Biological Physics: Energy, Information, Life SYNOPSIS
In this text for undergraduates majoring in areas such physics, biology, biochemistry, biophysics, and bioengineering, Nelson (University of Pennsylvania) offers a perspective on the major ideas of physics and their relevance in biology, relating ideas to everyday phenomena. The text features examples based on real data, complete derivations of mathematical results, and boxes on historical and cultural connections. Optional advanced sections and problems take mathematical development further. The text is for students who have taken first-year physics and calculus. Annotation © 2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR
FROM THE CRITICS
Stephen J. Hagen - American Journal of Physics, Vol. 72, No. 10, pp. 1359-1360, October 2004
What exactly is biological physics? ...Biological physics must have a
vast scope. Like biology itself, it spans the full range that starts at the
molecular level (DNA, proteins, membranes) and continues up to the level of the
cell, its structures and operations, assemblies of cells (including the brain
and the whole organism), and finally includes whole communities of organisms. It
is not easy to identify a set of unifying themes, especially if (for example)
one wishes to teach a credible introductory course in the subject. It has
certainly been quite difficult to find a suitable textbook for such a
course.
This is why Philip Nelson has done such an important service in
writing Biological Physics: Energy, Information, Life. This creative and
insightful textbook brings definition to the field and establishes a set of
central themes, based on principles of statistical physics. Starting with very
simple and general discussions of energy and order, Nelson builds up a rigorous
set of statistical and thermodynamic models for understanding the molecular
machinery of life. Always maintaining a solid physics perspective, he explores
biological macromolecules, their structures and self-assembly, biomotors and
locomotion, neurons, and more. The book is not a substitute for Biology 101, but
it is a fascinating tour that will bring the reader within reach of many current
research topics.
Nelson introduces the main themes-energy, order, entropy, and
dissipation-in the first chapter, with an introduction to the big question that
is implicit in the title: How does the flow of energy allow living organisms to
acquire order? Chapter 2 takes the reader on a rather brisk tour of cell
biology, mostly to explain key structures and terminology and to review the
important biological molecules. This is the only purely, unapologetically,
biological chapter. The following five chapters return to the physics; they
develop the ideas of probability, random walks, diffusion, friction,
dissipation, temperature, free energy, and entropic forces. Much of this physics
will be familiar to the student, but its biological applications and
significance, which are discussed in depth, will be surprising and rewarding.
The remaining five chapters focus on self-assembly of biomolecules,
cooperativity and folding transitions, enzymes, biomolecular motors, membrane
pumps, and nerve impulses.
It is a lot of material, but very carefully presented. Nelson begins
each chapter with a fairly qualitative discussion of key focus questions. He
then starts to build quantitative physical models, which become more detailed
and sophisticated as the chapter progresses and additional chemical and
biological detail is introduced. Through comparison to real experimental data,
the predictive power of the physics and the models comes into
focus.
The book is really a pleasure to read. Nelson consistently maintains
a conversational style, and avoids falling into dry recitation of facts or
derivations. In fact, many of the derivations require reader participation:
Often the key result does not appear in the text, but rather is obtained by the
reader who completes the ﾽYour Turnﾽ exercises that are sprinkled throughout the
text. Every chapter is leavened with simple examples, historical notes,
applications to familiar situations (e.g., the physics of omelettes), and
excursions into current research topics or practical advice on the scientific
approach. These practical messages (e.g., using dimensional analysis, the
character of physical laws, how to fit models to data, etc.) comprise a
secondary theme of the book. They will be appreciated by students and
instructors alike....
These
days physical scientists need to understand more biology, just as biological
scientists need to understand more physics. Nelsonﾽs engaging and satisfying
book opens the doors in both directions. It will intrigue both the student and
the professor.
Home
