484th Heraeus Seminar: Physics of Biological Function – Multicellular Systems
12 - 15 December 2011
Physikzentrum Bad Honnef, Germany
Funded by the Wilhelm and Else Heraeus Stiftung
In physics, interactions between particles follow laws. In biology, interactions between biomolecules serve a function. These very different points of view are beginning to merge as research over the past years has demonstrated how, in some exemplary cases, the laws of physics constrain the implementations of biological functions.
This Heraeus Seminar will focus on multicellular systems, including bacterial communities and developmental systems (Zebrafish and Drosophila). It will cover different aspects of these systems, in particular fundamental molecular mechanisms, e.g. for cell-cell coupling and communication, the emerging biological phenomena, their quantitative analysis, and their theoretical description. A generous amount of time will be allotted for questions and discussion, to explore where physical principles are useful to understand biological function and design.
