Biophysics [Paperback]

Biophysics is the science of physical principles underlying the phenomenon of life on all levels of organization. This book begins by explaining molecular and ionic interactions, movements, excitation and energy transfer, and the self-organization of supramolecular structures. Then the biological organism is introduced as a non-equilibrium system. Finally, system analyses are discussed as well as environmental biophysics, ecological interactions, growth, differentiation, and evolution. A growing number of applications in biotechnology are based on these biophysical concepts.Biophysics - the science of physical principles of life itself, of biological systems - is presented here not merely as physics for biologists, but as an entirely independent subject with its own innate network of ideas and approaches. From the microscopic forces that constitute life, the intramolecular bonds and ionic interactions, to the macroscopic forces of the environment, temperature and pressure, the author presents and explains all aspects of life from a Biophysicist's point of view. Exciting biological themes such as neuronal processing and differentiation as well as current medical and environmental topics are introduced from a surprising perspective in this imaginative new textbook.1 Nature and Subject of Biophysics.- 2 Molecular Structure of Biological Systems.- 3 Energetics and Dynamics of Biological Systems.- 4 Physical Factors of the Environment.- 5 The Kinetics of Biological Systems.- References.The message of this book is that biophysics is the science of physical principles underlying the phenomenon life on all levels of organization. Rather than teaching physics for biologists or physical methods applied to biology , it regards its subject as a defined discipline with its own network of ideas and approaches. The book starts by explaining molecular structures of biological systems, various kinds of atomic, molecular and ionic interactions, movements, energy transfer, selflc¿