B.Sc.

Biotechnology Semester I BBT 113: Biophysical Chemistry

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Unit of life Cell as a unit of life, functions of plasma and cell membrane, diffusion, osmosis, osmotic pressure, role of charges in movement. Properties of matter Phases, systems and components, gas laws, vapour pressure, Brownian movement, viscosity, elasticity, liquid flow, dielectric constant. Basis of structure of biomolecules Atomic structure, free radicals, functional groups (alcohol, aldehyde, ketone, ester, amine, acid, and amide), molecular interactions, valency bonds, bond formation. Forces stabilizing molecular structure (covalent bond, ionic bond, hydrogen bond, salt linkage, van der Waals forces). Polarity and dipole moment, hydrophilic/hydrophobic interactions. Isotopes and radioisotopes Definition, measurement (counters), halflife, useful isotopes for applications in health and research, carbon dating. Electromagnetic radiations (UV, IR, Xray, , , rays, visible spectrum), their measurement. Applications for health and agriculture. Properties of solutions Properties of water, water as an universal solvent, true solution, lowering of vapour pressure, elevation of boiling point, depression in freezing point, electrolysis, electrolytes, nonelectrolytes. Effects of temperature and pressure on solutions. Osmotic pressure, surface tension. Effect of temperature and pressure on interfacial tension, its significance on biological systems. Applications of biosurfactants. Acids, bases, salts and buffers Dissociation of strong and weak electrolytes, weak acids/bases, zwitterions, pH, pK, buffers, buffering against pH changes in biological systems, role of lungs and kidneys in pH regulation, factors affecting pH, pH meter and biosensors. Faradays law of electrolysis, electrolytic conductance, its determination and factors affecting conductance (concentration, temperature, dielectric constant, etc.). Thermodynamics Principles of thermodynamics applied to biological systems, First law of thermodynamics, reversible processes and concept of enthalpy; Second law of thermodynamics, spontaneous processes and concept of entropy; Third law of thermodynamics, isothermal/ adiabatic processes; Gibbss free energy, equilibrium and its significance. Physical steady state, order of reactions. Principles of oxidation and reduction Oxidizing/reducing agents in biological systems, their role in respiration and photosynthesis, their implications on health, ageing and diseases.

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Colloids Dispersion, suspension, colloidal system, their stabilization in biological system, properties of colloids and emulsions. Biophysical basis of separation Filtration (gross, mini, micro and ultrafiltration), dialysis, specific gravity, sedimentation, density gradient ultracentrifugation, their application to biological systems. References 1. Biophysics, Walter Hoppe, Springer, Germany (1983). 2. Biophysics. Patthabhi, V. and Gauthami, N., Kluwer Academic Publications, New York (2002). 3. Biophysics and Biophysical chemistry, Debajyoti Das, Academic Publications, Kolkata (2007).

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