Biophysics

Biophysics (also biological physics) is an interdisciplinary science that applies theories and methods of the physical sciences to questions of biology. Many of the research traditions in biophysics were initiated by scientists who were doctoral level physicists, although many of the scientists who call themselves biophysicists today were not. Biophysicists work in the areas of physiology, neuroscience, biochemistry and molecular biology.

Table of contents

1 Topics in biophysics and related fields 2 Famous biophysicists 3 Other notable biophysicists 4 External links

Topics in biophysics and related fields

• cell biophysics
• channels, receptors and transporters
• electrophysiology
• membranes
• bioenergetics
• muscle and contractility
• nucleic acids
• photobiophysics and biophotonics
• proteins
• supramolecular assemblies
• spectroscopy, imaging etc.
• systems neuroscience
• neural encoding

Famous biophysicists

• Luigi Galvani, discoverer of bioelectricity
• Hermann von Helmholtz, first to measure the velocity of nerve impulses
• Alan Hodgkin & Andrew Huxley, created modern understanding of nerve impulses
• Georg von Békésy, research on the human ear
• Bernard Katz, discovered how synapses work
• Maurice Wilkins & Rosalind Franklin, pioneers of DNA crystallography
• Francis Crick, co-discover of DNA structure and the genetic code
• Max Perutz & John Kendrew, pioneers of protein crystallography

Other notable biophysicists

• Friedrich Dessauer, research on radiation, especially X-rays
• Walter Friedrich
• Boris Rajewsky

External links

• Biophysics Textbook Online