Joint CeNS-Colloquium with the SFB1032
Dr. Timo Betz, Münster University
09.12.2016 at 15:30
Title: Learning from fluctuations: The mechanics of active and passive cellular assemblies
Location: Kleiner Physik-Hörsaal (N020), Altbau Physik, Fakultät für Physik
Hosts: Prof. Chase Broedersz (B12), Prof. Jan Lipfert
see CeNS-colloquiums-website
Abstract:
From a physics perspective living cells are impressive systems. They operate extremely reliably under nonlinear and non-equilibrium conditions, all embedded in a highly fluctuating background that is agitated by thermal Brownian motion. To understand the physical principles used by cells to perform their function, we use optical tweezers as well as high sensitive motion detectors to study both the mechanical properties of cells and the passive (thermal) and active (ATP dependent) fluctuations of cellular systems. This leads to new insights into the non-equilibrium physics used by living cells to maintain their organization even in a highly noisy environment. Combining the experimental data with non-equilibrium Langevin models we are able to extract molecular parameters such as forces and timescales from mesoscopic observables.