Physics of Life

The spring school “Physics of Life” provides an introduction to and an overview of current research topics in biophysics of living systems, with an emphasis on understanding biological structure, dynamics and function. Biomolecules, cells, tissues, and their multiscale interactions are the main building blocks of biological organisms. The physical understanding of their structural and dynamical properties and their organization and synergy is very challenging due to the enormous complexity and nonequilibrium behaviour of these systems. However, this knowledge is essential for linking the structure and dynamics of biosystems to their corresponding functions. The goal of this spring school is not only to give an overview of selected topics from biophysics to students and postdocs in physics, chemistry and biology, but also to establish an interdisciplinary connection between these fields. This includes, in particular, the introduction of biologists and chemists to physical experimental methods and theoretical modelling, and the introduction of physicists to the large variety of fascinating biological phenomena. Introductory lectures present the basics of biosystems and biophysics. These lectures are intended to establish a common level of basic interdisciplinary knowledge. Subsequent lectures treat more advanced topics within different disciplines and emphasize interdisciplinary aspects. Topics of the lectures include: - $\textit{Experimental and Theoretical Methods}$ The study of biological systems is particularly challenging since very often the macromolecular building blocks are inherently complex and the relevant length and time scales in these systems span many orders of magnitude. Success requires a combination of preparative techniques (synthesis), and the elucidation of structural and dynamical properties by scattering, microscopy, rheology and single molecule techniques. Lectures on experimental methods are complemented by theoretical frameworks of classical statistical mechanics, continuum hydrodynamics, and scaling theory. Furthermore, since many biological phenomena are far too complex to be well-described by an analytical theory, simulation techniques, such as Molecular Dynamics, Monte Carlo, and mesoscale hydrodynamics simulations, are often necessary and will be introduced in the basic lectures. [...