Introduction to Biological Physics-生物物理学简介.pdf

Introduction to Biological Physics Zhanchun Tu ( 涂展春 ) Department of Physics, BNU Email: tuzc@ Homepage: Biology and Physics ● Biology – Definition: greek words bios (life) and logos (study); the science of life and living organisms – Objects of study: from molecules in cells, to species then to ecosystems – Method: experiment (more) theory (less) – Branch: Physiology( 生理学 ), Genetics( 遗传学 ), Evolutionary Biology( 进化生物学 ), Molecular Biology( 分子生物学 ), Morphology( 形态学 ), Systematics( 系统生物学 ), Ecology( 生态学 ), etc. ● Physics – Definition: the science to study the structure and movement of matter – Objects of study: from quark to universe (usually nonliving) -17 27 10 to 10 m – Method: experiment (~50%) theory (~50%) confirm Ex refine Th explain Ex summarize predict – Branch: mechanics ( 力学 ), thermodynamics( 热学 ), electrodynamics( 电动力学), statistical mechanics( 统计 力学 ), quantum mechanics( 量子力学 ), particle physics ( 粒子物理 ), field theory( 场论 ), relativity( 相对论 ), etc. ● Two cultures: – Biological scientists: have traditionally been more likely to emphasize what we see, not universal laws in the inherently complex living world. In such a world, often its the details that really matter most – Physical scientists: tend to look for the forest, not the trees, to see which is universal and simple in any system Note: (1) Two views are complementary ( 互补 ) (2) Select proper approach in practice (3) Entertain that the other one is valuable too Whats Biological Physics