ECTS credits ECTS credits: 6
ECTS Hours Rules/Memories Hours of tutorials: 1 Expository Class: 27 Interactive Classroom: 30 Total: 58
Use languages Spanish, Galician
Type: Ordinary Degree Subject RD 1393/2007 - 822/2021
Departments: Applied Physics
Areas: Applied Physics
Center Faculty of Biology
Call: Second Semester
Teaching: With teaching
Enrolment: Enrollable | 1st year (Yes)
Biophysics is a basic training subject with a load of 6 ECTS that is taught in the first year of the Degree in Biology. The main objective of this subject is to understand the role played by physics in the description of nature, and to apply the principles of physics to simple processes of biological interest and to understand that an interdisciplinary approach is essential for the study of systems as complex as living beings.
The Biophysics course consists of five well-differentiated thematic blocks, as can be seen below, which will be developed in master classes (24 h) and seminars (15 h). The time schedule indicated is for guidance only and may be slightly modified depending on the specific course development.
MASTER CLASSES
THEME 1. BIOMECHANICS AND FLUIDS (7h Exp)
Notions of kinematics and dynamics. Kinetic energy. Potential energy. Work. Laws of scale in biology. Metabolic rates. Elasticity. Statics of fluids. Continuity equation. Fluid dynamics. Movement of solids within fluids. Resistance, drag and lift forces. Surface phenomena.
THEME 2. PRINCIPLES OF THERMODYNAMICS (4h Exp)
Thermodynamic systems. Temperature scales. Work and heat. Principles of thermodynamics. Application of the principles of thermodynamics to living beings.
THEME 3. PHENOMENA OF TRANSPORT IN BIOLOGY (5h Exp)
Biological barriers. Flow. Transport of matter. Diffusion and Osmosis. Heat transport. Electrical transport. Membranes as condensers. Ionic transport in membranes.
THEME 4. BIOPHYSICS OF THE SENSES (5h Exp)
Types of waves and general characteristics. Sound propagation. Auditive system. Light propagation. Light-matter interaction. Geometric optics, visual system and optical instruments.
THEME 5. BIOPHYSICS OF RADICATION (3h Exp)
Atomic nucleus. Types of radiation. Radiation-matter interaction. Detection and measurement of radiation. Biological effects and applications of ionizing radiation. Nuclear medicine.
SEMINARS
4 seminar hours on THEME 1. BIOMECHANICS AND FLUIDS
3 seminar hours on THEME 2. PRINCIPLES OF THERMODYNAMICS
3 seminar hours on THEME 3. PHENOMENA OF TRANSPORT IN BIOLOGY
3 seminar hours on THEME 4. BIOPHYSICS OF THE SENSES
2 seminar hours on THEME 5. BIOPHYSICS OF RADICATION
LABORATORY PRACTICE
The students will carry out laboratory practices, adapted to the subject matter, among those available in the laboratory of the Faculty of Biology:
- Static and dynamic study of a spring: determination of its elastic constant (3h).
- Determination of liquid densities by using a pycnometer (3h).
- Determination of fluid viscosity by using an Ostwald viscometer (3h).
- Determination of Young's modulus in biological materials (3h).
- Computer class (3h).
TUTORIALS
The student will have 1 session of 1 hour in a small group at the end of the semester to clarify doubts with a view to the final exam.
Basic
Cussó Pérez, Fernando, et al. Física de los procesos biológicos. Ariel, 2004.
Giancoli, Douglas C. Física. 1, Principios con aplicaciones. Sexta edición, Pearson Educación, 2009.
Jou i Mirabent, David, et al. Física para ciencias de la vida. McGraw-Hill, 1994.
Ortuño, Miguel. Física para biología, medicina, veterinaria y farmacia. Crítica Editorial, 1996.
Complementary
Bogdanov, Konstantin. El Físico visita al biólogo. Mir, 1989.
Czerski, Helen, and Ana Pedrero Verge. ¿Por qué a los patos no se les enfrían los pies? La física de lo cotidiano. Paidós, 2017.
Cutnell, John D., and Kenneth W. Johnson. Física. Limusa-Noriega, 1998.
Frumento, Antonio S. Biofísica. Terceira edición, Mosby/Doyma Libros, 1995.
Kane, Joseph W., and Morton M. Sternheim. Física. Segunda edición, Reverté, 2016.
Macho, Marta. Mujeres con Ciencia. https://mujeresconciencia.com/
Rex, Andrew F., and Richard Wolfson. Fundamentos de física. Pearson educación, 2011.
The learning outcomes will be directly related to what a person enrolled in the subject is expected to know, understand and be able to do at the end of the learning period. In the report of the Degree in Biology, these outcomes are set out in terms of knowledge or content, skills or abilities and competences. Specifically in the subject of Biophysics, the list of learning outcomes is as follows:
Knowledge/Content
Con02: To know and understand the physico-chemical principles of biology.
Con08: To know and understand the development, morphology and anatomy of living beings.
Con09: Understand and integrate the functioning and regulation of the main physiological processes of living organisms and their interaction with the biotic and abiotic environment.
Skills/Abilities
H/D01: Apply in an integrated way the theoretical and practical knowledge acquired in the transmission of information/ideas and in the approach and resolution of problems, both in academic and professional contexts.
H/D02: Know how to obtain and interpret relevant information and experimental results and draw conclusions on topics related to biology.
H/D03: Study and learn autonomously, with organization of time and resources, new knowledge and techniques in biology.
H/D06: Knowing how to describe, analyze and interpret the physical environment and its relationship with living organisms.
H/D07: Ability to search for, process, analyze and synthesize information from different sources, including the use of TICs in the field of Biology.
H/D08: Ability to reason, argue and think critically.
H/D10: Ability to work in a group and to deal with problem situations collectively.
Competences
Comp01: Students have demonstrated possession, understanding and use of knowledge of the different areas of Biology, including some cutting-edge aspects of their field of study.
Comp03: Students are able to apply their knowledge to their work or vocation in a professional manner and possess the skills that are usually demonstrated through the development and defence of arguments and problem solving within their field of study.
Comp06: Be able to transmit information both in writing and orally and to discuss ideas, problems and solutions related to Biology, before a general or specialized audience.
The subject of Biophysics will have an associated Virtual Classroom in the Virtual Campus of the USC. Before the beginning of the classes, the detailed program of the subject, and the basic and complementary bibliography will be made available to the students in the Virtual Classroom.
a) Expository classes:
The theoretical contents of each subject will be exposed so that they serve as a guide for the autonomous learning of the students. In the Virtual Classroom, the digital material used in class by the teaching staff to explain all the contents will be published, as well as tables summarizing the most important expressions of each subject. Master class. Voluntary attendance.
b) Seminar classes:
Classes of problems in which exercises proposed in the bulletins that will be made available to students sufficiently in advance through the Virtual Classroom will be solved. The aim is for students to become familiar with the resolution of practical cases. Problem based learning Voluntary attendance.
c) Laboratory practices:
Each student will attend several laboratory sessions and will have to present a technical report. These sessions are intended to consolidate the theoretical concepts explained in class, autonomous learning, initiative, and problem-solving skills. Group/individual work. Mandatory attendance to all practical sessions.
d) Tutorials in small groups:
The student will have 1 session of tutorials in a small group at the end of the semester to clarify doubts and/or reinforce important concepts with a view to the final exam. Voluntary attendance.
e) Individual tutorials:
These will be held throughout the semester at the request of the students. They are aimed at resolving doubts and concrete difficulties of a theoretical, conceptual and/or practical nature. Individualized attention will be given to the students who need it. Voluntary attendance.
The overall qualification of the students will be the sum of the qualifications obtained, by their performance throughout the course, in the following activities:
EVAL 1. Continuous assessment. Laboratory practice (weight in the final mark: 20%; obligatory activity).
EVAL 2. Continuous assessment. Active participation in the classroom (weight in the final mark: 10%; voluntary activity).
EVAL 3. Examination. Complimentary to the continuous evaluation (weight in the final mark: 70% obligatory activity).
To pass the course, students will need to meet the following requirements:
R1. To have attended all the laboratory sessions and to have delivered the technical report.
R2. To realize the final exam on the date fixed by the Faculty of Biology.
R3. To have achieved a minimum mark of 4.5 points in the exam.
R4. Achieve a minimum final mark of 5 pts, combining the grades of the continuous evaluation (laboratory + classroom) and the final exam.
The mark obtained in the laboratory section is kept for the second opportunity.
If the subject is not passed, the grade obtained in the laboratory will be kept for two academic years.
The grade will be "not presented" only if the student does not perform both of the mandatory activities proposed: the laboratory practices and the final exam of the subject.
In general, an average of 150 hours of work is estimated for this subject, of which 55 hours correspond to attendance at theoretical and practical classes, seminars and tutorials (24h expository classes, 15h interactive seminar classes, 15h interactive laboratory classes and 1h group tutorials), 92 hours of autonomous work (study time and preparation of the practical report) and the remaining 3 hours for the exams and their revision.
- Attendance at all teaching activities.
- Participate actively in the classes.
- Consult the recommended bibliography.
- Use the virtual classroom.
- Use the tutorials for any kind of question related to the subject.
Maria Del Pilar Brocos Fernandez
- Department
- Applied Physics
- Area
- Applied Physics
- Phone
- 881813961
- pilar.brocos [at] usc.es
- Category
- Professor: University Lecturer
Maria Encina Calvo Iglesias
- Department
- Applied Physics
- Area
- Applied Physics
- Phone
- 881813961
- encina.calvo [at] usc.es
- Category
- Professor: University Lecturer
Maria Jose Perez Comuñas
Coordinador/a- Department
- Applied Physics
- Area
- Applied Physics
- Phone
- 881814036
- mariajp.comunas [at] usc.es
- Category
- Professor: University Professor
| Wednesday | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 18:00-19:00 | Grupo /CLE_02 | Galician | Classroom 04: James Watson and Francis Crick |
| 19:00-20:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Galician | Classroom 03. Carl Linnaeus |
| Thursday | |||
| 16:00-17:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Galician | Classroom 03. Carl Linnaeus |
| 17:00-18:00 | Grupo /CLE_02 | Galician | Classroom 04: James Watson and Francis Crick |
| 05.16.2025 16:00-20:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Classroom 01. Charles Darwin |
| 05.16.2025 16:00-20:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Classroom 02. Gregor Mendel |
| 05.16.2025 16:00-20:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Classroom 03. Carl Linnaeus |
| 07.09.2025 16:00-20:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Classroom 01. Charles Darwin |
| 07.09.2025 16:00-20:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Classroom 02. Gregor Mendel |