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biophysics

biophysics

3 4.9
The study of living things using ideas and tools from physics
  • noun
  • /ˌbaɪəˈfɪzɪks/
  • Specialized
: biofísica
  • Modern molecular biophysics is built on the twin pillars of genetic engineering and macromolecular structure determination.
  • biochemistry and biophysics

But I think that within the realm of single molecule biophysics, it was really popularized.

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Examples

  • He received his bachelor's degree in molecular biophysics and biochemistry and from Yale and also an MA and PhD from Yale.

  • His work has applications in materials science, microfluidics, and biophysics, among other fields.

    Academic text (2011)
  • I ended up with a biophysics degree from Harvard.

    Academic text (1991)
  • But I think that within the realm of single molecule biophysics, it was really popularized.

  • OSA-SPIE's Christopher Beck, a postdoctoral researcher in biophysics at Northeastern University, begins his fellowship in January.

    Academic text (2002)
  • Student interest in majoring in the general biological sciences, biochemistry, or biophysics was at an all-time high in 2004 (Sax et al. 2004).

    Academic text (2005)
  • The study of biophysics allows scientists to understand how physical forces influence biological systems.

  • The biophysics program at the university focuses on the interaction between radiation and living cells.

  • Researchers in biophysics explore the principles of physics to solve complex biological questions.

Surface Forms

biophysics singular
biophysics plural

Morphology

biophysics = physics (transparent) = bio + physics

The meaning is directly compositional: 'bio-' refers to life or living organisms and 'physics' names the scientific method or discipline involved.

Etymology

The word biophysics combines bio- meaning 'life', like in biology, and physics meaning 'the study of nature and forces'. So biophysics is about using tools and ideas from physics to study living things.