Overview
Main description
Learn biophysics without overexerting yourself
Biophysics DeMYSTiFied offers easy-to-understand coverage of this relatively new science. The book provides an introduction to the topic, then moves on to cover biophysical tools and techniques, sub-cellular biophysics, and cellular and anatomical biophysics. Detailed examples, clear illustrations, and concise explanations make it easy to understand the material, and end-of-chapter quizzes and a final exam help reinforce learning.
Biophysics DeMYSTiFied:
- Explores the physics of living cells, DNA, proteins, and cell membranes
- Explains how energy and molecular forces control the functioning of living systems
- Uses statistical mechanics to calculate the probability of biologically significant events
- Demonstrates how x-ray diffraction was used to discover that DNA is a double helix
- Discusses bloodless surgery and the gamma knife
- Forecasts the future of cutting-edge medical imaging
Hard stuff made easy
Introduction and Background; Energy and Life; Thermodynamics, Statistical Mechanics, and Kinetics; Cell Physiology; Biophysical Tools and Techniques; X-Ray Crystallography; Scanning and Transmission Electron Microscopy; Nuclear Magnetic Resonance; Absorption and Scanning Absorption Spectroscopy; Florescence; Differential Scanning Calorimetry; Ultracentrifugation, Electrophoresis, and other Hydrodynamic Techniques; Simulation, Monte Carlo and other Computational Techniques; Atomic Force Microscopy, Optical Tweezers, and other techniques; Sub-Cellular Biophysics; Forces Affecting Biological Molecules and Structures; Protein Biophysics; Lipids and Membrane Biophysics; DNA and Molecular Biophysics; Binding Interactions, Enzyme Catalysis and Kinetics; Cellular and Anatomical Biophysics; Molecular Motors and Cell Motility; Excitable Tissues; Biomechanics; Imaging and Medical Biophysics
Table of contents
Part 1: Introduction and Background; Chapter 1. Introduction; Chapter 2. Energy and Life; Chapter 3. Thermodynamics, Statistical Mechanics, and Kinetics; Chapter 4. Cell Physiology; Part 2: Biophysical Tools and Techniques; Chapter 5. X-Ray Crystallography; Chapter 6. Scanning and Transmission Electron Microscopy; Chapter 7. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance; Chapter 8. Absorption and Scanning Absorption Spectroscopy; Chapter 9. Florescence; Chapter 10. Differential Scanning Calorimetry; Chapter 11. Ultracentrifugation, Electrophoresis, and other Hydrodynamic Techniques; Chapter 12. Simulation, Monte Carlo and other Computational Techniques; Chapter 13. Atomic Force Microscopy, Optical Tweezers, and other techniques; Part 3: Sub-Cellular Biophysics; Chapter 14. Forces Affecting Biological Molecules and Structures; Chapter 15. Protein Biophysics; Chapter 16. Lipids and Membrane Biophysics; Chapter 17. DNA and Molecular Biophysics; Chapter 18. Binding Interactions, Enzyme Catalysis and Kinetics; Part 4: Cellular and Anatomical Biophysics; Chapter 19. Molecular Motors and Cell Motility; Chapter 20. Excitable Tissues; Chapter 21. Biomechanics; Chapter 22. Imaging and Medical Biophysics
Author comments
Daniel Goldfarb has a Ph.D. in biophysics from the University of Virginia. He has done post-doctoral biophysics research, taught chemistry at Rutgers University, and written for the Biophysical Journal. Daniel is a Chartered Financial Analyst charterholder and currently applies his background in physics and math to designing and developing sophisticated analytical software for large investment companies in the financial industry.
