Biophysics (also
biological physics) is an
interdisciplinary science that
applies theories and methods of
the physical sciences to questions
of
biology.
Biophysics research today
comprises a number of specific
biological studies, which do not
share a unique identifying factor,
or subject themselves to clear and
concise definitions. This is the
result of biophysics' relatively
recent appearance as a scientific
discipline. The studies included
under the umbrella of biophysics
range from
sequence comparison to
neural networks. In the recent
past, biophysics included creating
mechanical limbs and nanomachines
to regulate biological functions.
Nowadays, these are more commonly
referred to as belonging to the
fields of
bioengineering and
nanotechnology respectively.
We may expect these definitions to
further refine themselves.
Traditional studies in
biology are conducted using
statistical ensemble
experiments, using
molar concentrations of
macromolecules. Because the
molecules that comprise living
cells are so small, techniques
such as
PCR amplification, gel
blotting,
fluorescence labeling and
in vivo staining are used so
that experimental results are
observable with an unaided eye or,
at most,
optical
magnification. Using these
techniques,
biologists attempt to
elucidate the complex systems of
interactions that give rise to the
processes that make life possible.
Biophysics typically addresses
biological questions similar to
those in biology, but the
questions are asked at a
molecular (i.e. low
Reynolds number) level. By
drawing knowledge and experimental
techniques from a wide variety of
disciplines (as described below),
biophysicists are able to
indirectly observe or model the
structures and interactions of
individual molecules or
complexes of molecules. In
addition things like solving a
protein structure or measuring
the
kinetics of
single molecule interactions,
biophysics is also understood to
encompass research areas that
apply models and experimental
techniques derived from
physics (e.g.
electromagnetism and
quantum mechanics) to larger
systems such as tissues or organs
(hence the inclusion of basic
neuroscience as well as more
applied techniques such as
fMRI).
Biophysics often does not have
university-level departments of
its own, but have presence as
groups across departments within
the fields of
biology,
biochemistry,
chemistry,
computer science,
mathematics,
medicine,
pharmacology,
physiology,
physics, and
neuroscience. What follows is
a list of examples of how each
department applies its efforts
toward the study of biophysics.
This list is hardly all inclusive.
Nor does each subject of study
belong exclusively to any
particular department. Each
academic institution makes its own
rules and there is much mixing
between departments.
Medicine and
neuroscience - tackling
neural networks experimentally
(brain slicing) as well as
theoretically (computer models),
membrane permitivity, gene
therapy, understanding tumors.
Physics - biomolecular free
energy, biomolecular structures
and dynamics, protein folding,
stochastic processes, surface
dynamics.
Many
biophysical techniques are
unique to this field. Many of the
research traditions in biophysics
were initiated by scientists who
were straight physicists,
chemists, and biologists by
training.
Perutz M.F. Proteins and
Nucleic Acids, Elsevier,
Amsterdam, 1962
Perutz MF (1969). The
haemoglobin molecule.
Proceedings of the Royal Society
of London. Series B 173
(31): 113-40.
PMID 4389425
Dogonadze R.R. and Urushadze
Z.D. Semi-Classical Method of
Calculation of Rates of Chemical
Reactions Proceeding in Polar
Liquids.- J.Electroanal.Chem.,
32, 1971, pp. 235-245
Volkenshtein M.V., Dogonadze
R.R., Madumarov A.K., Urushadze
Z.D. and Kharkats Yu.I. Theory
of Enzyme Catalysis.-
Molekuliarnaya Biologia
(Moscow), 6, 1972, pp. 431-439
(In Russian, English summary)
