New Biophysics Minor added to Physics curriculum
28 November 2005

Announcing a new minor in Biophysics

Biophysics is concerned with the application of the concepts and methods of physics to the solution of biological problems and to the understanding of biological processes.

Students who complete the Biophysics minor achieve a grasp of physics as it relates to solving biological problems and to a general understanding of the nature of biological problems and of proteins and cell membranes in particular, and of several techniques based on physics principles that are used in biological investigations.

Requirements for the Biophysics minor:

One year each of introductory biology, chemistry, and physics Introduction to organic chemistry (CHEM 023/024 or 123/124, or BISC 005) Differential and integral calculus (MATH 073 or MATH 080/081) PHYS 146, or equivalents by consent of Physics Department PHYS 165 PHYS 193 and PHYS 197, at least one credit each, minimum of three credits total

Course Schedule

PHYS 146 to be offered fall 2006, 2008, 2010 PHYS 165 to be offered spring 2007, 2009, 2011 PHYS 193 is offered every term, meets Fridays 3:30 to 5:30 at the Medical College PHYS 197 is offered every term; contact Physics Department for consent form

Upper level PHYS courses in the minor:

PHYS 146. The Physical Basis of the Biological Environment,
3 lec. hrs., 3 sem. hr.

The molecular processes of life occur in a complex aqueous environment. Biological molecules and their environments are governed by the principles of physics. This course goes beyond introductory physics and chemistry to present the mechanics of non-rigid bodies, the theory of multipolar electric and magnetic fields, and thermal and quantum physics which are brought to bear on interpretation of the optical spectra and calorimetric analysis of complex molecules and structures. Prerequisites: introductory physics and chemistry, MATH 073 or MATH 081.

PHYS 165. Introduction to Molecular Biophysics, 3 lec. hrs., 3 sem. hr.

This course, an introduction to the field of biological physics, develops the science of and illustrates the applications of the techniques of x-ray diffraction and spin resonance to problems of biological interest: protein structural dynamics, ion channels, and transport through cell membranes. Prerequisites are PHYS 104 and PHYS 131, or PHYS 146, or equivalent.

PHYS 193. Biophysics Seminar, 1 sem. hr.

The frontiers of research in biophysics, and the techniques employed, are explored through attending the weekly Biophysics Seminar at the Medical College of Wisconsin and participating in a follow-on discussion after each seminar. Offered both fall and spring terms. Prereq: Jr. standing. May be taken more than once for credit. This course may not be used to satisfy the 30 cr. hr. minimum requirements for a bachelor's degree in physics.

PHYS 197. Undergraduate Research 1-3 sem.hrs.

Experimental or theoretical research in an area of contemporary physics under the guidance of a physics faculty member who has expertise in that area. Successful completion of the course includes a summary paper and an oral presentation to the regular physics faculty. Prereq: Jr. standing and consent of dept. ch.; consent of a regular physics faculty member. This course may not be used to satisfy the 30 cr. hr. minimum requirements for a bachelor's degree in physics.

(Applied to the Biophysics Minor, the above relates to the biophysics faculty.)

Biophysics Faculty

Marquette University

Dr. Anne Clough, Professor of Mathematics, Statistics, and Computer Science
Dr. Joseph Collins, Associate Professor of Physics
Dr. Robert Fitts, Professor and Chair of Biological Sciences
Dr. John Karkheck, Professor of Physics
Dr. Stephen Munroe, Professor of Biological Sciences
Dr. Daniel Sem, Assistant Professor of Chemistry
Dr. David Wagner, Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences
Dr. Pinfen Yang, Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences

Medical College of Wisconsin

Dr. William Antholine, Associate Professor of Biophysics
Dr. Brian Bennett , Assistant Professor of Biophysics
Dr. Jimmy Feix, Professor of Biophysics
Dr. Neil Hogg , Associate Professor of Biophysics
Dr. James Hyde, Professor of Biophysics
Dr. Andrzej Jesmanowicz, Associate Professor of Biophysics
Dr. Joy Joseph , Assistant Professor of Biophysics
Dr. Balaraman Kalyanaraman, Professor and Chair of Biophysics
Dr. Candice Klug, Assistant Professor of Biophysics
Dr. Shi-Jiang Li, Professor of Biophysics
Dr. Daniel Rowe, Assistant Professor of Biophysics
Dr. Kathleen M. Donahue Schmainda, Departments of Radiology and Biophysics
Dr. W. Karol Subczynski, Associate Professor of Biophysics
Dr. Jeannette Vasquez Vivar, Assistant Professor of Biophysics
Dr. Ming Zhao, Assistant Professor of Biophysics

National Institutes of Health

Dr. Peter Bandettini, Director, Functional MRI Facility and Chief: Unit on Functional Imaging Methods, Laboratory of Brain and Cognition

Knowledge and Skills

Mechanics Kinematics and dynamics of motion of non-rigid bodies (translation, rotation, vibration, torsion, flex);  forces, energy, torque, and angular momentum; precessional motion. Electricity and Magnetism, dipolar and quadrupolar electric and magnetic fields, orientation, energy, force, and torque. Electric and magnetic properties of materials;  polarization, ferro-, para-, and diamagnetism. Thermal Physics, laws of thermodynamics, thermal energy, free energy, phase transitions, Boltzmann distribution of energies, thermal excitation, reversible and irreversible processes.   Calorimetry and phase transitions, and diffusion.
Chemistry, bond types, van der Waals forces, electron orbitals (atomic and molecular), reaction rates, equilibrium constants, structure-function relations. Quantum Mechanics, Hamiltonian and operators, energy levels and quantization, angular momentum and quantization spin and the electronic and nuclear magnetic dipole transitions and selection rules.   Zeeman effect, Atomic and Molecular physics, sigma and pi bonds, molecular degrees of freedom, electric and magnetic polarity of molecules, energy level diagrams, spectroscopy and selection rules.   Ligands,  metal complexes,  spin labels. Proteins; general nature and composition, protein functions, structure-function relationships, dynamics - folding/unfolding, role of hydrogen bonding and van der Waals interactions.
Cell Membrane; composition, structure, self assembly, properties, fluidity, polarity, gradient dynamics - lateral and rotational diffusion, ion channels.
Optical Spectroscopy,  UV/Visible, IR,  Fluorescence, Raman, X-ray diffraction,  scattering of x-rays by electrons.   Bragg scattering, molecular structure, dynamic properties,   applications; Spin Resonance, NMR, ESR (EPR), MRI, fMRI, MRS;   applications.

Skills: Employ elementary models to explain biological processes interpret principal features of experimental outputs to biological form and function discuss biological form and function using fundamental principles