Module manager: Dr Neil Thomson
Email: N.H.Thomson@Leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable
Year running 2026/27
Level 2 Physics or equivalent
PHYS3523
This module is not approved as a discovery module
Understanding the physics of life is a current grand challenge and growing research field globally. This module introduces and explores the physics of the molecules that underpin processes of life at the nanoscale. The physics of life at the nanoscale is important because it provides a powerful framework for understanding biological systems through quantitative analysis, which leads to advances in technology, medicine, and our fundamental knowledge of life itself. Biological macromolecules are the building blocks of life, and their interactions with water facilitate their structure and dynamics. They are in the size range of 1 to 100nm and governed by classical physics at that length scale. Four distinct but related topics will focus on water and the major classes of biomolecules: nucleic acids, lipids, proteins and carbohydrates. Students will gain insight and understanding of how biological molecules naturally self-assemble within water environments into complex structures with spatial and temporal dynamics governed by the underlying physics of fundamental forces, statistical mechanics and thermodynamics.
Students will be introduced to the structure and behaviour of water along with the major types of biological macromolecules that underpin living processes at the molecular scale. It will show how self-assembly is related to the underlying physical forces and thermodynamics of biomolecules in water. It will further illustrate the relationship of molecular behaviour to the physics of soft matter at the nanoscale. Additionally, the most important physical techniques used to measure and exploit biomolecules in nanoscience applications will be summarised (e.g. scattering, microscopy, spectroscopy, single-molecule force measurements and nanopore technology).
1. Structure and behaviour of water at the molecular level
2. Structure, mechanics and physical properties of biomolecules
3. Origins of molecular forces and the self-assembly of biomolecular systems
4. Energy at the nanoscale and thermodynamics of water, biomolecules and their assemblies
5. Dynamics and kinetics of water and biomolecular systems (e.g. diffusion, phase separation, molecular motors)
6. Biophysical techniques for studying biomolecular systems (e.g. scattering, microscopy, scanning probe microscopy, optical techniques, nanopores etc.)
7. Biomolecular systems in emerging applications of bionanotechnology
Skills Learning Outcomes
a) Acquire fundamental knowledge about water, biomolecules and their relationship
b) Make effective use of physics skills and knowledge to apply to the molecules of life
c) Transfer knowledge between distinct but related topics in the module, and apply it to different biomolecules
d) Problem solving in different formats (Multiple Choice, SATA, short and long questions)
e) Explain complex topics at the interface of physics and biology using concise writing and diagrams
f) Develop critical thinking about the context of living matter in the universe
Four inter-related topics summarised as follows:
I. THE PHYSICS OF WATER: Water structure and dynamics, anomalous properties of water, waters phase diagram, intermolecular interactions in water, in aqueous solutions and with biomolecules, the hydrophobic effect and its temperature dependence, water under confinement, experimental and modelling approaches to study liquid water in model biological systems.
II. THE PHYSICS OF NUCLEIC ACIDS: Molecular forces, DNA structure by X-ray diffraction, behaviour of DNA within polymer chain models, DNA imaging by scanning probe microscopes – STM and AFM, DNA molecular motors, nanopore physics and technologies, DNA sequencing.
III. THE PHYSICS OF PROTEINS & CARBOHYDRATES: Protein structure and bonding, Proteins as bionanomachines, Protein thermodynamic and mechanical stability, Protein folding and unfolding, Molecular motors, Carbohydrate structure and mechanical properties.
IV. THE PHYSICS OF CELL MEMBRANES: Lipid structure, the thermodynamics of lipid aggregation and self-assembly, how molecular shape leads to microstructure, chemical forces, lateral organisation and phase separation, critical behaviour and lipid raft dynamics, membrane curvature and mechanics.
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lectures | 30 | 1 | 30 |
| Seminar | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Private study hours | 169 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 31 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200 | ||
Private Study Time is 169 hours.
Feedback on online quizzes – Fortnightly online
Workshops/Problems Classes – Fortnightly in lectures
Check the module area in Minerva for your reading list
Last updated: 30/04/2026
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team