Undergraduate Course: Biological Physics (PHYS11040)
Course Outline
School | School of Physics and Astronomy |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Year 4 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
SCQF Credits | 10 |
ECTS Credits | 5 |
Summary | There is an increased research effort in the school devoted to problems at the interface between biology and physics. There is also increasing recognition that physics can provide a very real - and very valuable - insight into the behaviour of complex biological systems, and that a physical approach to biological problems can provide a new way of looking at the world. This course will introduce the students to the basics of biological systems, and then provide examples of how familiar physical principles (thermodynamics, statistical mechanics) underlie complex biological phenomena.
This course will introduce you to the wonders of biology: the organisms, cells, and molecules that make up the living world. We will demonstrate the power of physical concepts to understand and make powerful predictions about biological systems, from the folding of a protein into a unique three-dimensional structure within a reasonable timeframe, through the motions of proteins to drive biological processes, to the locomotion of bacterial cells. The physical concepts will be substantially familiar, but their applications will be novel. Where possible, examples will be drawn from the recent scientific literature.
|
Course description |
Not entered
|
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | At least 80 credit points accrued in courses of SCQF Level 9 or 10 drawn from Schedule Q.
Please be aware that this course has a high level of Maths and uses concepts from statistical mechanics and thermodynamics. |
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisites | Some knowledge of statistical mechanics and thermodynamics is essential (partition functions, free energies, canonical and grand canonical ensembles, random walks and diffusion). |
High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
|
Academic year 2024/25, Available to all students (SV1)
|
Quota: None |
Course Start |
Semester 2 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
100
(
Lecture Hours 12,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 6,
Feedback/Feedforward Hours 3,
Summative Assessment Hours 3,
Revision Session Hours 2,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
72 )
|
Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
50 %,
Coursework
50 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
|
Additional Information (Assessment) |
20% oral assignment
30% written assignment
50% Degree Examination
All components are mandatory to pass the course. |
Feedback |
Not entered |
Exam Information |
Exam Diet |
Paper Name |
Hours & Minutes |
|
Main Exam Diet S2 (April/May) | Biological Physics Exam | 2:120 | |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of the structure of cells, and the major components within a cell.
- Recognise that biological systems are far from equilibrium.
- Understand the importance of diffusion, random walks and entropy in biological systems.
- Understand the importance of cooperativity in biology.
- Recognise and communicate the different approaches used in Biological and Physical research.
|
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
Additional Class Delivery Information |
12 lectures; 6 tutorials; attend 1 hour of oral presentations during which you will present and ask questions on your peers' oral presentations. |
Keywords | BioPh |
Contacts
Course organiser | Dr Chris Brackley
Tel: (0131 6)50 8617
Email: cbrackle@ph.ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Miss Katy Brown
Tel: (01316) 505310
Email: kbrown12@ed.ac.uk |
|
|