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 Lew Lectures | Jerzak Lectures | Guest Lectures |

Lew Lectures
Course Notes and Readings for the Lew Lectures are mounted on Steacie's e-Reserves [link]

GROWTH AND FORM: Allometry [01]

  • growth and life cycle
  • dimensional analysis
    • The relations between organismal size, life cycle and physiological function (metabolism, etc.) will be introduced to form a general overview of the physical envelope of organismal life.

    GROWTH AND FORM: Biomechanical Constraints on Growth and Form [02]

  • the height of a jump
  • the height of a tree
    • The relations of force and motion will be explored in the context of 'defying' gravity (to explain why fleas and humans are able to jump to the same height). The height of a tree relates to growing high to optimize light collecting for photosynthesis, the strength of materials and how they limit height, and the need to supply water to the topmost regions of the tree, all constrained by physical limits.

    MOLECULAR MOTION: Brownian Motion [03]

  • Einstein's explanation of Brownian motion (thermodynamics and molecular theory)
    • Einstein's explanation, a derivation from a two-dimensional random walk, was the starting point for a physical explanation of the flux of neutral solutes, in solution (Fick's equations).
  • time dependence
    • The constraints on biological organisms as a consequence of the slowness of diffusion over long distances will be presented.

    MOLECULAR MOTION: Membrane Partitioning

  • Osmotic flux and membrane permeation
  • Collanders' data on The permeability of Nitella cells to non-electroytes.
  • Osmotic pressure and permeability
    • Olive oil partitioning and membrane permeability reveal the properties of the plasma membrane, but also offer insight into osmotic gradients and the flow of water across membranes. Osmotic pressure measurements of permeability recall the thermodynamic underpinnings of Einstein's explanation of Brownian motion.

    MOLECULAR MOTORS: Cellular Movement [04]

  • Reynold's number: Laminar and turbulent flow
  • Viscosity and drag
    • Small sizes, low velocities and viscosity create a very different physical 'universe' for small versus large organisms.

    MOLECULAR MOTORS: Bacterial Motility [05]

  • Rotatory engines
  • Chemiosmotics (energetics)
    • Vectorial movement of hydronium ions passing through the stator/rotor causes rotatory motion of the flagella and thus bacterial motility.

    READINGS for Lew Lectures

  • [01]Alexander, R. McNeill (1971) Size and Shape. Edward Arnold (Publishers) Limited. Chapters 1 and 2; West, Geoffrey B. and James H. Brown (2004) Life's universal scaling laws. Physics Today (September) pp. 36-42.
  • [02]Thompson, D'Arcy Wentworth (1961) On Growth and Form (ed. By John Tyler Bonner). Cambridge University Press. Pp. 26-28; McMahon, Thomas (1973) Size and shape in biology. Science 179:1201-1204; Tyree, Melvin T. (2003) Tree hydraulics. Nature 423:923.
  • [03]Einstein, Albert (1907). Investigations on the Theory of the Brownian Movement. Edited by R. Furth. Translated by A.D. Cowper. Published by Dover Publications. Chapter V (The elementary theory of the Brownian motion).
  • [04]Purcell, EM (1977) Life at low Reynolds number. American Journal of Physics 45:3-11.
  • [05]Berg, HC (2000) Motile behavior of bacteria. Physics Today (January) pp. 2-7
    • [click here for the Lew Lectures syllabus in pdf format]

    Jerzak Lectures

    ABSORPTION AND LUMINESCENCE MOLECULAR SPECTROSCOPY

  • Electromagnetic waves and photons
  • Atomic and molecular orbitals
  • Energy diagrams
  • Absorption and emission of radiation
  • Fluorescence and phosphorescence in biology
  • Energy transfer and charge transfer in biology
  • Photodynamic cancer therapy
  • Photosynthesis

    • LASER BIOPHYSICS

  • Spontaneous and stimulated emission
  • Interaction of light with tissue
  • Laser hyperthermia cancer therapy
  • Laser tweezers in biology

    • NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE

  • Nuclear binding energy
  • Types of radioactive decays
  • The rate of radioactive decay
  • Effects of nuclear radiation on living organisms
  • Radiation dose
  • Radioisotopes in biology and medicine

    • NUCLEAR MAGNETIC RESONANCE SPECTROSCOPY/MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING

  • Spin angular momentum and magnetic dipole moment in magnetic field
  • NMR spectrometer
  • Chemical shift
  • Spin-spin splitting
  • Spin–lattice relaxation time and spin-spin relaxation time
  • MRI in medicine
  • Brain imaging (FMRI)

    • NEUROBIOPHYSICS

  • Membrane potential
  • Nernst equation
  • Action potential
  • Electrical properties of neurons
  • Communication between neurons
  • Brain imaging techniques

    • NANOBIOPHYSICS

  • Nanoparticles
  • Magnetic hyperthermia cancer therapy
  • Nanoparticles in radiotheraphy
  • Nanoparticles in image enhancement
  • Nanoparticles in drug delivery

    • READINGS for Jerzak Lectures

  • UV-VIS Spectroscopy
  • Nuclear biophysics
  • NMR/MRI
  • Laser tweezers
  • Neurobiophysics
  • Nanobiophysics
    • [click here for the Jerzak Lectures syllabus in pdf format]

    Guest Lectures

  • Prof. S. Krylov,Tu., Oct. 21, Molecular Interactions in Biology - CLICK HERE TO VIEW
  • Dr. P. Constantinou, Tu., Nov. 4, Microscopy in Life Sciences - CLICK HERE TO VIEW
  • Prof. S. Menary, Tu., Nov. 25, Particle Accelerators and their Biomedical Uses - CLICK HERE TO VIEW
  • Prof. L. Donaldson, Th., Nov.27, Protein Structure, Dynamics and Orientation from NMR Spectroscopy - CLICK HERE TO VIEW
  • TBA
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