2019/20 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

PHYS3522 Bionanophysics 1

15 creditsClass Size: 75

Module manager: Dr Neil Thomson
Email: N.H.Thomson@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2019/20

This module is mutually exclusive with

PHYS5116M

Bionanophysics 2: Advanced Bionanophysics Research

Module replaces

PHYS 3521 Bionanophysics

This module is not approved as a discovery module

Objectives

At the end of this module students will have a grounding in basic understanding of the field of experimental bionanophysics. They will be familiar with the structure of the basic classes of molecules in biology (lipid, protein and nucleic acids) and how these naturally self-assemble through fundamental molecular forces. They will understand how these biomolecules are being studied and assembled for new applications in bionanotechnology. This will include single molecule biophysics techniques and applications such as DNA sequencing. Finally, they will gain insight into force generation in biological systems at a molecular level.

Learning outcomes
At the end of the module, students should be able to:
- Make effective use of physics skills and knowledge to applications in Bionanophysics.
- Collate and organise information from the published scientific literature.

Skills outcomes
- Problem solving
- Writing about complex topics in bionanophysics
- Critically analyse research literature

Syllabus

The course will be taught by three lecturers in individual section topics, with common concepts linking the sections.

I. THE PHYSICS OF NUCLEIC ACIDS: Molecular forces, structure and behaviour of DNA as a polymer, scanning probe microscopes, DNA molecular motors, nanopore technologies, DNA sequencing.
II. PROTEINS: Protein structure, Proteins as bionanomachines, Protein thermodynamics,
Protein mechanical stability, Protein folding and unfolding.
III. THE BIOPHYSICS OF CELL MEMBRANES: Lipid structure, the thermodynamics of lipid self-assembly, chemical forces, lateral organisation and phase separation, critical behaviour and lipid raft dynamics, membrane curvature and mechanics, bionano applications.

The course will make use of original scientific material published in high-profile journals

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lecture	22	1.00	22.00
Private study hours			128.00
Total Contact hours			22.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			150.00

Private study

Reading lecture notes and recommended journal articles.
Problem solving

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Example problems

Methods of assessment

Exams

Exam type	Exam duration	% of formal assessment
Standard exam (closed essays, MCQs etc)	2 hr 30 mins	100.00
Total percentage (Assessment Exams)		100.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 05/11/2019 08:50:06

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