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260049 VU Molecular Biology for Physicists (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

  • Monday 07.03. 09:00 - 11:30 Seminarraum Physik Sensengasse 8 EG
  • Monday 14.03. 09:00 - 11:30 Seminarraum Physik Sensengasse 8 EG
  • Monday 21.03. 09:00 - 11:30 Seminarraum Physik Sensengasse 8 EG
  • Monday 28.03. 09:00 - 11:30 Seminarraum Physik Sensengasse 8 EG
  • Monday 04.04. 09:00 - 11:30 Seminarraum Physik Sensengasse 8 EG
  • Monday 25.04. 09:00 - 11:30 Seminarraum Physik Sensengasse 8 EG
  • Monday 02.05. 09:00 - 11:30 Seminarraum Physik Sensengasse 8 EG
  • Monday 09.05. 09:00 - 11:30 Seminarraum Physik Sensengasse 8 EG
  • Monday 16.05. 09:00 - 11:30 Seminarraum Physik Sensengasse 8 EG
  • Monday 23.05. 09:00 - 11:30 Seminarraum Physik Sensengasse 8 EG
  • Monday 30.05. 09:00 - 11:30 Seminarraum Physik Sensengasse 8 EG
  • Monday 13.06. 09:00 - 11:30 Seminarraum Physik Sensengasse 8 EG
  • Monday 20.06. 09:00 - 11:30 Seminarraum Physik Sensengasse 8 EG

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

This VU aims at introducing the basic concepts of molecular and cellular biology to physicists. The emphasis will be put on a quantitative understanding of the complex environment and mechanisms inside cells, as well as of the relevant length, time, and energy scales. Every week, a new topic will be introduced in 2h of lecture. After that the students will calculate order of magnitude estimates for important biological quantities in 1h of exercises.

Example questions include:
How many proteins are in a cell?
How much energy is created per photon in photosynthesis?
What force is applied in molecular machines?
How much of your body weight is bacteria?

The content taught in this VU will enable the students to communicate in an interdisciplinary environment. The quantitative understanding will allow them to tackle challenging biological problems with a physicist’s mindset.

Topics that will be covered:
1. What are cells?
2. What are organelles?
3. What’s DNA/RNA?
4. What are proteins?
5. What are membranes?
6. The molecular machinery: Exemplified by the central dogma of molecular biology.
7. Dynamics in molecular systems - From fs electron dynamics to diffusion
8. Dynamics in cellular systems - From ms action potentials to hours in the cell cycle
9. Energy in cellular and molecular systems - Photosynthesis, ATP – ADP conversion
10. Forces in cellular and molecular systems
11. Information in cellular and molecular systems - Entropy, DNA replication,...
12. Feedback Loops in cellular biology

Assessment and permitted materials

The evaluation will be done in a moodle-based test that tests both knowledge and the students ability to do back of the envelope estimations of relevant quantities in molecular and cellular biology.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

Attendance and active participation, plus a positive final exam:
< 50 Points: Nicht Genügend
50-62 Points: Genügend
63-75 Points: Befriedigend
76-87 Points: Gut
88-100 Points: Sehr Gut

Examination topics

Basics of molecular and cellular biology as introduced in the lectures. Ability to do back of the envelope estimations in the context of molecular and cellular biology.

Reading list

Cell biology by the numbers - Ron Milo, Rob Phillips, available online

Association in the course directory

M-VAF A 2, M-VAF B

Last modified: Th 03.03.2022 15:29