Niels Bohr Institute > Research > Biophysics

Biophysics at the Niels Bohr Institute

Biophysics is an interdisciplinary research area between physics and biology. Living nature and biological phenomena can be explored using the principles and methods applied in physics. For example, the theory of an electric circuit can be used to describe how signals are transmitted in the brain, and the laws of thermodynamics in physics can explain how nerves function and how sedatives act in the nerve cells.

Biologists and physicists often conduct joint research projects in this field. The biologists often perform the experiments, and the physicists calculate the mathematical equations and models that provide an overview and explain the processes that occur at molecular level.

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  Bio Networks

  The groups Bio Networks and Center for Models of Life conduct research into the fundamental mechanisms of biological systems. bio networks >> 

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  Complex Systems

  Scientists have shown that different types of complex systems have the same fundamental structure - from the Internet to cellular level. complex systems >>  

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  Biophysics - Optical Tweezers

  The research is conducted on live cells by means of optical tweezers, which can work right down to nanometre scale at molecular level. optical tweezers>> 

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  Biophysical Membranes

  By applying the principles of physics, the group explores how proteins and chemical substances pass through both biological and artificial membranes. membranes >>