IDENTIFYING DATA 2010_11
Subject (*) BIOPHYSICS Code 20635224
Study programme
Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (2010)
 Cycle 2nd
Descriptors Credits Type Year Period
2.5 Optional Only annual
Language
Català
Department Enginyeria Química
Coordinator
MAIRAL LERGA, TERESA
 E-mail teresa.mairal@urv.cat
0
Lecturers
MAIRAL LERGA, TERESA
ORTIZ DEL TORO, PEDRO
Web
General description and relevant information Study of physicochemical processes at cellular level, with special emphasis on cellular metabolism and bioenergetics of transport phenomena in membranes. A brief introduction to the study of intermolecular forces between biomacromolècules, membranes and other structures of nanometer size will be given.

Competences
Type A Code Competences Specific
  Research
  AR7 Learning to interpret how chemical and biological processes operate on the basis of intermolecular interactions.
  AR18 Understanding gene expression, function of DNA and its derived processes.
Type B Code Competences Transversal
  Research
  BR2 Treballar de manera autònoma amb iniciativa.
  BR10 Habilitats crítiques: anàlisi i sintesi.
  BR11 Capacitat per generar noves idees (creativitat)
Type C Code Competences Nuclear
  Common
  CC3 Communicating effectively as a professional and as a citizen
  CC4 Speaking and understanding a foreign language with complete ease and fluency

Learning aims
Objectives Competences
To understand physicochemical processes as part of biochemistry and biology AR7
 BR2
 CC3
To calculate biophysical parameters AR18
 BR10
BR11
 CC4

Contents
Topic Sub-topic
I PROCESSES
1. Physics of biological world. How biological energy is produced and consumed. Flow of biologic information.

2. Thermodynamics of biological world. Energy and entropy of living matter. Phosphates as energy carriers.

3. Membrane transport. Diffusion. Fick’s law. Sodium pump

4. ATP synthesis

5. Light harvesting systems. Photosystems and photosynthesis. Photophosphorylation.

6. The eye as optical instrument. Rodopsin.

7. Membrane potentials. The nerve impulse and synaptic transmission.

8. Muscles. Energetics of muscle contractions.

9. Cytoskeleton, cilia and flagella. Bacterial movements
II TEMPORAL VARIATIONS 10. Second law of thermodynamics in open systems.

11. Deterministic systems. Lotka–Volterra equation.

12. Biological oscillations. Periodical behaviour of biological systems. Chaos

13. Stochastic analysis of biological dynamics. Simulation of stochastic processes. Montecarlo model.

14. Evolution as irreversible process. Prebiotic evolution.

15. Models of molecular evolution.

Planning
Methodologies  ::  Tests
  Competences (*) Class hours Hours outside the classroom (**) Total hours
Introductory activities
1 0 1
 
Lecture
10 20 30
Assignments
6 6 12
Problem solving, exercises
7 0 7
 
Personal tuition
10 0 10
 
Extended-answer tests
2 0 2
 
(*) On e-learning, hours of virtual attendance of the teacher.
(**) The information in the planning table is for guidance only and does not take into account the heterogeneity of the students.

Methodologies
Methodologies
  Description
Introductory activities Presentation of the subject
Lecture Presentation and explanation of all subject contents
Assignments Work to do outside class.
Problem solving, exercises Formulation, analysis and resolution of problems and exercises

Personalized attention
 
Personal tuition
Description
Personalized meetings between professors and students (individually or in groups) for clarification of doubts.

Assessment
  Description Weight
Assignments Homework delivery
 25
Problem solving, exercises Participation non the resolution of problems and exercises in class 15
Extended-answer tests Questionnaire on specific contents of the subject 20
Others

Exàmens parcials

40
 
Other comments and second exam session

Sources of information

Basic Córdoba, C.V., González, M.E.L., Biofísica, Sintesis, last edition
Goldbeter, A., Biochemical oscillations and cellular rhythms, Cambridge University Press, last edition
Hoppe, W., Biophysics, Springer Verlag, last edition
Laskowski, W., Pohlit, W., Biofísica, Omega, last edition
Montero, F., Morá, F., Biofísica, Eudema Universidad, last edition
Blumenfeld, L.A., Tikhonov, A, Biophysical thermodynamics of intracellular processes, Springer Verlag, last edition
Prigogine, I., Introducción a la termodinámica de procesos biológicos,, Alianza Editorial, last edition
Jou, D, Introducció a la termodinàmica de processos biològics, Institut d'Estudis Catalans, last edition
Criado, M., Casas, J, Termodinámica química y de los procesos irreversibles, Addison-Wesley Iberoamericana, last edition


Complementary Oparin, A.I., El origen de la vida, Grijalbo S.A., last edition
Montero, F., Sanz, J.C., Andrade, M.A., Evolución prebiótica, Eudema, last edition
, http://www.biophysics.org/biophys/society/btol/, ,
Darwin, CH., L'origen de les espècies, Edicions 62, last edition


Recommendations


 
Other comments
Level of previous formation: BSc in Chemistry, Physics, Biology or Pharmacy
(*)The teaching guide is the document in which the URV publishes the information about all its courses. It is a public document and cannot be modified. Only in exceptional cases can it be revised by the competent agent or duly revised so that it is in line with current legislation.