Living State Physics - Week 4

The aim of this week is to understand the basic physics of the DNA-molecule

"If you have a document to read, do you put it in a shredder first? (Human Genome Project)"

Navigator Marina Voinova ( Forskarhuset-4116/7723115)

Monday 13/11: 10-11.45 (FL71)

• Physical description of DNA
• Reptation of DNA in Electrophoresis
• Micromechanics of DNA

Wednesday 15/11: 15.15-17.00 (A402 in MC2 building)

• DNA moving in a gel (video)
• DNA, cytoskeleton and cell motors
• DNA and molecular electronics

Background material

• Scanning Force Microscopy in Biology, C. Bustamante and D. Keller, Physics Today, pp. 32, Dec. 1995.

  (Gives a good introduction to and motivation why we should and can study biological structures with the

  most recent advances in physical measurement technology)

• Gripping chemistry, J. Thomas, New Scientist, pp.36, 5 December 1998.

  (A good article about what could be possible if we could build self-assembling structures)

• Small-angle x-ray scattering and structural biology, S. Doniach, Physics Today, April 1985.

  (An interesting paper about the use of X-rays to study large molecules and structures important in biological systems)

• Intermolecular and Surface Forces, by Jacob N. Israelachvili (1992) Academic Press. (HO23)

  (This book you have to sit down and browse through - a true classic text-book on forces relevant in biological systems among others).

• E.A. Vogler, Structure and reactivity of water at biomaterial surfaces, Adv. Colloid Interface Sci. 74, 69 (1998)

  (A modern account of the role of water in biomaterials)

• An Introduction to Molecular Electronics by Michael C. Petty (Editor), Martin R. Bryce, David Bloor (Editor)(March 1995) Oxford Univ Press

  (gives a good account of device applications)