Models and equations for:

• Active and passive transport in cells
• Diffusion in solution and membrane
• Osmosis and osmotic pressure
• Active transport
• Electrodiffusion, Nernst potential and membrane potential
• Electrical properties of the nerve cell
• Cellular homeostasis

Cellular Biophysics is a general course in biophysics where the student learns the fundamental physical, quantitative and structural aspects of the biological cell. An important course goal is to equip the student with a physical and mathematical toolbox to both understand and apply results and observations from cell-biological experiments.

After completing the course, the student should be able to:

• describe the basic physical principles of cell function regarding the transport of water, ions and nutrients.
• define and use mathematical models for the transport of water, ions and solutes in and across the cell membrane.
• describe how the cell regulates water and ion balance and how it is affected by the cell's environment.
• calculate the potential of the cell membrane and how it varies in different situations.
• perform measurements of cell physics parameters using microscope-based methods.

During the first 10-15 minutes of lectures 2-9 there will be a short quiz based on the previous lecture. Each quiz give credit (2 p./quiz) towards the final exam. On the final exam 20 points is the lower limit for pass.  

1. Handouts and lecture notes

2. Weiss TF. Cellular Biophysics, vol 1: Transport, MIT Press, 1996. ISBN: 9780262359764

Can be rented from MIT Press as an eBook: https://mitpress.ublish.com/book/cellular-biophysics-1#purchase

Students at KTH with a permanent disability can get support during studies from Funka:

Funka - compensatory support for students with disabilities

A, B, C, D, E, FX, F

• INL1 - Hand in assignment, 2.0 credits, Grading scale: P, F
• LAB1 - Laboratory work, 3.0 credits, Grading scale: P, F
• TEN1 - Written exam, 2.5 credits, Grading scale: A, B, C, D, E, FX, F

Based on recommendation from KTH’s coordinator for disabilities, the examiner will decide how to adapt an examination for students with documented disability.

The examiner may apply another examination format when re-examining individual students.

Hand in assignment ( INL1 )

Assignments will be distributed at lecture 8

Laboratory work ( LAB1 )

Laboratory excercise 1: Diffusion, Stokes-Einstein

Laboratory excercise 2: FRAP, membrane protein dynamics

Laboratory excercise 3: Cell volume, osmosis

Written exam ( TEN1 )

Yes

• All members of a group are responsible for the group's work.
• In any assessment, every student shall honestly disclose any help received and sources used.
• In an oral assessment, every student shall be able to present and answer questions about the entire assignment and solution.