Biophysical techniques
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Biophysical techniques are methods used for gaining information about biological systems on an atomic or molecular level. They overlap with methods from other branches of science.
Main biophysical techniques are:
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Manusingmicroscope.jpg
Manusingmicroscope.jpg
Scientist using a stereo microscope outfitted with a digital imaging pick-up
- Spectrophotometry, the measurement of the transmission of light through different solutions or substances at different wavelengths of light. Colorimetry is an example of this.
- Circular dichroism, a method for detecting chiral groups in molecules, especially to determine the secondary structure of proteins
- Fluorescence spectroscopy, which can be used to detect structural rearrangements, as well as interactions of biomolecules
- Microscopy, for example using laser instruments for scanning and transmission.
- Electron microscopy, to gain high-resolution images of subcellular structures
- Ultracentrifugation, which gives information on the shape and mass of molecules
- NMR spectroscopy, giving information about the exact structure of biological molecules, as well as on dynamics
- X-ray crystallography, another method to gain access to the exact structure of molecules with atomic resolution
- Gel electrophoresis, which is used to determine the mass, the charge and the interactions of biological molecules
- various chromatography technique, which are used for the purification and analysis of biological molecules
See also: biophysics