Life Physics

The course aims to provide an initial general introduction to physics as it relates to the biological sciences, and to put into context the use of modern physics concepts, methods and approaches to describe biological systems and their complexity, from the molecular to the cellular scale. This means understanding the central role that physics has played over the past century in learning about the organization and dynamics of complex living matter (from cells to populations of individuals). At the same time, we need to understand that biological systems represent a new opportunity for physicists to learn more about the complexity of living matter and its capacity for self-organization, regulation and control, with an eye also to new biomimetic applications.

• Apply knowledge acquired in physics (mechanics, thermodynamics, fluid dynamics, electromagnetism, etc.) to describe biological phenomena from the molecular to the cellular scale in a quantitative way, understanding what a biological cell is, its molecular components and its main functions.
• Study new concepts for fundamental physics: molecular switches and motors, thermodynamics of small systems, active systems, stochastic systems, regulation, information, evolution, etc.
• Learn that the great achievements of modern biology originated and developed with ideas and tools from physics.
• Learn the principles and experimental methods of physics used to measure the physico-chemical properties of cells down to the scale of the individual molecule.
• Learn about the major challenges that unite physical-chemical-mathematical sciences with biological, medical and life sciences in general.
• Learn to relate physico-chemical phenomena to biological observations in vitro and in
• Start learning the interdisciplinary language between physics and biology, at the new frontiers of physical and material sciences.
• Explore a topic of personal interest in the physics of biological matter.

CCI

CM: 9 h

TD: 9 h