Physics is everywhere in the world. It gives balance to the universe and has a set of rules that all objects follow. Biological organisms and their functioning are no exceptions to these laws. The job of biophysicists is to study how these laws apply in biology, and how they influence the various physical and functional aspects of organisms. To find out more about biophysics, what biophysicists do and how you could become one yourself, read this article.
What is biophysics?
Biophysics is the study of biological systems using physics concepts and methodologies. Biophysics has contributed to microscopy advancements, such as the invention of electron and atomic force microscopy and fluorescence imaging methods, which have revealed the architecture inside cells and are essential for studies in both biology and physics.
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What kind of subjects do Biophysicists study about?
Bioengineering, Nanobiotechnology, & Biomaterials – working on a wide range of nanotechnology and biomaterials research projects, including the creation of microfluidic devices such as DNA chips and tissue engineered constructs (which allow tissues to grow new organs for implantation) as well as the development of smart biomaterials and improved drug delivery systems.
Biological Structures – contributing significantly to the advancement of methodologies and instruments for identifying biological structures, particularly through techniques like X-ray crystallography, mass spectrometry, and nuclear magnetic resonance.
Computational Biology – The increasing accumulation of massive amounts of genomic, proteomic, and exome data has necessitated the development of novel nucleic acid sequencing and proteomic methods based on biophysics. Biophysicists focus on creating computer tools for analyzing and extracting valuable information from big data sets, as well as making previously unheard-of findings within massive population samples.
Imaging and Medicine – creating advanced diagnostic imaging procedures such as MRIs, CT scans, and PET scans. Biophysics is critical to the creation of ever safer, quicker, and more precise technologies to improve medical imaging and tell us more about the various metabolic and mechanical movements of the body.
Molecular Motors and Imaging – investigating how microscopic machinery help cargo (such as proteins, neurotransmitters, or hormones) move across a cell. To better comprehend intracellular systems, biophysicists have created techniques for microscopic fluorescence imaging and study of signalling networks within cells.
Neurobiology – studying neurobiology at the molecular level, employing biophysical methods to understand how these cells receive and send information, as well as choreograph long-distance communication. Biophysicists also play an important role in the development of neural networks, which are computer-based models that may be used for theoretical study and modelling of how the brain and nervous system operate.
Protein Structure and Modeling – revolutionizing structural biology by developing computer models that can predict structures from sequence information utilizing databases including protein structure data.
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Precision Medicine – This “big data” age has heralded a new way of thinking about medical treatments. Researchers now have the capabilities to swiftly sequence individual genomes and use this data to personalise medical treatment. This “precision medicine” approach will develop when more genetic data is connected to specific illnesses. Biophysics is essential for transforming data from systems biology, genomics, and proteomics into information that can be used to guide diagnoses and medical treatment.
What are the qualifications are required for becoming a biophysicist?
A career path in biophysics is a rather time-consuming one, often requiring a Ph. D. with specialization in Biophysics related subjects. This is because the subject is a more theoretically based subject with more scope in research positions and labs. At 10+2, science stream with Biology, Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics subjects is compulsory, as biophysics is a multi-disciplinary subject. In under graduate level, B. Sc. in Biophysics is an option, or you could even choose subjects like Physics, Life Sciences, Bioinformatics, Chemistry, Biotechnology.
After under graduation, an M. Sc. in Biophysics can be done. Later, you could continue to pursue a Ph. D. in Biophysics, with a national JRF fellowship like CSIR, UGC, DBT. Some of the top institutes in India offering Biophysics courses at various levels include –
Biophysics is a subject with demand rising. With more and more understand growing about the subject, it will play an important role in many fields in the very near future.