures) on March 11th, we'll meet on March 18th for the first lecture unit and the preceding 'Vorbesprechung'.

  • Friday 18.03. 11:30 - 14:00 Seminarraum 9, Kolingasse 14-16, OG01
  • Friday 25.03. 11:30 - 14:00 Seminarraum 9, Kolingasse 14-16, OG01
  • Friday 01.04. 11:30 - 14:00 Seminarraum 9, Kolingasse 14-16, OG01
  • Friday 08.04. 11:30 - 14:00 Seminarraum 9, Kolingasse 14-16, OG01
  • Friday 29.04. 11:30 - 14:00 Seminarraum 9, Kolingasse 14-16, OG01
  • Friday 06.05. 11:30 - 14:00 Seminarraum 9, Kolingasse 14-16, OG01
  • Friday 13.05. 11:30 - 14:00 Seminarraum 9, Kolingasse 14-16, OG01
  • Friday 20.05. 11:30 - 14:00 Seminarraum 9, Kolingasse 14-16, OG01
  • Friday 27.05. 11:30 - 14:00 Seminarraum 9, Kolingasse 14-16, OG01
  • Friday 03.06. 11:30 - 14:00 Seminarraum 9, Kolingasse 14-16, OG01
  • Friday 10.06. 11:30 - 14:00 Seminarraum 9, Kolingasse 14-16, OG01
  • Friday 17.06. 11:30 - 14:00 Seminarraum 9, Kolingasse 14-16, OG01
  • Friday 24.06. 11:30 - 14:00 Seminarraum 9, Kolingasse 14-16, OG01

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

This course covers relevant topics in the field of Biological Physics (Biophysics). The main aim is to develop an understanding of fundamental physical principles in biologically relevant phenomena at different levels (intracellular, cellular).

We will use physical concepts such as Brownian motion, diffusion, thermodynamics, hydrodynamics, friction and elasticity to understand important intracellular processes and biophysical principles. Furthermore we will discuss basic physical principles of cell motion, such as bacterial locomotion and cancer metastasis.

The course consists of lectures and exercises, with active participation of the students.

The tentative outline is as follows:
1. Introduction
2. Biological overview („What‘s inside cells“)
3. Random Walks and diffusion
4. Hydrodynamics and cell swimming
5. Thermodynamics in cells
6. Cell mechanics and elasticity
7. Molecular biological machines
8. Cell migration in the body

Assessment and permitted materials

There will be four exercise sheets, distributed during the semester, which the students should work on as a homework. The students are allowed to use any available source to solve the exercises. Most of the exercises will be calculations on paper, but a few exercises may include simple computer programming. Furthermore, there will be two written exams, one approximately at mid-term and one at the end of term, which cover specific parts of the lectures. Apart from pencil and paper, no other resource is allowed.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

As a minimum requirement, for at least 50% of the homework exercises, the students have to make a sincere attempt to solve them, and have to earn at least 50% of the total points available in the exams.

Homework (4x): maximum total points: 4*5=20

Exams (2x): maximum total points: 2*10 = 20

To be graded positive, a minimum of 10 points from the homework and a minimum of 10 points from the exams are necessary.

Grades based on total points (homework+exams):

1 ("Sehr Gut"): 35-40 points
2 ("Gut"): 30-34 points
3 ("Befriedigend"): 25-29 points
4 ("Genügend"): 20-24 points
5 ("Nicht genügend"): 0-19 points

Examination topics

The exercise sheets cover specific problems which are related to the content of the lectures. The exams will cover parts of the content of the lecture course. They will focus on the fundamental understanding rather than on technical details.

Reading list

The main source for the course is the book by Philip Nelson:
Philip Nelson, Biological Physics: Energy, Information, Life. Student Edition. (2020) https://www.physics.upenn.edu/biophys/BPse/

Furthermore, additional material will be used.

Other relevant literature:

Phillips et al, Physical Biology of the Cell, Taylor & Francis Ltd. (2012)

David Boal, Mechanics of the cell, Cambridge University Press (2012)

More biological details:

Alberts et al, Molecular Biology of the cell, Norton & Company (2014)

Association in the course directory

M-VAF A 2, M-VAF B

Last modified: Fr 27.05.2022 09:08