Quantitative Understanding of Biosystems: An Introduction to Biophysics focuses on the behavior and properties of microscopic structures that underlie living systems. It clearly describes the biological physics of macromolecules, subcellular structures, and whole cells, including interactions with light. Providing broad coverage of physics, chemistry, biology, and mathematics, this color text features: Mathematical and computational tools—graphing, calculus, simple differential equations, diagrammatic analysis, and visualization tools Randomness, variation, statistical mechanics, distributions, and spectra The biological micro- and nanoworld—structures, processes, and the physical laws Quantum effects—photosynthesis, UV damage, electron and energy transfer, and spectroscopic characterization of biological structures Through its active learning approach, the text encourages practical comprehension of the behavior of biosystems, rather than knowledge of the latest research. The author includes graph- and diagram-centered physics and mathematics, simple software, frequent checks of understanding, and a repetition of important ideas at higher levels or from different points of view. After completing this book, students will gain significant computational and project experience and become competent at quantitatively characterizing biosystems. CD-ROM Resource The accompanying CD contains multimedia learning tools, such as video clips and animations, that illustrate intrinsically dynamic processes. For students inexperienced in the application of mathematics and physical principles to naturally occurring phenomena, this multimedia component emphasizes what is most obvious about biological systems: living things move. Students can also manipulate and re-program the included Excel graphs.

Table of Contents:
INTRODUCTION, APPROACH, AND TOOLS Introduction to a New World Biological and Nonliving Worlds Contrasted Hierarchical Structure and Function Some Important Quantities to Get Started Biophysics and Biochemistry Operate in Water (Water 1) Important or "Hot" Issues in Biophysics, or How to Be Out-of-Date Quickly Is There a Career Here Somewhere? Read Appendix A How (Most) Physicists Approach Biophysics Dealing with Nonspherical Cows: Drive for Simplicity Two Approaches to Biosystems Comparison of "Physics" and "Biology" Approaches to Organisms Memorization: Its Advantages and Dangers Math Tools: First Pass What Math Do We Need? Notation: Mathematics vs. Physics Notations Approximations Vectors Two- and Three-Dimensional Geometry Calculus Differential Equations Distributions STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION Water Introduction Structure Unusual Physical Properties Summary of Important Physical Properties Bulk vs. Local Structures Diffusion and Chemical Reactions in Water Solutes and the Solvent Power of Water Points to Remember Structures: From 0.1 to 10 nm and Larger Software to Display and Analyze Biological Structures Solvents Small Molecules Medium-Sized Molecules: Components of Large Biomolecules Forces and Free Energies Biopolymers Macromolecules: When Does a Molecule Become a Macroscopic Object? Points to Remember First Pass at Supramolecular Structures: Assemblies of Biomolecules Measuring Properties of Three-Dimensional Aggregates Small Aggregates Large Aggregates Two-Dimensional Aggregates: Membranes Points to Remember Putting a Cell Together: Physical Sketch Minimal, Prokaryotic, and Eukaryotic Cells Physiology: Selective Overview Reproduction, DNA, and the Cell Nucleus Sensors and Recognition: Responding to the Outside World without Eyes BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY: QUANTUM MICROWORLD Quantum Primer Quantum Glossary Schrödinger Equation and Other Tools of Quantum Mechanics Pauli Exclusion Principle From Atoms to Molecules Collisions of Atoms and Molecules Classical vs. Quantum: Is a 1-mm-Long Molecule of DNA a Quantum Object? Points to Remember Light and Life Light: Our Energy Source Crucial Differences between One 5-eV and Two 2.5-eV Photons Properties of Photons Scattering and Refraction Absorption Spectra Emission Spectra Einstein Relations between Absorption and Emission of Atoms (Graduate Section) Intersystem Crossing: Singlets (S = 0) to Triplets (S = 1) Energy Transfer (FRET) Points to Remember Photosynthesis Global Numbers Overall Process Structural Organization of Photosynthetic Units Light-Harvesting (Antenna) Proteins: Arrays of Absorbers Reaction Centers and Charge Separation: Purple Bacteria and Cyanobacteria Artificial Models and Nonpolluting Energy Production Points to Remember Direct Ultraviolet Effects on Biological Systems Types and Sources of UV Light Divisions of the UV for Health Purposes: UV-A, UV-B, and UV-C UV Damage to Organisms: "Action Spectra" Wavelength-Dependent Photochemical Yields and Protein Damage UV Damage to DNA Optical Properties of the Skin Sunscreens Points to Remember BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY: (CLASSICAL) MICROWORLD Mechanics and Dynamics Conservation Laws, Newton’s Laws, Forces, and Torques Friction: Familiar and Less Familiar Examples of Motion Gravitational Forces Volume Changes and Compressibility Stress and Strain Force of Friction, Dissipation, Inertia, and Disorder Fluids and Turbulence Points to Remember Random Walks, Diffusion, and Polymer Conformation Review of Kinetic Theory of Gases: Implications for Biomolecular Averaging One-Dimensional Random Walk: Probabilities and Distributions Spreadsheet Model for a One-Dimensional Random Walk Three-Dimensional Random Walk Diffusion in the Bulk Reprise of Photosynthetic Light Harvesting Biopolymers—A Random Reprise Points to Remember Statistical Physics and Thermodynamics Primer Important Quantities: Temperature, Pressure, Density, and Number Statistical Mechanical View and Distributions Equipartition of Energy "Internal" Energy: Kinetic (K) and Potential (U) Heat, Internal Energy, Work, and Enthalpy Conservative and Nonconservative Forces: DNA Example Ideal Gas Law Entropy: Gases and Polymers Free Energy (Gibbs) Energy Diagrams Boltzmann Distribution if Numbers Vary: Gibbs Distribution Equilibrium Constants in Ideal, Uniform Solutions Free Energy: Enthalpy, Entropy, Mixing, Gradients, Potential, and ATP Points to Remember Reactions: Physical View Energy, Entropy, and Free Energy Diagrams Rate Theory I: Activation-Energy Model Diffusion-Controlled Rates (Bimolecular) Effects of Temperature on Rate Constants Quantum Tunneling A ⇌ B: Unimolecular Reactions A + B → C Binding Reactions: Free-Solution Reactions Complex Reactions: Rate-Determining Steps and Michaelis–Menten Analysis Driving Forces Reversibility and Detailed Balance Single-Molecule Behavior Points to Remember Molecular Machines: Introduction Basic Considerations for Motors DNA-Manipulating Motors Points to Remember Assembly Overview of Assembly Issues Kinetics and Equilibrium Restricted Space for Assembly Entropic Drive: Ordered Structures Can Be Driven by Random Processes Nucleosomes and Nucleosome-Like Structures Points to Remember Appendix A: Reading Skills and Information Sources Appendix B: Snapshot of the Supporting CD Glossary Further Resources Index Problem Solving and References appear at the end of each chapter.