BM4040: Mechanobiology
BM4040: Mechanobiology
Course Details
Credits: 3
Segment: 1-6 of Jan-Apr '2024-25
Schedule and venue: Slot-C (Mon 11:00-11:55, Wed 10:00-10:55, Thu 09:00-09:55) in BT/BM010
Discussion hour: TBD
Evaluation: 6 exams (near the end of each segment)
20th January (15%)
06th February (15%)
26th February (15%)
24th March (15%)
09th April (15%)
01st May (25%)
Books
Introduction to Cell Mechanics and Mechanobiology by Jacobs, Jacobs and Kwon
Physical Biology of the Cell by Rob Phillips
Some research papers which will be give in in the class
This course is intended for UG students with some background in mechanics or condensed matter physics. It will be helpful if the students have undertaken introductory courses in solid and fluid mechanics or biomechanics. This course will deal with the description of the mechanical properties of the biological systems at the microscopic scales. We will study some specific biological mechanisms of interaction of biological cells with the extracellular matrix and how it gets affected in disease conditions. The tentative contents for the course are
Physics of microscale, Langevin equations, Brownian motion, entropic elasticity, polymr models
Structure of extracellular matrix (ECM), emergence of mechanical properties of ECM from its constituents, constitutive models of ECM
Mechanical properties of biological cells, how do we study those properties, mechanism of AFM measurements
Interactions of cell and ECM, focal adhesion dynamics, adhesion dependent and independent mechanisms of cell motility
Transport at microscopic scales in biological systems
Force/mechanics sensing by the cells and its response in terms of protein expression
Role of mechanics in diseases- cancer, hypertension etc.
Logistics
Assignments: The course has no assignments. Instead, practice problems will be given at regular intervals. Students are not expected to submit the answers to these problems
Answers/solutions to the practice problems will not be provided. Students are encouraged to utilise the discussion hour to discuss the problems if they want to.
Exams: There are 6 exams scheduled (roughly) at the end of each segment. See above for dates.
Course policies
Attendance: Attendance is not mandatory in the classes.
Missing exams: On missing an exam due to a medical emergency you will be allowed to write a make-up exam on producing a medical certificate from the institute health center. Missing the exam due to any other reason will result in no marks.
Use of unfair means (e.g. plagiarism, copying etc.) is unacceptable in the course. Any sign of it will result in a severe penalty.
Some suggestions
The best way to follow the course is to work out the details of the topics discussed in each class by yourself after the class.
There will be one discussion hour each week for clarification of doubts and practice problems. Take advantage of that.
You have to take the practice problems seriously and solve them on your own. In case you are facing difficulty, you can come and meet the instructor during the discussion hour