APPLICATIONS OF BIO PHYSICS

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APPLICATIONS OF BIO PHYSICS – AN

OVERVIEW

Dr.Rupali Patil Bhagat, Asst Professor, Dept of Zoology, Shri Shivaji Science College, Amaravati,

SGB Amaravati University, Maharashtra.

Abstract:

Biophysics is a branch of science that uses the methods of physics to study biological processes. Physics uses

mathematical laws to explain the natural world, and it can be applied to biological organisms and systems to

gain insight into their workings. Research in biophysics has helped prevent and treat disease, advance drug

development, and create technology to allow humans to live more sustainably and protect the changing

environment. In the first half of the 20th Century, German scientists dominated the biophysics. They studied

electromagnetic fields and light, and they became mainly concerned with studying the effects of radiation on

living things. The popularity of biophysics rose when the Austrian physicist Erwin Schrödinger published

the book What is Life? in 1944. This book was based on a series of public lectures that Schrödinger gave on

explaining the processes of living things through physics and chemistry. In it, he proposed the idea that there

was a molecule in living things that contained genetic information in covalent bonds. This inspired scientists

such as James Watson and Francis Crick to search for and characterize the genetic molecule, and with the

aid of Rosalind Franklin’s x-ray crystallography research, they discovered the double helix structure of DNA

in 1953.

Keywords: Biophysics, branch, science, methods, physics, study, biological, processes.

Introduction:

History of Biophysics Biophysics is a relatively young branch of science; it arose as a definite subfield in

the early to mid-20th Century. However, the foundations for the study of biophysics were laid down much

earlier, in the 19th Century, by a group of physiologists in Berlin. The Berlin school of physiologists included

Hermann von Helmholtz, Emil DuBois-Reymond, Ernst von Brücke, and Carl Ludwig. In 1856, Adolf Fick,

one of Ludwig’s students, even published the first biophysics textbook. But technology in physics had not

sufficiently advanced at this time to study lifeforms in a detailed way, such as at the molecular level.

By the mid-20th century, biophysics programs had sprung up and gained popularity in other countries, and

from 1950-1970, biophysics research occurred at a faster rate than ever before. In addition to the discovery

of DNA and its structure, biophysics techniques were also used to create vaccines, develop imaging

techniques such as MRI and CAT scans to help doctors diagnose diseases, and create new treatment methods

such as dialysis, radiation therapy, and pacemakers. Currently, biophysics has also begun to focus on issues

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related to the Earth’s changing climate. For example, some biophysicists are working on developing biofuels

from living microorganisms that could replace gasoline as a fuel.

Biophysics uses physics to explain and develop more information on living things. Common examples of

these includes wearing glasses with corrective lenses for vision, and X-ray machines, which show the skeletal

structure of a creature. Lasers are also part of biophysics, as well as an ultracentrifuge, which is a machine

spinning at high speeds to separate a solution.

Biophysics has been used to explain fundamental (basic) processes in Biology. This includes, the diffusion

(moving of particles from a point of high concentration to that of a low one) of gases, osmosis, and how

lenses can be used to correct vision.

Osmosis has been best explained as water moving across a membrane from a source of water with higher

concentration to a lower area. This makes it a type of diffusion, which helps create solutes. Solutes are

proteins and ions that dissolve in a solvent (water). An example of osmosis can be seen in red blood cells.

These contain many solutes like salt and protein. When placed into a solvent, the water will move to the area

with the highest concentrate of solute.

Diffusion of gases is gas moving in random directions that result in them moving away from the area. The

kinetic theory states that a gas is many particles (atoms/molecules) which are in a rapid moving randomly

which causes many collisions with each other and with the walls of the container. So, diffusion of gases is

pulling apart the gases and making the particles have more space between.

Biophysics has a long rich history, going back to the 18

century when an Italian physician, Luigi Galvani,

started doing research on the nature of muscle contraction and nerve impulses. He found that electricity was

constantly interacting with the muscles, and that work started off the entire biophysics properties, since

electricity is part of nature. His discovery led to the creation of devices such as electrocardiograph (recording

the electric impulses of heartbeats), electroencephalograph (recording brain waves), and the pacemaker (a

device to keep heartbeats normal)

Biophysics is the field that applies the theories and methods of physics to understand how biological systems

work.

Biophysics has been critical to understanding the mechanics of how the molecules of life are made, how

different parts of a cell move and function, and how complex systems in our bodies—the brain, circulation,

immune system, and others— work. Biophysics is a vibrant scientific field where scientists from many fields

including math, chemistry, physics, engineering, pharmacology, and materials sciences, use their skills to

explore and develop new tools for understanding how biology—all life—works.

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Biophysics: The Bridging Science

Physical scientists use mathematics to explain what happens in nature. Life scientists want to understand

how biological systems work. These systems include molecules, cells, organisms, and ecosystems that are

very complex. Biological research in the 21st century involves experiments that produce huge amounts of

data. How can biologists even begin to understand this data or predict how these systems might work?

This is where biophysicists come in. Biophysicists are uniquely trained in the quantitative sciences of

physics, math, and chemistry and they are able tackle a wide array of topics, ranging from how nerve cells

communicate, to how plant cells capture light and transform it into energy, to how changes in the DNA of

healthy cells can trigger their transformation into cancer cells, to so many other biological problems.

What Do Biophysicists Do?

Biophysicists work to develop methods to overcome disease, eradicate global hunger, produce renewable

energy sources, design cutting-edge technologies, and solve countless scientific mysteries. In short,

biophysicists are at the forefront of solving age-old human problems as well as problems of the future.

Data Analysis and Structure

The structure of DNA was solved in 1953 using biophysics, and this discovery was critical to showing how

DNA is like a blueprint for life.

Now we can read the sequences of DNA from thousands of humans and all varieties of living organisms.

Biophysical techniques are also essential to the analysis of these vast quantities of data.

Computer Modelling

Biophysicists develop and use computer modeling methods to see and manipulate the shapes and structures

of proteins, viruses, and other complex molecules, crucial information needed to develop new drug targets,

or understand how proteins mutate and cause tumors to grow.

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Molecules in Motion

Biophysicists study how hormones move around the cell, and how cells communicate with each other. Using

fluorescent tags, biophysicists have been able to make cells glow like a firefly under a microscope and learn

about the cell’s sophisticated internal transit system.

Neuroscience

Biophysicists are building computer models called neural networks to model how the brain and nervous

system work, leading to new understandings of how visual and auditory information is processed.

Bioengineering, Nanotechnologies, Biomaterials

Biophysics has also been critical to understanding biomechanics and applying this information to the design

of better prosthetic limbs, and better nanomaterials for drug delivery.

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Imaging

Biophysicists have developed sophisticated diagnostic imaging techniques including MRIs, CT scans, and

PET scans. Biophysics continues to be essential to the development of even safer, faster, and more precise

technology to improve medical imaging and teach us more about the body’s inner workings.

Medical Applications Biophysics has been essential to the development of many life-saving treatments and

devices including kidney dialysis, radiation therapy, cardiac defibrillators, pacemakers, and artificial heart

valves.

Ecosystems

Environmental biophysics measures and models all aspects of the environment from the stratosphere to deep

ocean vents. Environmental biophysicists research the diverse microbial communities that inhabit every

niche of this planet, they track pollutants across the atmosphere, and are finding ways to turn algae into

biofuels.

Where Do Biophysicsists Work?

Biophysicists are teachers and researchers in biology, physics, engineering, and many other fields. They

work in universities, hospitals, tech startups, and engineering companies developing new diagnostic tests,

drug delivery systems, or potential biofuels. Biophysicists develop computer models to find out why a new

flu strain eludes the immune system or they make 3D models of new protein structures to better understand

how they work. They practice law in specialized fields like intellectual property, write about science for print

and online publications, and work in government to advise legislatures. Those who are trained in biophysics

have unlimited career possibilities.

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Biophysics is a scientific field at the forefront of research that is tra 
Medical technology has advanced tremendously because of research into biophysics. Computerized axial 
tomography (CAT) scanning, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and positron-emission tomography (PET) 
have given researchers sight into the complex bodies of creatures, including humans. Today, these are used 
in a day to day environment, but just under 50 years ago, we would not be able to even fathom technology 
such as this.  
 
Biophysics has helped us advance tremendously by incorporating aspects of biology with physics. It began 
so long ago, and only recently have we taken true advantage of it, but we have certainly made up for lost 
time with all the wonderful medical tools and advancements that have been made. It's something that will 
seemingly be needed for years and years to come. 
typically addresses biological questions similar to those in biochemistry and molecular biology, seeking to 
find  the  physical  underpinnings  of  biomolecular  phenomena.  Scientists  in  this  field  conduct  research 
concerned  with  understanding  the  interactions  between  the  various  systems  of  a  cell,  including  the 
interactions between DNA, RNA and protein biosynthesis, as well as how these interactions are regulated. 
A great variety of techniques are used to answer these questions. 
 
A ribosome is a biological machine that utilizes protein dynamics 
Fluorescent imaging  techniques,  as  well  as electron  microscopy, x-ray  crystallography, NMR 
spectroscopy, atomic  force  microscopy (AFM)  and small-angle  scattering (SAS)  both  with X-
rays and neutrons (SAXS/SANS) are often used to visualize structures of biological significance. Protein 
dynamics can be observed by neutron spin echo spectroscopy. Conformational change in structure can be 
measured using techniques such as dual polarisation interferometry, circular dichroism, SAXS and SANS. 
Direct manipulation of molecules using optical tweezers or AFM, can also be used to monitor biological 
events where forces and distances are at the nanoscale. Molecular biophysicists often consider complex 
biological  events  as  systems  of  interacting  entities  which  can  be  understood  e.g.  through statistical 
mechanics, thermodynamics and chemical  kinetics.  By  drawing  knowledge  and  experimental  techniques 

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from a wide variety of disciplines, biophysicists are often able to directly observe, model or even manipulate 
the structures and interactions of individual molecules or complexes of molecules. 
In addition to traditional (i.e. molecular and cellular) biophysical topics like structural biology or enzyme 
kinetics,  modern  biophysics  encompasses  an  extraordinarily  broad  range  of  research, 
from bioelectronics to quantum biology involving both experimental and theoretical tools. It is becoming 
increasingly  common  for  biophysicists  to  apply  the  models  and  experimental  techniques  derived 
from physics,  as  well  as mathematics and statistics,  to  larger  systems  such 
as tissues, organs,
[6]
 populations
[7]
 and ecosystems. Biophysical models are used extensively in the study of 
electrical conduction in single neurons, as well as neural circuit analysis in both tissue and whole brain. 
Medical physics, a branch of biophysics, is any application  of physics to medicine or healthcare, ranging 
from radiology to microscopy and nanomedicine. For example, physicist Richard Feynman theorized about 
the  future  of nanomedicine.  He  wrote  about  the  idea  of  a medical use  for biological 
machines (see nanomachines). Feynman and Albert Hibbs suggested that certain repair machines might one 
day be reduced in size to the point that it would be possible to (as Feynman put it) "swallow the doctor". The 
idea was discussed in Feynman's 1959 essay There's Plenty of Room at the Bottom.
[8]
 
Some of the earlier studies in biophysics were conducted in the 1840s by a group known as the Berlin school 
of  physiologists.  Among  its  members  were  pioneers  such  as Hermann  von  Helmholtz, Ernst  Heinrich 
Weber, Carl F. W. Ludwig, and Johannes Peter Müller.
[9]
 Biophysics might even be seen as dating back to 
the studies of Luigi Galvani. 
The popularity of the field rose when the book What Is Life? by Erwin Schrödinger was published. Since 
1957, biophysicists have organized themselves into the Biophysical Society which now has about 9,000 
members over the world.
[10]
 
Some authors such as Robert Rosen criticize biophysics on the ground that the biophysical method does not 
take into account the specificity of biological phenomena.
[11]
 
While some colleges and universities have dedicated departments of biophysics, usually at the graduate level, 
many do not have university-level biophysics departments, instead having groups in related departments such 
as biochemistry, cell biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering, mathematics, medicine, molecular 
biology, neuroscience, pharmacology, physics, and physiology. Depending on the strengths of a department 
at a university differing emphasis will be given to fields of biophysics. What follows is a list of examples of 
how each department applies its efforts toward the study of biophysics. This list is hardly all inclusive. Nor 
does each subject of study belong exclusively to any particular department. Each academic institution makes 
its own rules and there is much overlap between departments.
[citation needed]
 
  Biology and molecular  biology – Gene  regulation,  single protein  dynamics, bioenergetics, patch 
clamping, biomechanics, virophysics. 
  Structural biology – Ångstrom-resolution structures of proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, carbohydrates, and 
complexes thereof. 

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  Biochemistry and chemistry – biomolecular structure, siRNA, nucleic acid structure, structure-activity 
relationships. 
  Computer science – Neural networks, biomolecular and drug databases. 
  Computational chemistry – molecular dynamics simulation, molecular docking, quantum chemistry 
  Bioinformatics – sequence alignment, structural alignment, protein structure prediction 
  Mathematics – graph/network theory, population modeling, dynamical systems, phylogenetics. 
  Medicine – biophysical research that emphasizes medicine. Medical biophysics is a field closely related 
to physiology. It explains various aspects and systems of the body from a physical and mathematical 
perspective.  Examples  are fluid  dynamics of  blood  flow,  gas  physics  of  respiration,  radiation  in 
diagnostics/treatment and much more. Biophysics is taught as a preclinical subject in many medical 
schools, mainly in Europe. 
  Neuroscience –  studying  neural  networks  experimentally  (brain  slicing)  as  well  as  theoretically 
(computer models), membrane permittivity, gene therapy, understanding tumors. 
  Pharmacology and physiology – channelomics,  biomolecular  interactions,  cellular 
membranes, polyketides. 
  Physics – negentropy, stochastic  processes,  and  the  development  of  new 
physical techniques and instrumentation as well as their application. 
  Quantum biology – The field of quantum biology applies quantum mechanics to biological objects and 
problems. Decohered isomers to  yield  time-dependent  base  substitutions.  These  studies  imply 
applications in quantum computing. 
  Agronomy and agriculture 
Many biophysical techniques are unique to this field. Research efforts in biophysics are often initiated by 
scientists who were biologists, chemists or physicists by training. 
Areas of Biophysics 
Biophysics  is  incorporated  into  many  diverse  areas  of  biology.  Some  research  topics  in  biophysics  or 
involving biophysics include: 
  Membrane biophysics: the study of the structure and function of cell membranes, including the ion 
channels, proteins, and receptors embedded within them. 
  Computational/theoretical biophysics: using mathematical modeling to study biological systems. 
  Protein engineering: creating and modifying proteins to advance synthetic biology. Often used to 
advance human health in the form of new disease treatments. 
  Molecular structures: biophysics studies the molecular structures of biological molecules including 
proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids. 

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 Mechanisms: using physical mechanisms to explain the occurrence of biological processes. Some

physical mechanisms include energy transduction in membranes, protein folding and structure

leading to specific functions, cell movement, and the electrical behavior of cells.

Here, a biophysicist in a U.S. Food and Drug Administration lab is studying the electrical activity of

the heart as related to pacemaker and defibrillator use.

Biophysics Major Some universities offer undergraduate Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degrees

in Biophysics, while others only offer a Biophysics degree at the graduate level (i.e., a master’s and/or

doctorate degree). Biophysics degrees are heavily focused on physics and biophysics courses, and usually

those who major in biophysics are required to take numerous math and chemistry classes as well. At the

undergraduate level, one can expect to take courses in general and organic chemistry, calculus, mechanics,

linear algebra, and biochemistry. Other possible courses include cell biology, genetics, molecular biology,

statistics, and computational biology, among others. Another important component of many biophysics

degrees is research; some programs require research in a laboratory to be done for a certain number of

semesters, culminating in a senior research project. The specific courses offered in a biophysics major

program can vary from university to university, but majoring in biophysics will adequately prepare a student

to begin their career in biophysics research.

If a student is interested in biophysics but their school does not offer a biophysics degree, there are often

comparable programs found in other majors that include much of the same courses. Majoring in physics is

another good option, and one may consider adding another major or minor in biochemistry, chemistry, or

biology depending on research interests and the programs offered.

Biophysics Conclusions:

The most common career options for biophysicists include research, teaching, or a combination of both. A

master’s degree is generally needed to become a biophysics teacher, lab manager or research associate, while

a PhD is necessary in order to be the principal investigator of a research laboratory. Principal investigators

design experiments and oversee all of the research being done in a lab, while lab managers and research

associates have a more supporting role and assist the principal investigator in carrying out their research.

Those with bachelor’s degrees may obtain positions as research technicians, which are also important in the

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laboratory. Research technicians carry out a lot of the benchwork of scientific experiments, allowing the

principal investigator time to write scientific papers, research proposals, and grants.

References

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https://biophysics.ucsf.edu/degree-program/research-areas.

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