Name: Nicole Janleigh S.

Nuñez Section: BS BIO 3A

Date: February 2, 2024 Score:

BioPhys 100
BIOPHYSICS

LEARNING TASK NO. 1:

1. Write a brief history and development of biophysics.
Biophysics is a subfield of science that studies biological processes using
physics techniques. Since it just emerged as a distinct discipline in the early
to mid-20th century, biophysics is a relatively new field of study.
Nonetheless, the groundwork for the study of biophysics was established
considerably earlier, by a group of scientists:
● Athanasius Kircher, a 17th-century German Jesuit priest, wrote on
bioluminescence in his book Ars Magna Lucis et Umbrae, which
included two chapters. It is speculated to be the first scientific
investigation of animal luminescence.
● Giovanni Beccaria, Italy’s leading student of electricity in the mid-18th
century, conducted experiments on electrical muscle stimulation,
which contributed to understanding the link between electricity and
biology.
● In 1786, Luigi Galvani, a physician in Bologna, conducted a
significant experiment in which the muscles of dead frogs' legs
contracted when touched by an electric spark.
● In the 19th century, Du Bois-Reymond, a physiology professor in
Berlin, built the galvanometers and conducted research on nerve
electrical potential and muscle current, one of the research subjects
that gave rise to biophysics.
● Research on diffusion gradients, a concept enunciated by Adolf Fick,
and osmotic pressure, a concept initially explained by Abbé J.A. Nollet
also gave rise to the field of biophysics. These are the two forces
responsible for the passive flow of matter in living organisms.
● What is Life? a book published by an Austrian physicist, Erwin
Schrödinger, in 1944. This suggested that there might be a molecule
in living things that held genetic information in covalent bonds.
● This concept inspired researchers like Francis Crick and James
Watson to find and study the genetic material. In 1953, with the help
 of Rosalind Franklin's x-ray crystallography work, they were able to
determine the double-helix structure of DNA.
Programs in biophysics had proliferated and became well-liked globally by
the middle of the 20th century, and biophysics research was moving at a
quicker pace than ever before. Biophysics techniques have not only led to
the discovery of DNA and its structure but have also produced vaccines, new
treatment methods like radiation therapy and pacemakers, and imaging
tools like MRI and CAT scans that aid in illness diagnosis.

References:
Biologydictionary.net Editors. (2017). Biophysics. Retrieved from
https://biologydictionary.net/biophysics/
Solomon, A. K. (2018). biophysics. Encyclopedia Britannica.
https://www.britannica.com/science/biophysics
Taylor, E. (n.d.). Biophysics: history, what it studies, applications, concepts,
methods. Warbleton Council. Retrieved January 29, 2024, from
https://warbletoncouncil.org/biofisica-8197
LEARNING TASK NO. 2:
1. Provide discussion and descriptions for the 3 major divisions of
biophysical topics based on the relative size of the subject.
a. Molecular and Subcellular Biophysics
Molecular and subcellular biophysics investigates the structure of
biologically significant macromolecules. It also seeks to understand
how these molecules interact with different kinds of energy. The study
of biophysics takes into account how molecules are arranged in
cellular structures and how those structures interact to carry out
specific tasks. For instance, the genetic code governing the structure,
functions, and macromolecular components of cells is encoded in the
DNA of the cell.
b. Physiological and Anatomical Biophysics
The topic of biophysics in anatomy and physiology is vast. A few of its
aspects are the fundamentals of mechanics as they relate to living
things and their components, including static and dynamic forces as
well as all forms of motion. It also includes energy and heat, as well as
how an organism regulates its body temperature and use of energy.
c. Environmental Biophysics
The study of environmental biophysics is concerned with the material
components of interactions between living things and their
surroundings. Any part of the environment, from the stratosphere to
deep ocean vents, is measured and modeled by environmental
biophysics. This field seeks to understand how physical processes and
factors, such as light, temperature, humidity, and soil properties,
influence the behavior and physiology of organisms in ecosystems.

2. Indicate the subfields for each major division and describe.

a. Molecular and Subcellular Biophysics
● The Structure and Conformation of Biological Molecules
This area of biophysics studies the size, shape, and structure of
biological molecules, namely, carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids, and
proteins.
● Structure-Function Relationship
Determining which components of a molecule are involved in its
biological activity and how modifications to its shape or structure
affect that function are closely tied to figuring out the structure and
shape of biomolecules.
● Conformational Transitions
The three-dimensional arrangement of atoms in a molecule (that is,
the secondary, tertiary, and quaternary structures).
● Ligand Binding and Intermolecular Binding
Intermolecular interactions, in the simplest example, involves two
molecules, the ligand and the receptor, recognizing and binding to
each other
● Diffusion and Molecular Transport
This branch of biophysics focuses on the movement of molecules
within cells as well as their transitions from the outside to the inside
of cells.
● Membrane Biophysics
Membranes play a crucial role in regulating the flow of substances
into and out of cells by acting as barriers to separate the inside of the
cell from the external environment.
● DNA and Nucleic Acid Biophysics
Molecular structure–property relationships are studied in nucleic acid
physics to explain various aspects of life, including heredity and
variability. Nucleic acids' genetic function and the interpretation of
that role are linked to the beginnings and growth of molecular
biophysics.
● Protein Biophysics
Within the cell, proteins are involved in almost all biological processes.
Since proteins perform a wide range of tasks in their regular
functions, understanding the physics of protein folding,
conformational changes, and binding is also essential to
comprehending and perhaps influencing the role that proteins play in
biological processes.
● Bioenergetics
The physics of energy flow in living systems is the focus of this area of
biophysics. All levels and subfields of biophysics, including the
environment, the organism, the cell, and the molecules inside the cell,
are covered under bioenergetics. The study of how organisms and cells
get the energy necessary to perform biological functions lies at the
heart of bioenergetics.
● Thermodynamics
The study of thermodynamics has intimate ties to bioenergetics. The
behavior of energy in physical systems, whether biological or not, is
 described by the laws of thermodynamics. According to the first law of
thermodynamics, energy cannot be produced or destroyed. The
second law states that a closed system's orderliness can only ever
decrease over time rather than ever increase.
● Statistical Mechanics
Statistical mechanics is the application of probability and statistics to
large populations of molecules.
● Kinetics
This area of biophysics is concerned with quantifying the speed or rate
at which biological processes, including conformational changes,
biochemical reactions, and the binding and unbinding of
biomolecules, occur. Thermodynamics and energetics are intimately
associated with kinetics.
b. Physiological and Anatomical Biophysics
● Biomechanics
● The area of biophysics known as biomechanics studies the application
of forces to biological objects. Studying biomechanics entails
investigating topics including how animals move by applying forces,
the functioning of different systems, and cellular and subcellular
mechanics.

● Electrophysiology
● The study of living organisms' electrical characteristics. This area of
biophysics mostly focuses on nerve research. However, more broadly
speaking, excitable cell types—that is, cell types that produce,
conduct, or utilize electrical impulses—are the focus of
electrophysiology. Nerves, muscles, sensory cells, and electrogenic and
electroreceptive cells are examples of excitable tissues.

● Sensory Biophysics
● The study of sensory biophysics focuses on the electrophysiology and
mechanics of the five senses: taste, smell, touch, hearing, and
balance.

c. Environmental Biophysics
● Heat and Temperature Environmental Biophysics
● This area of environmental biophysics focuses on variables that affect
the environment's capacity to hold thermal energy, or heat. It also
studies the effects of temperature on living things and their
 surroundings, such as how living things cope with heat waves or lack
of heat and how living things themselves influence the temperature of
their immediate surroundings (e.g., how microbes and leaf canopies
affect soil temperature and how local forest temperatures are
affected). Temperatures and their effects are predicted by
mathematical modeling.

● Resource and Mass Exchange Environmental Biophysics

● It uses mathematical models to gain a better understanding of the
availability and physical mobility of materials and resources within
the environment. Heat (as was just mentioned), light, carbon,
nitrogen, water, and air are a few examples of resources.

● Radiation Biophysics
● The study of how radiation affects biological systems is known as
radiation biophysics. It focuses on how living things respond to
radiation in their surroundings.

3. List 5 key terms for each major division of biophysics and define each
term.
a. Molecular and Subcellular Biophysics
1. Molecule - A molecule is a single chemical unit made up of two
or more atoms bonded together.
2. Subcellular - Occurring within a cell, as in subcellular site of a
metabolic activity.
3. Macromolecules - are large, complex molecules. They are
usually the product of smaller molecules, like proteins, lipids,
and carbohydrates. Another name for a macromolecule is a
polymer, which derives from the Greek prefix poly- to mean
“many units.”
4. Atom - A single unit of an element, or a nucleus of protons and
neutrons surrounded by electrons.
5. Compound - A substance that consists of two or more elements
that are chemically bonded together in a fixed ratio. An
electron's valence is transferred or shared between atoms of
different elements in chemical bonding. Due to this, a
compound's properties differ from those of its constituent parts.

b. Physiological and Anatomical Biophysics

1. Physiological - Relating to the way in which the bodies of living
things work
 2. Anatomical - relating to the scientific study and representation
of the physical body and how its parts are arranged
3. Biomechanics - The multidisciplinary field of biomechanics uses
physics to better understand biological systems, including how
organisms move and interact with their environment.
Biomechanics studies large-scale, whole-body movements such
as cat jumping as well as microscopic systems like muscle
contraction in cells.
4. Energy - In physics, it is the capacity to do work. It has several
various forms, a few of which are potential, kinetic, thermal,
electrical, chemical, and nuclear. Furthermore, energy can only
be transformed from one form to another; it cannot be created
or destroyed.
5. Motion - The act of moving an object or the body across space
is. Acceleration and speed are crucial components of motion.
c. Environmental Biophysics
1. Environmental - The surroundings and components that an
organism interacts with. It includes every biotic and abiotic
factor necessary for the organism to survive, evolve, and
develop.
2. Ecosystem - An ecosystem is a system made up of biotic (living
things) and abiotic (non-living things) components that function
together as a unit. It is the community and the environment.
3. Temperature - One significant abiotic component of an
ecosystem. The rate at which metabolic reactions occur is
dependent on temperature. It has an impact on different
enzyme-catalyzed processes.
4. Soil - Soil is an important abiotic factor. It is made up of rocks
along with the decomposed plants and animals.
5. Light - The major source of energy.
References:
Anatomical. (n.d.). Cambridge.org. Retrieved January 29, 2024, from
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/anatomical
Baniya, S. (2023). Abiotic factors- definition, types, examples and responses.
Microbe Notes; Sagar Aryal. Retrieved from
https://microbenotes.com/abiotic-factors/
Biologydictionary.net Editors. (2018). Biomechanics. Retrieved from
https://biologydictionary.net/biomechanics/
Biologydictionary.net Editors. (2016). Molecule. Retrieved from
https://biologydictionary.net/molecule/
Biologydictionary.net Editors. (2017). Macromolecule. Retrieved from
https://biologydictionary.net/macromolecule/
Biomechanics – understanding the terms that make our bodies move. (2015).
Technogym - Gym Equipment and Fitness Solutions for Home and Business.
https://www.technogym.com/au/wellness/biomechanics-understanding-the-terms
-that-make-our-bodies-move/
biophysics. (n.d.). In Encyclopedia Britannica.
https://kids.britannica.com/students/article/biophysics/273222
Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia (2023). energy. Encyclopedia Britannica.
https://www.britannica.com/science/energy
Ecosystem. (2023). Biology Articles, Tutorials & Dictionary Online; Biology Online.
Retrieved from https://www.biologyonline.com/dictionary/ecosystem
Environment. (2020). Biology Articles, Tutorials & Dictionary Online; Biology
Online. Retrieved from https://www.biologyonline.com/dictionary/environment
Goldfarb, D. (2010). Biophysics DeMYSTiFied. McGraw-Hill Education.
https://zoboko.com/text/wdy6r636/biophysics-demystified/2
Helmenstine, A. (2020). What is a compound in chemistry? Definition and examples.
Science Notes and Projects.
https://sciencenotes.org/what-is-a-compound-in-chemistry-definition-and-exampl
es/
Physiological. (n.d.). Cambridge.org. Retrieved January 29, 2024, from
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/physiological
Subcellular. (2019). In Biology Articles, Tutorials & Dictionary Online Biology Online.
Retrieved from https://www.biologyonline.com/dictionary/subcellular
What is biophysics. (n.d.). Biophysics.org. Retrieved January 29, 2024, from
https://www.biophysics.org/what-is-biophysics
LEARNING TASK NO. 3:
Biophysical Techniques and Applications What to do:
1. List 7 common biophysical techniques.
● Electron Microscopy ● Nuclear Magnetic Resonance
Spectroscopy (NMR)
● Electrophoresis ● Fluorescence Spectroscopy

● Spectroscopy ● Ultracentrifugation

● X­-Ray Crystallography

2. Write the information each biophysical technique can provide.

● Electron Microscopy
Electron microscopes are capable of viewing objects 1000 to 2500
smaller than what can be seen with even the most powerful light
microscope. Single-particle analysis and tomography are the two
primary uses of these technologies, which can be used to create the
structures of a variety of biomolecular assemblies, including isolated
molecules, cells, and tissues.
● Electrophoresis
Electrophoresis is the movement of particles in a gel or fluid within a
comparatively homogeneous electric field. Molecules can be separated
using electrophoresis according to their size, charge, and binding
affinity. The method is mostly used to isolate and examine
biomolecules, including plasmids, proteins, and nucleic acids, as well
as fragments of these macromolecules. This is another method for
identifying source DNA in forensic science and paternity testing.
● Spectroscopy
Spectroscopy is the study of how matter emits and absorbs light and
other radiation. Its primary function is to process the radiation's
wavelength. It also studies particle interactions, such as those
between protons, electrons, and ions, and how different particles
interact with one another in relation to the function of their collision
energy.
● X­-Ray Crystallography
X-ray crystallography is a method for determining the relative
positions of atoms within a crystal. A crystal is an organized,
three-dimensional, repeating configuration of atoms or molecules.
X-ray crystallography was initially used in order to ascertain the
 three-dimensional structures of inorganic materials, then small
organic molecules, and ultimately macromolecules like DNA and
proteins.
● Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (NMR)
This versatile instrument, which takes advantage of the magnetic
properties of specific nuclei, can be used to study biomolecules such
as proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, and organic compounds, including
medicinal drugs. NMR is utilized in research to ascertain a sample's
molecular structure in addition to its content and purity. For
instance, it can quantitatively examine mixtures that contain known
compounds.
● Fluorescence Spectroscopy
Fluorescence spectroscopy is a useful tool for measuring and
monitoring conformational changes, ligand binding, and molecule
characterization and/or identification. A particular portion of a
molecule that causes fluorescence is called a fluorophore. The
technique known as fluorescent tagging involves attaching a
fluorophore to a different molecule so that it may be tracked via a
biological process. It is one of the methods used to ascertain the
DNA’s residue sequence.
● Ultracentrifugation
An ultracentrifuge is a centrifuge that has been particularly made to
spin at a very high speed. Sedimentation is the movement of particles
in a fluid under the application of a force. It is the basis for centrifuge
functioning. The rate of sedimentation can be increased by using a
force greater than gravity. Additionally, an ultracentrifuge has the
ability to amplify variations in the sedimentation behavior of various
molecules. Because of this, ultracentrifugation is a practical method
for sorting molecules of varying sizes. Furthermore, it serves as an
analytical and preparative method. For instance, it is frequently used
to separate pure DNA samples.
References
Aryal, S. (2022). NMR spectroscopy- definition, principle, steps, parts, uses.
Microbe Notes; Sagar Aryal. Retrieved from
https://microbenotes.com/nuclear-magnetic-resonance-nmr-spectroscopy/
Biophysics 101- cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM). (2017). The Biophysical
Society. Retrieved from
https://www.biophysics.org/blog/biophysics-101-cryo-electron-microscopy-
cryo-em
Biophysics DeMYSTiFied. (n.d.). Zoboko.com. Retrieved February 4, 2024,
from https://zoboko.com/text/wdy6r636/biophysics-demystified/2
Helmenstine, A. M. (2017). Electrophoresis Definition and Explanation.
ThoughtCo. Retrieved from
https://www.thoughtco.com/electrophoresis-definition-4136322
Spectroscopy. (2021). VEDANTU. Retrieved from
https://www.vedantu.com/physics/spectroscopy
X-ray protein crystallography. (2014). Physics LibreTexts; Libretexts.
Retrieved from
https://phys.libretexts.org/Courses/University_of_California_Davis/UCD%
3A_Biophysics_200A_-_Current_Techniques_in_Biophysics/X-ray_Protein_C
rystallography
(N.d.). Jove.com. Retrieved February 4, 2024, from
https://www.jove.com/science-education/13387/applications-of-nmr-in-bi
ology

Deadline of Submission: FEBRUARY 2, 2024

This activity does not require a specific format.