Insight
Nature Physics Insight – Physics and the Cell
- Insight issue:
- October 2010 Volume 6, No 10
Looking at cells from a mechanistic perspective can provide insight into their behaviour and function that is not available through more empirical approaches. Numerical techniques and material-characterization experiments common in many physics laboratories are now proving to be useful tools in biology too.
Editorial
Physics and the cell - - p725
David Gevaux
doi:10.1038/nphys1813
Full text - Physics and the cell | PDF (172KB) - Physics and the cell
Perspective
Physics challenged by cells - pp726 - 729
Ana-Sunčana Smith
doi:10.1038/nphys1798
Cells are the building blocks of life. Ideas traditionally applied to physical problems are now helping to unravel their complex mysteries.
Full text - Physics challenged by cells | PDF (1,545KB) - Physics challenged by cells
Commentary
Are biomechanical changes necessary for tumour progression? - pp730 - 732
Anatol Fritsch, Michael Höckel, Tobias Kiessling, Kenechukwu David Nnetu, Franziska Wetzel, Mareike Zink & Josef A. Käs
doi:10.1038/nphys1800
Cell biophysics sheds some new light on cancer by approaching this complex problem from a materials science perspective.
Full text - Are biomechanical changes necessary for tumour progression? | PDF (265KB) - Are biomechanical changes necessary for tumour progression?
Review Articles
Physical virology - pp733 - 743
W. H. Roos, R. Bruinsma & G. J. L. Wuite
doi:10.1038/nphys1797
Viruses are protected by a protein shell known as a capsid. The mechanical properties of capsids have been the focus of intense experimental and theoretical investigation with the hope that a better understanding will open the door to new medical treatments and applications in biotechnology.
Full text - Physical virology | PDF (1,108KB) - Physical virology
Emergent complex neural dynamics - pp744 - 750
Dante R. Chialvo
doi:10.1038/nphys1803
Is the brain on the edge of criticality? Understanding the inner workings of the brain is a task made difficult by the number of elements involved: a hundred billion neurons and a hundred trillion synapses. Viewing the brain in terms of collective dynamics is one approach now yielding some insight.
Full text - Emergent complex neural dynamics | PDF (786KB) - Emergent complex neural dynamics
Challenges in protein-folding simulations - pp751 - 758
Peter L. Freddolino, Christopher B. Harrison, Yanxin Liu & Klaus Schulten
doi:10.1038/nphys1713
A protein's shape is crucial for fulfilling its function within a cell. This Review discusses how molecular dynamics simulations have given us insight into the processes that turn a linear chain of amino acids into a unique three-dimensional protein.
Full text - Challenges in protein-folding simulations | PDF (2,032KB) - Challenges in protein-folding simulations
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