Physics

GENERAL OBJECTIVES The bacterial cell occupies the same special place in biological physics as the hydrogen atom does in condensed matter physics, and for the same reasons. Bacteria are the first "atoms" of life to appear in the known Universe, and everything fundamental in life is found in bacteria, in its simplest forms. The aim of the course is to investigate some fundamental aspects of living systems in a journey that starts from the internal mechanisms by which the bacterial cell "thinks" and acts, passing through how the individual cell moves in the external physical environment and ending with the study of the collective behaviour of bacterial colonies. All topics covered in the course are based on recent literature and discuss both experimental aspects and theoretical modelling. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES A - Knowledge and understanding OF 1) To know and understand the fundamentals of gene regulation in prokaryotes and the dynamics of transcriptional networks. OF 2) To know and understand the fundamentals of low Reynolds number fluid dynamics. OF 3) To know and understand the main manifestations of the out of equilibrium nature of active matter. B - Application skills OF 4) To be able to discuss the dynamical behaviour of a transcriptional network. OF 5) Tp be able to solve some elementary problems of low Reynolds hydrodynamics. OF 6) Tp be able to model the stochastic dynamics of active particle systems. OF 7) To be able to describe with continuous models the growth of bacterial colonies. C - Autonomy of judgement OF 8) Using the knowledge acquired, the student will be able to formulate new models capable of describing situations not covered in the course. D - Communication skills OF 9) To know how to communicate in written reports an advanced concept. OF 10) To be able to present a recent line of research in biophysics. E - Ability to learn OF 11) To be able to read independently scientific texts and articles in order to elaborate on the topics introduced in the course.