Statistical Physics in Biology

a sphere composed of different colors of tubes coiled together.

An example of a fractal globule is shown in the illustration above (Image courtesy of Professor Leonid Mirny, used with permission).

Instructor(s)

MIT Course Number

8.592J / HST.452J

As Taught In

Spring 2011

Level

Graduate

Cite This Course

Course Description

Course Features

Educator Features

Course Description

Statistical Physics in Biology is a survey of problems at the interface of statistical physics and modern biology. Topics include: bioinformatic methods for extracting information content of DNA; gene finding, sequence comparison, and phylogenetic trees; physical interactions responsible for structure of biopolymers; DNA double helix, secondary structure of RNA, and elements of protein folding; considerations of force, motion, and packaging; protein motors, membranes. We also look at collective behavior of biological elements, cellular networks, neural networks, and evolution.

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Related Content

Mehran Kardar, and Leonid Mirny. 8.592J Statistical Physics in Biology. Spring 2011. Massachusetts Institute of Technology: MIT OpenCourseWare, https://ocw.mit.edu. License: Creative Commons BY-NC-SA.


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