F0301330 Ad hoc: Mechanics of the Cell

Details
Department of Mathematics and Physics (2003/2004)
Earliest Possible Year
Duration1 semester
 
Credits6 (ECTS)
Course LevelMSc
 
Examinationoral examination


Aid allowed

Description of Examination: pass/fail, internal examiner



Description of Examination:
Dates of Exam:
 
Organisation of TeachingForelæsninger:1 skemamodul pr uge. Øvelser: 2 timer ugentligt
 
Block PlacementE7, fall
Onsdag 13-15

 
Teaching LanguageEnglish
 
Optional Prerequisites015311 Mathematics, basic course
025111 Applied Physics A
025211 Biophysics
Det er tilstrækkeligt med enten Biofysik eller Anvendt Fysik A
 
Restrictions25
 
Course Objectives
The course objective:
The course adresses students with an interest in the mechanical properties and architecture of cells and how these influence cell motion and motion inside the cell.
Students who have taken this course will have a thorough understanding of the mechanical properties of the cells substituents, such as polymers and membranes, and they will understand how these different components work together to form the dynamic properties of the cell.
 
Course Contents
The course will be given as a joint Master and PhD course, and is aimed at both students with a biological background as well as a background in physics and is offered in collaboration with the Niels Bohr Institute.
In order to lay a common ground the course will start with an introduction to different cell types, and the cell's molecular buildning blocks as well as an introduction to elementary statistical mechanics and elasticity.
The mechanical properties of bio-polymers are then introduced. First the mechanical properties of single polymers, then of 2 and 3 dimensional networks of polymers. After this the mechanical properties of membranes are treated. These are combined to understand cell motion and mechanical properties of simpel cells.
Dynamic filaments such as microtubili, that are important for cell division are also treated.

The course will closely follow the suggested book by David Boal, but with an emphasis on the biological applications and less emphasis on the mathematical derivations.

Motivation:
In the last decades an increasing understanding of the single processe in a living cell has been obtained. However, in order to understand the whole living cell, it is necessary to combine the single processes to more complex systems. This course offers the students insight in the most recent understanding of one aspect of such complex systems - namely the mechanics of cells.
 
Teaching And Learning Methods
The material is presented in lectures and through problem solving at theoretical tutorials. As course evaluation the students choose one or two research papers of relevans to the course and make a short written report and an oral presentation in an exam.
 
Course Litterature
David Boal: Mechanics of the cell, Cambridge, 2002
 
Course Coordinator
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Error. Person Not Found 
 
Study Board
Study Committee AHJ
 
Course Scope
lectures36
theoretical exercises24
project work50
preparation70

180