Physical biology of molecules, cells and tissues.
Applying the very successful methods of thinking from
classical and statistical-mechanics in physics to
unravel problems in biology at the cellular scale. We use standard
results from classical mechanics (springs, rods,
pendula etc.) and examine how far we can use them for
biological systems. We spend some time with Random Walk models and
Boltzmann Statistics, and use these to derive
theoretical results that connect energetics with the
bulk-biochemistry. We intersperse this with a constant
discussion of the following two aspects:
Since most of our discussions will revolve around theory or standard models, the discussion will allow us to understand how one can seek to employ these theories as usable theoretical models by experimental validation or just reasoning through. |
The phenomena that will be examined are:
Paper reading of biophysical techniques will be evaluated in class. Additional problem based assignments will intersperse the course. Regular quizzes will be conducted after the conclusion of substantial material. They will be announced and surprise, open- and closed-book.Continuous assessment will constitute half the assessment, the other half being traditional exams. |
At the end of the course you should be able to understand and evaluate sensible theoretical models of cell-biological systems from a biophysics perspective. The course will be complementary to Cell Biology (based on the book by B. Alberts et al. Mol. Biol. Cell). Intructors: Primary instructor: Dr. Chaitanya Athale (Div. of Biology @iiserpune) Guest lectures: TBA Assessment: Internal assesment includes evaluation of assignments, paper-reading, technique-presentations and quizzes. Exam based assesment is currently uncertain but sometime in December 2020. In the introductory lectures you will be provided an opportunity to choose what form of assessment you will be willing to accept. Course-Coordinator email: bio322 at the rat e student s dot ii serpune do t a c d o t in You can also in case of urgent issues email me at cathale at the rate of iiser pune dot academia dot in. |
Course Contents
Lecture notes (on google classrooms): Those having issues accessing them please email me or call me I am maintaining a parallel lecture-notes page here. |
AssignmentsThe assignments page [link] contains all the assignmnts and their solutions as the deadline passes.
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Policy on originality and plagiarism [pdf]: A document of what is acceptable usage of existing resources. It particularly deals with what IS and IS NOT acceptable use of information, figures, graphs and words from peer-reviewed, published, online, wikipedia, journal-article and other sources. |
Weekly meetings: Monday every week in class hours 1200-1300h. Online or if you face connection issues call my office number which reads as (pune prefix) zero twenty (IISER prefix) twentyfive nine ty and the extension five eighty fifty.
. At the pre-determined time I will make myself avaiable in my personal web-chat room. For any meeting outside this time, please take an appointment to pre-arrange such a meeting to be sure to meet me. This will be the office hour. Using google-classroom discssions or emails to my @students iiserpune address, you can seek such an appointment.
For course and assignment related queries contact bio322 at the rate students stop iiserpune stop ac dot indiain
Course Reading
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