Introduction to Biophysics

PHZ 4710, Fall 2010 
Instructor: Dr. Prem P. Chapagain

    There is no formal text-book for this course.  Useful reference texts will be recommended during the lectures and some lecture notes will be provided. Therefore, it is important to attend the class regularly. The course will be determined by a combination of homework assignments and exams. There will be two in-class exams and a final exam. Homework problems will be assigned each week and are due the following week. This class is cross-listed with PHZ6255 but the assignments may differ. 

Grading:  The homework, the two in-class exams, and the final exam each will account for a third of the final grade.

Topics covered:

Introduction to Physics of Life

Thermodynamics

Entropy and Free Energy

Protein Structure

Biophysical/Biochemical Interactions

Protein Dynamics and Function

Photosynthesis

DNA

RNA

Transcription and Translation of Proteins