250.131 Topics in Biophysics Research
An introductory course in Biophysics for Freshmen and Sophomores
The first meeting of this course will be Wednesday, Sep 2, 2009
Official Course Description
Topics in Biophysics Research is a one-credit survey course specifically designed for Freshmen. The course goal is to introduce students to the field of Biophysics. The course features active learning, computer-based and discussion based explorations of modern Biophysics areas of research. Topics to be covered this year include Bioinformatics and Genomics, Molecular structures and conformations, molecular spectroscopy, and kinetics and thermodynamics of macromolecules.
Location and Time
Wednesdays from 4:30 - 6pm in Jenkins 107
Grading and Attendance
Grading for this course is S/U and is based on attendance, participation in class discussions and completion of projects. EXCEPT FOR ONE CLASS MEETING, December 2, students may miss two classes and still earn a satisfactory credit. Each class beyond two absences requires that the student write and submit a two-page paper on some topic of the student's choosing (related to the course). Students can check their ATTENDANCE RECORD and contact the TA if there are discrepancies.
This course is taught by
Dr. Karen Fleming: Karen.Fleming@jhu.edu (course director/instructor)
Dr. Richard Cone: cone@jhu.edu (instructor)
Alex Satin: asatin1@jhu.edu (TA and Senior Biophysics major)
Schedule for Fall 2009
| Date | Topic | |
| Sep 2 | What is Biophysics? | |
| Sep 9 | Diffusion followed by Pizza, tours of Jenkins Hall and meet potential mentors | |
| Sep 16 | Einstein's theory of Brownian Motion: How diffusion rates determine structure and sizes of living organisms; bacteria, cells, animals (Cone) | |
| Sep 23 | Speeds of molecular motors, cells, and animals(Cone) | |
| Sep 30 | Photons, photoreceptors and eyes (Cone) | |
| Oct 7 | Mucus (can't live without it) (Cone) | |
| Oct 14 | Central dogma, macromolecules, their parts and some properties | |
| Oct 21 | Molecular structures and conformations, PDB | |
| Oct 28 | PDB Slide Gallery Individual Project & Evolution in a test tube | |
| Nov 4 | Introduction to Bioinformatics | |
| Nov 11 | Ergotic hypothesis, ensemble versus single molecule studies | |
| Nov 18 | Rates, errors, activation energies and insects | |
| Nov 25 | No class (Thanksgiving!) | |
| Dec 2 | Group Project Presentations | |
| Attendance is mandatory. Group Project Due on Dec. 2 | ||
Here are the sound clips for Nov 19th: HOT WARM COOL COLD
Teaching Assistant