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1.4  Once More, Unto the Breach

1.3.4  THEORETICAL BIOPHYSICS TOOLS

Chapter 8: Methods of computational biophysics and theoretical approaches requiring a

pencil and paper. This is a large chapter, since it not only involves both the discrete methods

used in advanced computational approaches, such as those of molecular simulations, but

also discusses a wide range of continuum approaches covering biopolymer mechanics, fluid

dynamics, and reaction–​diffusion analysis.

And finally, Chapter 9 discusses the future outlook of the physical science toolbox in

the life sciences. This encompasses emerging methods that are not yet fully established

in mainstream biophysics but show enormous future promise. They include systems bio­

physics approaches, synthetic biology and bionanotechnology, biophysics methods that

enable personalized healthcare, and tools that extend the length scales of biophysics into the

quantum and ecosystem regimes.

It is a challenge to know how to best structure “biophysics techniques” in one’s own mind.

But my advice is to avoid the pitfall of solely theming these techniques along the lines of very

specific physical phenomena for their modes of operation (e.g., techniques that use fluores­

cence and those that utilize electromagnetism) that underlie a technique’s primary mode of

action, and also, avoid the pitfall of structuring techniques along their modes of action solely

in a particular biological context (e.g., a cellular technique and an in vitro technique). The

truth, I believe, is that biophysical techniques can operate using a complex armory of many

different physical processes in a highly combinatorial fashion, and many of these techniques

can be applied in several different biological contexts.

All these make it a challenge to theme into chapters for a textbook such as this one, to say

nothing of the challenges for the reader new to the subject.

But my suggestion to you, dear reader, when trying to make sense of the vast array of bio­

physical techniques available, is simply this:

Always try to consider the actual biological questions being addressed, as opposed to solely

thinking of the techniques as being simply interesting applications of physics to biology, which

if you’re not careful can end up reading like a shopping list of boring acronyms. If you strive to

do this, you may find it an invaluable catalyst for the process of integrating physics with biology,

if that is your wish.

To aid revision, each chapter has a brief “General Idea” at the start, several “Key Points” of

importance highlighted specifically throughout, plus concise bullet-​point style summaries

at the end of each chapter, along with associated questions relating to each chapter that can

be used by students or tutors alike. Full references are given at the end of each chapter, and

of these, one particularly important “Key Reference” is indicated, which is the reference that

all students should make an effort to read. In addition, there are a number of “Key Biological

Applications” sections highlighted to summarize the core general biological applications for

the different types of biophysical tools and techniques discussed. Also, and most importantly,

there are detailed model-​worked examples of questions throughout. These, I hope, will really

help the student, and the lecturer, to understand many of the challenging physical science

concepts that form the basis of the biophysical techniques.

1.4  ONCE MORE, UNTO THE BREACH

I will not bore you with the political challenges of the collaborative process between physics

and biology, such as who drives and leads the research, where you do the research, the orders

of authors’ names on a research paper, and where the next grant is coming from, those kinds

of things. I have theories, yes, but to expound on them requires the structure of a nearby

public house, and in the absence of such I will move on.

But I will say this.

Let your scientific nose do the leading, constantly and fervently.