Energetics of Biological Systems

Explore the fundamental principles of energetics in biological systems through this comprehensive lecture by Jonathan Rodenfels. Delve into the intricate world of cellular energy flows and their impact on biological functions. Gain insights into bio-chemical networks involved in energy transduction and examine the energetic costs and constraints of specific cellular processes. Investigate key questions surrounding cellular energy budgets, constraints, and limits imposed by energy flows on cellular functions. Learn about the application of physics tools to study nonequilibrium systems and define physical limits in cell biology. Discover the emerging field of physical bioenergetics, which bridges nonequilibrium physics, energy metabolism, and cell biology. Understand how cells utilize and partition energy, and explore the associated energetic constraints. This lecture, part of the ICTP-ICTS Winter School on Quantitative Systems Biology, offers a state-of-the-art review of physical bioenergetics, discussing open questions and future challenges in this exciting interdisciplinary field.