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  2. Instructor information for Physical Biology of the Cell (Cal Tech, Justin Bois)  (V3: This is the latest version.)
Instructor information for Physical Biology of the Cell (Cal Tech, Justin Bois)
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Highlights: This course explores how statistical mechanics, polymer physics, and continuum mechanics govern cellular structure and dynamics.
Abstract: This serves as the instructor guide for a course that explores how core physical principles illuminate complex cellular phenomena. In the course, students will learn quantitative modeling approaches to study biophysical phenomena such as cytoskeletal mechanics, ion channel function, nucleic acid packaging, pattern formation, biochemical regulation, membrane dynamics, and cellular motility. Despite their diversity, these systems can be described by a few governing principles. Through case studies, students will apply these concepts to design experiments, interpret data, and model cellular structure and dynamics.
Resource Types: Pedagogical essay, Reading/resource list
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TOPICS

Physics Topics: 

Fluid Mechanics

Modern Physics > Biophysics

Thermo & Stat Mech

Thermo & Stat Mech > Ensembles > Boltzmann Distribution, Chemical Potential, Density of States, Equipartition Theorem, Gibbs Distribution, Macrostate, Microstate, Partition Function

Thermo & Stat Mech > Kinetic and Diffusive Processes > Boltzmann Equation, Brownian Motion, Correlation Function, Diffusion, Kinetic Theory, Viscosity

Thermo & Stat Mech > Statistical Physics > Networks

Life Sciences Topics: 

Molecular and Cellular Biology > Cellular Dynamics, Cellular Interactions, Cellular Structure, Genetics

Math Topics: 
Differential Calculus; Integral Calculus; Probability; Statistics; Trigonometry

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Instructor information for Physical Biology of the Cell (Cal Tech, Justin Bois)

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SUBMISSION DETAILS

Copyright:   2026 Justin Bois

License:   CC BY-NC-SA - Attribution, No Commercial uses and Share Alike. Derivative works must have the same license.

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