An example of a fractal globule is shown in the illustration above (Image courtesy of Professor Leonid Mirny, used with permission).
Instructor(s)
Prof. Mehran Kardar
Prof. Leonid Mirny
MIT Course Number
8.592J / HST.452J
As Taught In
Spring 2011
Level
Graduate
Course Description
Course Features
Course Description
Statistical Physics in Biology is a survey of problems at the interface of statistical physics and modern biology. Topics include: bioinformatic methods for extracting information content of DNA; gene finding, sequence comparison, and phylogenetic trees; physical interactions responsible for structure of biopolymers; DNA double helix, secondary structure of RNA, and elements of protein folding; considerations of force, motion, and packaging; protein motors, membranes. We also look at collective behavior of biological elements, cellular networks, neural networks, and evolution.
