Biophysics

From ArticleWorld

Biophysics is a field that uses the concepts and methods of physics to answer biological questions. As biophysics is a relatively new field there are no clearly defined unifying factors that are identified in studies. Studies tackled under the science of biophysics include sequence comparison and neural networks. In the past, the design of mechanical limbs was included in this portfolio but today this is classified as bioengineering or biomedical engineering.

Overview

In biology, the study of biomolecules is normally conducted using methods that reveal structure, with the assistance of techniques like fluorescence labeling, to the unaided eye or with optical magnification for the most. Biophysicists seek to accomplish the same results but at much smaller molecule levels. Biophysicists attempt to study the molecular level of organisms. By drawing on knowledge from a wide range of disciplines biophysicists are able to determine and observe the structure and interactions of individual molecules or molecule complexes.

Biophysics and related fields

Although biophysics is not normally an individual department at academic institutions its presence is often found within other disciplines. Some of these include biology, computer science, medicine, physics and neuroscience. Examples of how biophysics is included in other fields are in biology with the study of gene regulation, in structural biology with the determination of proteins, lipids and other structures and in computer science with the sequencing of proteins. These are only a few examples of how biophysics would be useful in many different fields.

Famous biophysicists

Famous biophysicists include Luigi Galvani the discoverer of bioelectricity, Bernard Katz who described the working of synapses and Hermann J. Muller who determined that X-rays cause mutations. These are but a few of the discoveries by biophysicists. Other ground breaking work includes the determination of the genetic code, research on the human ear and the development of magnetic resonance imaging.