Living Physics

Functionality is at the core of our understanding of biological systems. In contrast, inert physical systems lack this sense of function. Accounting for biological function thus requires a new kind of physics. Living Physics research group explains biological phenomena by exploring new regimes of statistical physics, mechanics and thermodynamics.

These are some general question that the research group addresses:

• How are functions embedded in biological matter? For instance, how do proteins find correct partners in the heterogeneous cellular environment?
• What determines the characteristics that organisms evolve? Why some organisms evolve sensory response, whereas others evolve stochastic response?
• What are the main constraints to biological functionality? The laws of thermodynamics, the genetic code, the finite size of the proteome?