El sorollós i meravellós món molecular de la biologia

Authors

  • Fèlix Ritort Universitat de Barcelona

Keywords:

biophysics, single-molecule experiments, nonequilibrium physics, information theory

Abstract

At the molecular level biology is intrinsically noisy. The forces that regulate the myriad of molecular reactions are tiny, on the order of piconewtons (10-12 Newtons), yet they proceed in concerted action making life possible. Understanding how this is possible is one of the most fundamental questions biophysicists would like to understand. Single molecule experiments offer an opportunity to delve into the fundamental laws that make biological complexity surface in a physical world governed by the second law of thermodynamics. Techniques such as force spectroscopy, fluorescence, microfluidics, molecular sequencing, computational studies among others project a view of the biomolecular world ruled by the conspiracy between the disorganizing forces due to thermal motion and the cosmic evolutionary drive. Here we will digress on some of the evidences in support of this view and the role of physical information in biology.

Keywords: biophysics, single-molecule experiments, nonequilibrium physics,
information theory

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Author Biography

Fèlix Ritort, Universitat de Barcelona

Small Biosystems Lab, Departament de Física de la Matèria Condensada, Universitat de Barcelona.
Facultat de Física.

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