Molecular biophysics typically addresses biological questions similar to those inbiochemistry andmolecular biology, seeking to find the physical underpinnings of biomolecular phenomena. Scientists in this field conduct research concerned with understanding the interactions between the various systems of a cell, including the interactions betweenDNA,RNA andprotein biosynthesis, as well as how these interactions are regulated. A great variety of techniques are used to answer these questions.
The termbiophysics was originally introduced byKarl Pearson in 1892.[9][10]William T. Bovie (1882–1958) is credited as a leader of the field's further development in the mid-20th century. He was a leader in developingelectrosurgery.
Some authors such asRobert Rosen criticize biophysics on the ground that the biophysical method does not take into account the specificity of biological phenomena.[12]
While some colleges and universities have dedicated departments of biophysics, usually at the graduate level, many do not have university-level biophysics departments, instead having groups in related departments such asbiochemistry,cell biology,chemistry,computer science,engineering,mathematics,medicine,molecular biology,neuroscience,pharmacology,physics, andphysiology. Depending on the strengths of a department at a university differing emphasis will be given to fields of biophysics. What follows is a list of examples of how each department applies its efforts toward the study of biophysics. This list is hardly all inclusive. Nor does each subject of study belong exclusively to any particular department. Each academic institution makes its own rules and there is much overlap between departments.[citation needed]
Medicine – biophysical research that emphasizes medicine. Medical biophysics is a field closely related to physiology. It explains various aspects and systems of the body from a physical and mathematical perspective. Examples arefluid dynamics of blood flow, gas physics of respiration, radiation in diagnostics/treatment and much more. Biophysics is taught as a preclinical subject in manymedical schools, mainly in Europe.
Neuroscience – studying neural networks experimentally (brain slicing) as well as theoretically (computer models), membranepermittivity.
Quantum biology – The field of quantum biology appliesquantum mechanics to biological objects and problems.Decoheredisomers to yield time-dependent base substitutions. These studies imply applications in quantum computing.
Manybiophysical techniques are unique to this field. Research efforts in biophysics are often initiated by scientists who were biologists, chemists or physicists by training.
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