2021 Faculty Courses School of Science Department of Physics Graduate major in Physics
Biophysics I
- Academic unit or major
- Graduate major in Physics
- Instructor(s)
- Nobuhiro Hayashi
- Class Format
- Lecture
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 5-6 Mon
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- PHY.C452
- Number of credits
- 100
- Course offered
- 2021
- Offered quarter
- 2Q
- Syllabus updated
- Jul 10, 2025
- Language
- English
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
Although the life is so complicated as to seem to be mysterious, the microscopic and molecular elementary processes consist of simple physical events. However, when those simple events run together and fuse into each other, not only the complexity will be raised, but also qualitatively different ‘physical phenomena’ will be generated. That is the essence of the life. Biophysics deals with the ultimate physical phenomena created by the nature in the eternal flow of time. In this course, novel pictures of life drawn by biophysics will be shown, and approaches to reveal the essence of the life by the biophysics will be summarized.
Course description and aims
Biophysics is an area of natural science to tackle the eternal problem of life and death by means of physics. In the twentieth century, owing to the rapid advance of modern physics and technology, observation of life activities has become molecular level. As a result the knowledge of life has been expanded the knowledge of life enormously. Will the humankind become able to completely understand life and conquer death? To start with a long journey to answer this question, the very basic knowledge will be provided in this course.
Keywords
Life Science, Biophysics, Molecular Biology
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
Lecture
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Introduction: Summary of biomolecules | Introduction |
| Class 2 | Principles of functional architecture of proteins | Functional architecture of proteins |
| Class 3 | Principles of functional architecture of nucleic acids | Functional architecture of nucleic acids |
| Class 4 | Phasing approaches to observe biomolecules: Circular dichroism (CD), Surface plasmon resonance (SPR), Mass spectrometry, Solution small angel X-ray/neutron scattering, Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) | Circular dichroism (CD), Surface plasmon resonance (SPR), Mass spectrometry, Solution small angel X-ray/neutron scattering, Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) |
| Class 5 | Surface plasmon resonance (SPR), Mass spectrometry, Solution small angel X-ray/neutron scattering, Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) | Circular dichroism (CD), Surface plasmon resonance (SPR), Mass spectrometry, Solution small angel X-ray/neutron scattering, Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) |
| Class 6 | Understanding of the life using biophysics 1(case studies): Molecular mechanism of signaling on bio-membrane micro-domain. | Molecular mechanism of signaling on bio-membrane micro-domain. |
| Class 7 | Understanding of the life using biophysics 2(case studies): Molecular mechanism of signaling on bio-membrane micro-domain. | Molecular mechanism of signaling on bio-membrane micro-domain. |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.
Textbook(s)
There are no prior conditions for taking the course.
Reference books, course materials, etc.
There are no prior conditions for taking the course.
Evaluation methods and criteria
Attendance and Reports
Related courses
- PHY.C343 ： Chemical Physics
Prerequisites
There are no prior conditions for taking the course.