Biophysics: An Introduction [Hardcover]

Roland Glaser (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 3540670882 | ISBN-13: 978-3540670889 | Publication Date: November 23, 2004 | Edition: Corrected

Biophysics is the science of physical principles underlying the "phenomenon of life" on all levels of organization. This book begins by explaining molecular and ionic interactions, movements, excitation and energy transfer, and the self-organization of supramolecular structures. Then the biological organism is introduced as a non-equilibrium system. Finally, system analyses are discussed as well as environmental biophysics, ecological interactions, growth, differentiation, and evolution. A growing number of applications in biotechnology are based on these biophysical concepts.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

The message of this book is that biophysics is the science of physical principles underlying the "phenomenon life" on all levels of organization. Rather than teaching "physics for biologists" or "physical methods applied to biology", it regards its subject as a defined discipline with its own network of ideas and approaches. The book starts by explaining molecular structures of biological systems, various kinds of atomic, molecular and ionic interactions, movements, energy transfer, self organization of supramolecular structures and dynamic properties of biological membranes. It then goes on to introduce the biological organism as a non-equilibrium system, before treating thermodynamic concepts of osmotic and electrolyte equilibria as well as currents and potential profiles. It continues with topics of environmental biophysics and such medical aspects as the influence of electromagnetic fields or radiation on living systems and the biophysics of hearing and noice protection. The book concludes with a discussion of system analyses, including models of neural processes as well as of ecological interactions, growth, differentiation and evolution.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 361 pages
• Publisher: Springer; Corrected edition (November 23, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 3540670882
• ISBN-13: 978-3540670889
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #509,154 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars good introductory work, September 19, 2004

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Tivadar Mach "mivadar" (Bremen, Germany) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Biophysics: An Introduction (Hardcover)

This is a very thoroughly written introductory work for biophysics, an area where it is very difficult indeed to find intro-level textbooks.

Both biologists and physicists will find many new things worth exploring, and this book will certainly provide the basics for further research and study. It isn't the ten volume all-you-will-ever-want-to-know-about-biophysics, but whichever area You are starting to work with, from membrane transport to biomechanics, have a look at this book first.

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent starting for Biophysics, September 22, 2003

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Wisethinker "SJC" (Columbus, OH USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Biophysics: An Introduction (Hardcover)

This book is written by a biologist. However, the author discussed lots of physics topics closely related to basic biological phenomena. The most important role of this book, I believe, is making the bridge between physics and biology as well as biochemistry. Untill now, most of biophyiscs text books have been a kind of biochemsitry text book like ones. This one is distingusihed from those. This is also good for biochemistry student who wants to study physical aspects of biological system beyond the scope of biochemistry. Some parts of this book might be difficult for biology and biochemistry students but surely deserves to be read.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Biophysics concepts well explained, October 25, 2011

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Critic at large (East Coast USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Biophysics: An Introduction (Hardcover)

I agree with other reviewers that this is an excellent book. It develops biophysics, not "biology for physicists", or "physics for biologists". Biophysical research, however one describes or classifies it, has been around for decades, if not longer. This book is about major ideas from that tradition. It is written at an elementary to intermediate level, and serves as an excellent introduction to biophysical concepts and approaches.