Biology in Physics (eBook)

Is Life Matter?

Konstantin Yu. Bogdanov (Autor)

eBook Download: PDF

1999 | 1. Auflage
237 Seiten
Elsevier Science (Verlag)
978-0-08-050013-3 (ISBN)

Infos

Biology in Physics is a radical new book which bridges the gap between biology and physics. The aim is to promote an interdisciplinary exchange of scientific information and ideas, in order to stimulate cooperation in research. The scope of this volume explores both the concepts and techniques of biophysics and illustrates the latest advances in our understanding of many of the specific mechanisms that are used by living organisms. This volume represents a special effort to bring together the information that would allow a nonbiologically oriented physicist to appreciate the important role that physics plays in life sciences.

Key Features
* An introduction to biophysics for non-specialist
* Covers all the important topices in modern biophysics
* Takes account of the latest information emerging from biophysical projects
* Reports on novel therapeutic strategies
* Presents an advanced-level overview of mechanisms that regulate a variety of processes in organisms ranging from bacterial to whales

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Biology in Physics is a radical new book which bridges the gap between biology and physics. The aim is to promote an interdisciplinary exchange of scientific information and ideas, in order to stimulate cooperation in research. The scope of this volume explores both the concepts and techniques of biophysics and illustrates the latest advances in our understanding of many of the specific mechanisms that are used by living organisms. This volume represents a special effort to bring together the information that would allow a nonbiologically oriented physicist to appreciate the important role that physics plays in life sciences. An introduction to biophysics for non-specialist Covers all the important topices in modern biophysics Takes account of the latest information emerging from biophysical projects Reports on novel therapeutic strategies Presents an advanced-level overview of mechanisms that regulate a variety of processes in organisms ranging from bacterial to whales

Inhalt

Cover 1
Copyright Page 5
Contents 8
Foreword 12
Acknowledgments 16
Introduction 18
Chapter 1. Electricity Inside Us 22
Luigi Galvani and Alessandro Volta 23
Cell Membrane: Lipid Bilayer and Ionic Channels 25
Resting Potential 28
Action Potential 32
Nerve Impulse Propagation 35
Nodes of Ranvier 39
A Menu for a Person Condemned to Death 40
Living Electricity Around Us 42
Electrical Compass 46
Electricity in Plants 50
Chapter 2. Heart Pulse 54
Arteries, Blood, and Erythrocytes 55
Velocity of Pulse Wave 61
Reflection of Pulse Waves 63
Equilibrium of the Blood Vessel Wall. Aneurysm 66
Murray's Law 69
Blood Circulation in Giraffe and Space Medicine 71
How Blood Pressure and Blood Flow are Measured 74
Blood Color and the Law of the Conservation of Energy 82
Chapter 3. Crocodile Tears and Other Liquids 84
Water in Us 86
Amazing Filter 89
Cryobiology and Biological Antifreezes 96
Chapter 4. Inhale Deeper 102
Breathing and Soap Bubbles 104
It's Not So Simple 106
Exceptions to the Rule 109
Countercurrent: Cheap and Effective 111
Diving 112
High Frequency Ventilation and Einstein's Formula 119
The Physics of Cough 125
Chapter 5. Hunt for Cells in an Electric Field 130
Principles of Dielectrophoresis 131
Cell ID in an Alternating Electric Field 134
Cell Separation Using Traveling-Wave Dielectrophoresis 137
Electroporation of Cell Membrances 140
Chapter 6. How Nature Listens 142
Let's Recall the Basics of Acoustics 142
The Ear in Brief 145
The Middle Ear 147
Cochlear Amplifier 150
Otoacoustic Emissions, or Ear Sounds 156
What is a Cochlear Implant? 158
Sound Localization 160
Echolocation 164
Chapter 7. Bone 172
Composite Structure of Bone 175
Compact versus Spongy Bone 176
Bone Strength 178
Osteoporosis 181
Wolff's Law and Bone Remodeling 182
Karate Mechanics in Short 184
Leg Tendons„Living Springs 186
Chapter 8. Optics of the Eye 190
Photoreceptors and Visual Pigments 193
Tapetum„Living Mirror 196
Infrared Vision 199
Compound Eyes 202
How Ommatidia Help One Another 206
Microvilli See Polarized Light 212
Animal Maps 216
Chapter 9. Magnetic Sense 220
On a Wing and a Vector 221
Magnetites Inside Us 224
Basics of Magnetic Orientaion 227
Paleomagnetism and Magnetotactic Bacteria 230
Chapter 10. Optima for Animals: from Mouse to Elephant 232
Body Mass and Lifestyle 232
Allometry of a Skeleton 233
Stepping Frequency and Gaits 235
Jumping Performance and Body Mass 237
Shark and Mackerel 238
Carrying Loads on the Head 239
Breating-Tuned Oscillator 240
Energy and Body Mass 242
Living Wheel? 246
References 248
Index 256

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 21.10.1999
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Sachbuch/Ratgeber
• Themenwelt: Medizin / Pharmazie
• Themenwelt: Naturwissenschaften ► Biologie
• Themenwelt: Naturwissenschaften ► Physik / Astronomie ► Angewandte Physik
• Themenwelt: Technik
• ISBN-10: 0-08-050013-7 / 0080500137
• ISBN-13: 978-0-08-050013-3 / 9780080500133