Biophysics

Code:

MV111

Acronym:

BF

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Basic Sciences

Instance: 2024/2025 - 1S (of 16-09-2024 to 10-01-2025)

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Molecular Biology
Course/CS Responsible:	Integrated Masters Degree in Veterinary Medicine

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
MIMV	83	Official Study Plan	1	-	5	70	135

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

To enable the students: - To understand and use basic principles of classical and modern physics that are relevant to the biological sciences. -To be familiar with examples taken from the life sciences that illustrat how these basic principles are applied. - To recognize the clarity and simplicity of many biophysical descriptions of a multitude of mechanisms that are key to our understanding of physical chemistry, biochemistry, molecular biology and physiology. - To acquire the tools and to develop the competences needed to solve simple problems that are frequently multidisciplinary in nature.

Learning outcomes and competences

Understand how simple laws of classical and modern physics help us to understand the struture and function of biological structure

Working method

Presencial

Pre-requirements (prior knowledge) and co-requirements (common knowledge)

No pre-requisits

Program

A – Molecular and Cellular Biophysics

Protein, structure and function.

Electricity. Concept of field and membrane potential. Ion transport across membranes. Ionic protein channels. The nerve axon.

Energy. Oxidative phosphorilation. Electron and proton flux. The ATPsynthase, structure and function.

 

B – Systems Biophysics

The Physics of Hearing

The Physics of Vision

The Physics of breathing

Biomechanics of the Musculoskeletal System

Fluid mechanics of the circulatory system

Illustrative examples of application of Physics in the living world.

 

C – Image acquisition/Diagnostics

Radioactivity and radiations. Biological effects and mechanisms. Biological applications (diagnostics, image acquisition). Computed Tomography (CT). Single-photon emission computed tomography(SPECT). Positron Emission tomography(PET)).

Magnetism. Magnetic resonance imaging (mri).

Ultrasounds. Pulse-echo method. Doppler effect. Doppler color. Doppler spectral.

Optical imaging.

Mandatory literature

Kane Joseph W.; Physics. ISBN: 0-471-63845-5
Nelson David L.; Lehninger principles of biochemistry. ISBN: 1-57259-931-6
António Manuel Godinho Completo; Fundamentos de biomecânica. ISBN: 978-989-892-749-1

Teaching methods and learning activities

Lectures and problem solving discussions.

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Exame	90,00
Apresentação/discussão de um trabalho científico	10,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	55,00
Frequência das aulas	70,00
Apresentação/discussão de um trabalho científico	10,00
Total:	135,00

Eligibility for exams

.

Calculation formula of final grade

Either a final exam accounting for 90% of the grade, or two partial exams each accounting for 45% of the final grade.

Oral presentation and discussion (10%). List of "biophysical topics" provided by the teacher.