Topic outline

  • General

    NEWS:

    The exam date is the 21st of February. the PROBABLE date for the exam re-take is 28th of February. Deadline for extra assignments is the 15th of March.



    DISCLAIMER:

    All information on these pages may still be subject to change! Please, check MyCourses again later to receive the latest information on this course.

    Remember also that in order to participate in this course, you have to register in Oodi.




    OBJECTIVES OF THE COURSE

    Encompassing annually varying topics in molecular physics, biophysics, and molecular quantum mechanics, this course gives fundamental knowledge of biological molecules and physical and chemical insight into biological systems:

    • structure of biomolecules (proteins, DNA)
    • structure of the cell
    • spectroscopy techniques (optical, NMR, X-ray and more)
    • microscopy techniques (TEM, confocal, fluorescence)
    • modeling techniques (briefly)

    STRUCTURE OF THE COURSE

    Basic topics will be introduced during the 1st week of the course, and the students will be given
    • a list of topics: every student will have to prepare a presentation (15-30 minutes, depending on how many students enroll) and an essay on their topic (5 pages), according to specific guidelines, and the essays will be part of the study material;
    • a few selected scientific articles, around which the students have to form groups and discuss the article taking different roles: biologist, chemist, physicist and engineer. The discussion will lead to a group presentation (15-30 minutes). The articles will also be part of the study material.
    The final exam will take place on the 21st of February. Extra assignments can be requested to increase your grade by 10 points, and a second exam may be arranged for students who miss the first date due to sickness/other exams.
    The exam will consist of three parts: 5 questions that will require a short direct answer, 3 questions that will require a long anwser (10-15 lines per question) and reading a brief paper in order answer to a question on it (10-15 lines)


    STUDY MATERIAL

    Lectures, presentation slides, student essays, and course books.


    COURSE BOOKS

    R. Cotterill, Biophysics: An Introduction, Chichester: Wiley, 2002.

    S. Tanev, V.V. Tuchin, and B.C. Wilson, Advances in Biophotonics



    (Aalto University has access to only 6 copies of the first book and 1 copy of the third book. Therefore, remember to logout after reading!)




    ASSESSMENT

    Maximum total points: 100+

    • Presentation: 25 points
    • Essay: 25 points
    • Group work: 20 points
    • Exam: 30 points

    Extra points for attendance: 1 point / class

    Remember also that you can request special assignments for additional compensation points!


    GRADING

    Points 
    		Grade
    90 -
    		5
    80 - 89
    		 4
    70 - 79
    		 3
    60 - 69
    		 2
    51 - 59
    		 1

    FURTHER INFORMATION
    Prof. Ilkka Tittonen


    COURSE ASSISTANT

    Camilla Tossi