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biophysical
techniques
Much biophysical research
involves either the development of novel techniques to investigate the
structure, properties, and biological functions of biomolecules or the
application of these techniques to monitor how the structure and dynamics
of biomolecules enables specific biological functions. Information
about specific biophysical techniques is provided here.
Electrophysiology
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The
Axon Guide for Electrophysiology & Biophysics is a practical laboratory
guide covering a broad range of topics, from the biological basis of bioelectricity
and a description of the basic experimental setup, to the principles of
operation of the most advanced hardware and software currently available.”
Generated and maintained by Axon Instruments, Inc.
Hydrodynamics
The behavior of large biomolecules—proteins,
carbohydrates, and nucleic acids—in solution is complex and directly related
to molecular size, shape, and flexibility; the analysis of hydrodynamic
behavior thus provides important information about the structure, dynamics,
and interactions of biomacromolecules.
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Survey
of Biomolecular Hydrodymamics. Victor Bloomfield. Previously
published in Biophysics Textbook Online (BTOL).
Microscopy
& Imaging
Perhaps the most
accessible developments in biophysics have involved improvements in our
ability to generate images of cellular and molecular structures with dimensions
from microns to nanometers. It is now possible to “see” individual
molecules or cellular structures using atomic force, electron, or confocal
fluorescence microscopy.
Molecular
Expressions: Exploring the World of Optics and Microscopy. A delightful
and extensive site appropriate for middle school to college/university
levels containing a photogallery of microscopic images, a detailed primer
on the basics of optical microscopy, as well as historical and educational
information on optical microscopy. Generated and maintained by the
National High Field Magnet Laboratory at Florida State University.
Confocal
Fluorescence Microscopy
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Nikon
Microscopy U. An extensive and well-organized site with information
on the fundamentals of confocal fluorescence microscopy and its applications
to biological systems. Content provided by various experts and site maintained
by Nikon USA.
Atomic
Force Microscopy
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Atomic
Force Microscopy. Measuring Intermolecular Interaction Forces.
A primer on the fundamentals and applications of AFM by David Baselt.
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NanoTheatre.
Gallery of images generated by Digital Instruments atomic force microscopes;
site maintained by Vecco, Inc. (manufacturer of DI atomic force microscopes).
Magnetic
Resonance Imaging
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Magnetic
Resonance Imaging. Information on the biophysical foundations
and medical applications of one of the most versatile of medical imaging
tools; provided as part of the Breakthroughs in Science series of FASEB,
the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology.
Modeling
& Simulation
Visual and numerical modeling
and simulation play important roles in the analysis and prediction of protein
and nucleic acid sequence and 3D structure, in the calculation of molecular
dynamics, and in the simulation of specific biochemical mechanisms, among
other important tasks.
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Protein
Structure Prediction From Primary Sequence. Linda Ellis and Kim-Hung
Chow. Previously published in Biophysics Textbook Online (BTOL).
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Berkeley
Madonna is a fast, easy to use mathematical model building program
that runs on both Windows and Mac OS. Using ordinary math notation,
it provides numerical solutions to differential/difference equations together
with a number of devices for analyzing results without any programming
input from the user. Developed on the Berkeley campus under the sponsorship
of NSF and NIH, it is currently used by academic and commercial institutions
for both research and teaching. A visual tour of the program as well
as a demo version can be downloaded from the web site
Single
Molecule Techniques
Perhaps the most exciting
development in biophysical technique in recent times involves the ability
to manipulate single molecules and measure their properties and biological
functions both in solution and within cells.
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Molecules
in Action. Christopher Miller. Previously published in Biophysics
Textbook Online (BTOL).
Spectroscopy
The interaction
of electromagnetic radiation, x-rays, ultraviolet, visible, and infra red
light, and radio waves, with molecules provides a wealth of information
about the structure, dynamics, and function of biomolecules and biological
processes.
Fluorescence
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Molecular
Probes, Inc. is the major commercial source for fluorescent probes
and diagnostic reagents. Their website provides spectroscopic data
on a wide variety of molecular probes (with access to an extensive bibliography
of biophysical applications), information about fluorescence techniques,
as well as other resources for optical biophysics research.
Magnetic
Resonance
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Fluorine
NMR. J.T. Gerig.
Previously published in Biophysics Textbook Online
(BTOL).
Thermodynamics
& Related Topics
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